The loss of an animal companion is devastating. Marking this passing can and should be meaningful. Flameless Cremation Services is partnering with the mobile veterinary community and The Ritual Bough. We don't think you should have to spend your pet's final days on the phone, juggling logistics. Let us do that for you.
The Rainbow Bridge Sendoff is a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to end-of-life care for your beloved pet. Combining compassionate, in-home euthanasia services with water cremation is at the core of the Sendoff. From there, the Sendoff will look different for every family because we want to build something that is unique and meaningful for your family. You may choose to enlist the services of a Death Doula to guide you in honoring the profound bond you share, embracing the beauty of ritual and ceremony as you honor your beloved animal companion. You can choose to keep ashes or spread them in a meaningful place, and we can talk with you about other options for memorialization like cremation jewelry, clay pawprints, and metal nose prints.
The Rainbow Bridge Sendoff is a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to end-of-life care for your beloved pet. Combining compassionate, in-home euthanasia services with water cremation is at the core of the Sendoff. From there, the Sendoff will look different for every family because we want to build something that is unique and meaningful for your family. You may choose to enlist the services of a Death Doula to guide you in honoring the profound bond you share, embracing the beauty of ritual and ceremony as you honor your beloved animal companion. You can choose to keep ashes or spread them in a meaningful place, and we can talk with you about other options for memorialization like cremation jewelry, clay pawprints, and metal nose prints.
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When compassionate euthanasia is the kindest gift you can give to your pet...
We're here to be your personal end-of-life concierge - because coordinating logistics is the last thing you should be worried about. Let us help you honor a bond that transcends species. |
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The Rainbow Bridge Sendoff is a completely customizable collection of services:
Saying goodbye is never easy, but our dedicated team is here to support you with compassion and empathy. Together, we'll create a space where you can celebrate the life and legacy of your cherished animal companion, finding solace in the memories that will forever live on in your heart. |
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About Death Doulas
A Death Doula is someone who guides families through the dying process, much like a birth midwife or doula guides families through childbirth. A death doula gets to know you and your animal companion and can create meaningful ritual and ceremony to acknowledge and honor the life of your animal and the bond you shared. This might include sharing reflections or poetry, the use of music and anointing oil, and a string ceremony. The possibilities are endless. We contract with The Ritual Bough and can also confidently recommend Rest With Radiance. |
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Q&A
I don't live in Anchorage, can I still have at-home services? We can accommodate families from Girdwood to Wasilla. If you are outside of this area, please call us to see how we can help. Why would I choose to euthanize my animal companion in the Sendoff Suite? This is a very personal choice, and there are no wrong answers. You know your animal best, and you know your family best. We can come to you, you can come to us. What is the Sendoff Suite? The Sendoff Suite is set up like a small (~150 square feet) living room. There is comfortable seating for 5 adults though we can accommodate more upon request. We have an assortment of coffee and tea. For your beloved animal, we will prepare a comfortable and safe place for them to rest. When you are here, you will be the only family present. Feel free to bring your own music, food, and drink. You can be loud, be quiet, be whatever you need to be. |
Where is Flameless Cremation Services?
Tucked in the back of a commercial building in a quiet part of midtown. It's an unassuming building but don't be fooled, our little suite is packed with love. And we get beautiful evening sun when the weather cooperates.
How do I know when it's time? What can I expect during euthanasia?
It can be very difficult to determine when it is time for your pet to cross the Rainbow Bridge. When they are suffering, quality of life is more important than quantity. This is a good resource for objectively considering quality of life. When your pet is suffering, euthanasia is a gift. The procedure is a two-step process beginning with an injected sedative, lulling the animal into a deep and comfortable sleep. Once sleeping, your pet will feel no pain and will not have any awareness of what's happening. An IV will be placed and a second medication given. This second medication is essentially an overdose of anesthetic medication, which stops the heart and lungs from functioning.
Tucked in the back of a commercial building in a quiet part of midtown. It's an unassuming building but don't be fooled, our little suite is packed with love. And we get beautiful evening sun when the weather cooperates.
How do I know when it's time? What can I expect during euthanasia?
It can be very difficult to determine when it is time for your pet to cross the Rainbow Bridge. When they are suffering, quality of life is more important than quantity. This is a good resource for objectively considering quality of life. When your pet is suffering, euthanasia is a gift. The procedure is a two-step process beginning with an injected sedative, lulling the animal into a deep and comfortable sleep. Once sleeping, your pet will feel no pain and will not have any awareness of what's happening. An IV will be placed and a second medication given. This second medication is essentially an overdose of anesthetic medication, which stops the heart and lungs from functioning.
- After death, there's a couple things to be aware of. First, it's totally normal for the eyes to remain open. It's also totally normal to see some urination and defecation as muscles relax. Muscle twitching is less common, but frequent enough to warrant mentioning. If it's going to happen, you might see a little nose or ear twitch. But it can happen with any muscle in the body, including the diaphragm, which produces what's known as an agonal respiration and they can be alarming if you're not expecting it. It will look and sound like a gasp for air, but it's simply a muscle twitch and you can be assured your pet has no awareness or feeling at that moment.
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About our Death Doula at The Ritual Bough: Specializing in ritual and home funerals, Julie Raymond-Yakoubian is a certified Funeral Celebrant, Death Midwife, End-of-Life Doula, and is NEDA proficient. She has studied with Sacred Crossings, Final Passages, and the University of Vermont End-of-Life Doula program. Julie is an ordained Reverend (non-denominational) and has graduate degrees in anthropology and northern studies. |
