Cathy MerrittLosing a pet is hard. I’ve been there myself. When I lost my dear Jack Russell Terrier, Rocky, after a decade, I was inconsolable. I didn’t like the thought of losing him forever, so we decided to cremate him.
Years later, I still think it’s the best decision we’ve made. We scattered some of his ashes on his favourite beach (oh, how he loved to swim!), while the remainder we kept in an urn. That way, it feels like he’s still with us.
If you’re considering cremating your furbaby, here are the places offering the best pet cremation in Toronto.
How much does pet cremation cost in Toronto?
Pet cremation in Toronto usually costs somewhere between C$100 and C$600. The price depends on the size of the animal.
A small/“pocket” pet usually costs around C$100, while cats are priced around C$350, and dogs are C$400–500 (if they’re under 49 kg) or C$500–600 (if they weigh over 50 kg).
How We Chose
In Good Hands Pet Loss
Address: 1061 Woodbine Ave, East York
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Tuesday—8 am to 7:30 pm
- Wednesday and Thursday—8 am to 5 pm
- Friday—8 am to 6 pm
- Saturday—8 am to 7:30 pm
- Sunday—9 am to 6 pm
When my pet died and my family and I decided to cremate him, we went with In Good Hands Pet Loss because we heard great things about this crematorium. As it turned out, we truly were in good hands.
The first thing I like about this crematorium is the array of services. For cremation, they can hold different ceremonies: communal (your pet is cremated along with others), individual (your pet is cremated with others, but they have their own compartment), or private (your pet is the only one in the chamber).
They do the usual cremation process via flames, but if you don’t like that, you might be interested in aquamation or water cremation instead. This one uses lye and heat, making it an eco-friendly alternative.
In Good Hands Pet Loss also offers grief support and even palliative care for those who have just discovered their pet has been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
No matter which cremation service you book, you’ll be able to get a free 15-minute consultation with a certified pet loss bereavement specialist, which I think is a thoughtful gesture.
Additionally, you can get memorial paw prints and other keepsakes to remember your pet by, which is also sweet.
One downside is that rates here can be expensive, especially if you choose the individual or private cremation. Fortunately, their communal cremation rates are cheaper—perfect for people on a budget.
Customer Reviews
Professional, personal, and thoughtful
“From initial connection to the completion of end of life care for our beloved cat Pants, Amy’s approach and work was impeccable. She was professional, personal and thoughtful. I cannot recommend In Good Hands Pet Loss more highly. Thank you Amy for all that you do and have done. It is meaningful and your thoughtfulness matters.”
- Sarah Vanderveer, Google Review
One-of-a-kind, unique pet funeral home
“I wish I could put 100 stars. Amy is a kind, empathetic, talented, professional, and truly gifted person. I am so grateful to have found her beautiful, one-of-a-kind, exceptionally unique pet funeral home. I was searching for a separate cremation service for my pet and came upon this absolute gem. She and her helper went above and beyond for my family during a very difficult time – they made it easier. After already dropping off my cat for cremation, I ended up needing to pick her back up for a post-mortem examination (upon reviewing what happened to my cat at the veterinary hospital, I felt she was killed). We did get our little girl’s ashes back recently…Amy brought my family a lot of comfort and peace. She helped honor our cat’s death and say goodbye with honor and dignity. I will always remember Amy’s care and the gentle, peaceful, magical essence of In Good Hands Pet Loss. What a beautiful way to say goodbye. I highly recommend this place to every person who has lost their beloved pet. Thank you, Amy, you are a gift to the world.”
- Alina Green, Google Review
Bitu’s Pet Cremation Services
Address: 2500 Williams Pkwy #34, Rice Corporate Center, Brampton
Distance from TO: Around 50 minutes
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Contact Number: +16479692488
Bitu’s Pet Cremation Services is actually located in Brampton, which is nearly an hour away from Toronto. But many of my friends and other Torontonians have recommended this place, and I was intrigued enough to check it out.
This crematorium only offers traditional cremation services, but at least you can choose between communal, individual, and private. Do keep in mind that if you opt for communal cremation, no ashes will be returned to you.
If you go with individual or private cremation, your pet’s ashes will be given back to you, and you can choose from a wide array of urns. They have the standard metal urns, as well as unique options like decorative urns and even figurine/tealight/jewelry urns.
I also really like that you can plan the cremation and aftercare here even before your pet dies. This is a thoughtful gesture because emotions run high when a pet dies. So, to be able to plan things ahead of time is a godsend.
The staff at this family-run crematorium is also wonderful. Clients told me that they felt their respect and sincerity when they came here, and everything was handled with care.
Customer Reviews
Thoughtful service
“I want to sincerely thank Bitu’s Pet Cremation Services for the compassionate care and support they provided during such a difficult time. Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is never easy, but their kindness, professionalism, and gentle handling made a painful experience a little more bearable. Their thoughtful service gave us comfort and peace of mind, knowing our pet was treated with the dignity and love they deserved. We are truly grateful for the respect and understanding they showed throughout the entire process. Thank you again for being there for us when we needed it most.”
- Nithi Warren, Google Review
Tender, caring, and compassionate
“On behalf of our family, we would like to sincerely thank Bitu’s Pet Cremation Service in Brampton for the love and respect they showed our precious Rosco. Losing him so unexpectedly broke our hearts, but from the moment we stepped through their doors, we felt a sense of peace. They handled every detail with such tenderness and care, treating Rosco not just as a pet, but as a member of our family. Their compassion made an unbearable time a little more bearable, and we will always be grateful for the way they honored our little buddy’s memory.”
