If you read about the history of Rolling Acres on their website, you'll find that Patricia Strnot is a pioneer in this area in filling the need for pet cremation. She's been doing this since 1977, and the handwriting on the certificate she made for my beloved kitty is getting a little shaky, but she could not have been more sweet to me. She was attentive and kind, and I felt badly for not staying to chat when I picked up my kitty's ashes, because she is obviously an interesting lady with a lot to tell me, but I was worried I'd start bawling again, as I had when I dropped him off. I'll send a little note.
When you bring in your pet, you're invited to leave him/her in a little room where you can say your final goodbyes privately after business is done. The fee is less than a company I looked at in Omaha, and more than one south of town who never returned my call. She called to be sure she'd spelled my pet's name correctly on the certificate, which was very thoughtful. They also did all they could to make sure I could pick him up on the same day, but I'm sure this wouldn't always be possible, especially with a larger pet.
I brought a dear pup there a few years ago. Someone...Mr. Strnot? took me back and let me see what would happen. He even let me put her in the unit, to ease my fears that the ashes I got back would not be hers. He explained that they do the cremation in one of several different sized units for different sized pets. (It's OK if the pet is wrapped in a favorite blanket or something). Then they wait until the unit cools down, and what is left includes bones. These are ground and added to the ashes swept from the unit. For a small dog or cat, you're left with just a handful, which they give to you in a nice small box with his or her name on it.
It was a lovely winter day when I took that pup in, and I waited in the parking lot until the smoke came up. I was disappointed when it headed southeast, instead of back toward our home, as I'd hoped, bringing her spirit with it. Later, I found a little rescue pup, who had so many of the same mannerisms and habits as my previous pup that I thought she might be her reincarnation, and then I remembered the smoke, heading southeast of Lincoln. My new pup was rescued in Independence, Missouri. I'm an educated person, but that doesn't mean I can't be spiritual.
As I told Patricia, I like to place the ashes behind a favorite picture in a memory/shadow box type of frame. But there are also many stones, markers and urns to choose from in their office. There is even a lovely little cemetery there where your ashes can spend eternity with those of your pet, if that is what you wish, and it may be this that Patricia is most proud of. This is particularly significant in the state of Nebraska where there are more regulations for burial than in any other state. You could wait until no one was looking and scatter your pet's ashes/or other loved one's on your cemetery plot, or your could find a way to have them placed in with you in your coffin, and I know a lot of aftercare workers who would look the other way, but none of it would be strictly legal in Nebraska.
Patricia and her family have made sure we have an option if everyone else tells us no, and for that I am very grateful. I can now take those pets who have passed with me in my moves from here on out, and have them with me wherever they scatter me. Thank you so much Patricia Strnot and family. You make the most difficult times a little easier. read more