A Gentle Guide
What to do when your pet passes away.
If you're reading this in the first hard hours: take a breath. Nothing has to happen right away. There is no decision you must make this minute, and you don't have to figure any of this out alone. This page will walk you through it, one step at a time.
The first few hours.
There is no rush. You can take an hour, or an evening, to sit with your companion and say goodbye. Many families do, and it helps.
If your companion passed at home
Take the time you need with them first.
When you're ready, it's best to have them wrapped in a towel or blanket in a cool, protected environment.
It's okay to hold them, brush them, or just sit with them.
When you're ready — today or tomorrow morning — call or text us, and we'll take it from there.
If your companion passed at your veterinary clinic
Your clinic can care for them right where they are. Many North Carolina clinics already work with Companah — tell them you’d like Companah to handle your companion’s aftercare, or call us and we’ll coordinate with your clinic directly.
Who to call.
Call us at (919) 728-7200 — humans answer the phone 8am to 8pm, every day. You can also text the same number any time; anything that comes in overnight gets answered first thing the next morning.
What happens next
The Journey Home.
Connect
You call or text, and a person answers. We listen, and we give you a clear path forward.
The Care Plan
Your voice in the process — the type of care, the memorials that matter, the details that are uniquely theirs. There's no rush to complete it.
Entrusted
The moment you place them in our care, whether through your veterinary clinic or directly from your home.
In Our Care
Tended to, individually tracked, and treated with dignity at every stage.
Coming Home
Their remains and memorials are prepared with care and returned to you — by delivery, at your clinic, or at one of our care centers.
Whether your companion comes to us through your veterinary clinic or directly from your home, we coordinate the pickup — you don’t need to drive anywhere unless you want to. Read more about The Journey Home.
Your choices, when you’re ready.
Every Companah cremation is a water cremation — a gentler, quieter process that uses the same chemistry as nature and returns 30–40% more of your companion’s remains than flame cremation. Learn about water cremation.
- Individual Cremation →
Your companion is cremated alone, and their remains are returned to your family in the urn or memorial of your choosing.
- Memorials Only →
A communal cremation paired with a paw print impression keepsake returned to your family.
- Communal Cremation →
Your companion is cremated together with other companions; remains are scattered respectfully at our care facility.
Questions families ask in the first hours.
How quickly do I need to decide anything?
You don't need to decide anything right away. If your companion is at home, keep them wrapped in a towel or blanket in a cool, protected space — decisions can wait until this evening, or until tomorrow morning.
Do you come to my home?
Yes. We coordinate pickup at your home or your veterinary clinic across our North Carolina service areas, as part of every Care Plan.
What does cremation cost?
It depends on the service you choose and your companion's size. Our pricing page lists current rates, and the cost estimator on our homepage gives an instant estimate — or call us and we'll walk through it together.
Can I bury my companion at home?
Many families choose cremation first, then bury the urn at home — a gentle way to keep them close. Our biodegradable urn is made for exactly this. If you're considering home burial, be aware that HOA and municipal rules vary; we're happy to talk it through with you.
What about my other pets?
Surviving companions grieve too. Many veterinarians suggest letting other pets see and sniff their friend before they leave home — it can help them understand. Be patient with changes in appetite or behavior over the weeks that follow.
Can I pay for cremation online?
Yes — most families complete payment online through their Care Plan. We just don't start there: cremation begins with a conversation. Call or text us, or begin a Care Plan, and we'll walk through everything together — your veterinarian can also arrange everything for you. Memorial keepsakes from our shop can be purchased online anytime.
“From the beginning, you promised to love your companion through all the sunrises and sunsets. We’re here to help keep that promise — to honor them, and bring them home forever.”