- Harjot Panaych, Google Review
Upper Village Veterinary Hospital
Address: 430 Eglinton Ave W
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—8 am to 6 pm
- Saturday—9 am to 1 pm
Contact Number: +16475609276
Understandably, Upper Village Veterinary Hospital is best known for general veterinary support like checkups and surgeries (they’re among the best in Toronto). But they also offer end-of-life care, and that includes cremation.
This place is ideal for pet owners who have decided to euthanize their pets and cremate them afterward. It’s also a great choice for those who are too grief-stricken to plan the cremation service. The hospital will take care of everything for you.
This hospital is also conveniently located in Midtown Toronto. It’s right by Eglinton Avenue, with a bus stop just outside the door, so you won’t have to worry about getting lost.
The doctors and staff here are empathetic and kind, and that doesn’t stop when you come here for cremation.
The downside to this place, though, is the fact that it serves as a middleman for cremation. Because of this, you can’t witness the cremation of your pet; instead, the cremains will just be delivered to you, or you can pick them up at the hospital.
Customer Reviews
Compassionate and kind staff
“I brought my 11-year-old dog, London, to this vet hospital, and even though our time there was short, I couldn’t have asked for better care. Dr. Steven and Samantha showed so much compassion and kindness during such a difficult time. Unfortunately, I had to make the heartbreaking decision to put London down, but they made sure she was comfortable and loved until the very end. Their support and empathy truly meant the world to me. Thank you, Dr. Steven and Samantha, for taking such good care of London and for being there for both of us when we needed it most. I’ll always be grateful.”
- Michelle Santos, Google Review
Warm, professional, and compassionate
“Upper Village Vet is absolutely amazing! Dr. Steven and his team go above and beyond to provide exceptional care. From the moment you walk in, you’re in the best hands. Dr. Steven is incredibly knowledgeable, compassionate, and takes the time to explain everything clearly. The entire staff is warm, professional, and truly cares about both pets and owners. Highly recommend Upper Village Vet to anyone looking for a top-tier veterinary clinic.”
- Sam Vlessing, Google Review
Tails Farewell
Address: 115 Berkeley St
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +14169439395
Tails Farewell is a highly recommended pet funeral and crematorium in Markham, so I was glad to hear that they now have a location right in downtown Toronto. As such, Torontonians don’t have to travel far to give their pets the proper memorial.
Interestingly, Tails Farewell only offers aquamation, which may sound like a bummer, but this is actually great because it’s not as destructive to the environment.
I also think the rates here are fairly reasonable. You have several packages to choose from, and the most common one is the private package, which starts at C$399. They also have expensive packages that give you exclusive perks like memorabilia for your pet.
That said, I have to say that I don’t like that being able to give a private farewell to your pet is exclusive to the expensive packages. I feel like that should be a given for every package.
On a more positive note, cats and dogs aren’t the only pets they accept. They’ve also cremated birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles, and small mammals. Just be aware that for smaller animals, you might not get their cremains because of their minimal bone weight.
Customer Reviews
Kind and patient staff
“My dog passed away a month ago, and saying goodbye was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Tails Farewell treated my beloved pet with so much compassion and respect. The staff were kind, patient, and truly understood what I was going through. I’m deeply grateful for how they helped me honour my dog’s memory. Thank you for giving us such a peaceful farewell.”
- Hebee Wong, Google Review
Handled with care
“Losing my pet was so painful, but Tails Farewell made the goodbye much easier. They treated my pet with such love and respect, and their kindness truly touched my heart. The urn and keepsake were beautiful, and everything was handled with care. I’ll always be grateful for how gently they helped me through this.”
- Connor W, Google Review
Faithful Pet Memorial
Address: 181 Weston Rd
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—8 am to 4 pm
- Saturday—10 am to 2 pm
Contact Number: +14167673572
Faithful Pet Memorial is the sister company of Midtown Mobile Veterinary Hospice Services, and they exclusively offer aquamation, which I’m glad to hear.
I love that this crematorium offers both communal and private aquamation services. The former is the much more affordable option, but you won’t get your pets’ cremains back. They will scatter your pet’s ashes in Lake Ontario, which sounds beautiful if you ask me.
Meanwhile, for private aquamation, not only will you get your pets’ cremains back, but you’ll also get one of the crematorium’s standard urns, a memorial candle, and a memorial stone.
For an extra fee, you can get extra perks like other memorial items (e.g., keepsake clay pawprints and fur/whisker clippings), viewing, and visitation. Personally, I’m not a big fan of having to pay extra just to see our pet one last time before the aquamation.
This crematorium has other services as well. For example, they can do rush aquamation (you’ll be able to get your pet’s cremains within 48 hours) or home burials.
Keep in mind that Faithful Pet Memorial operates by appointment only. You can contact them via phone or email ([email protected]).
Customer Reviews
Invaluable support
“In tandem with Midtown Mobile Veterinary Hospice Services, Fathful Pet Memorial provided excellent service, above and beyond what I expected. I felt good about being able to choose the eco-friendly option of aquamation for our sweet doggo. The ashes were beautifully packaged with touching extras I would not have expected and found very comforting. I am so grateful this service exists and highly recommend them to anyone experience the loss of a beloved pet.”
- Sarah Sal Knox, Google Review
Kind and patient staff
“Had to say goodbye to my little one recently, and I’m really glad I found Faithful Pet Memorial. The staff were super kind and patient, they explained everything clearly and treated my pet with so much respect. I never felt rushed or dismissed, even though my pet was very small. They made me feel like his life mattered just as much.”
- Veronica Zhou, Google Review
