The question of whether a cremation of a pet is permissible under the world’s major religions is an interesting one that occasionally arises as pet owners contemplate the way they intend to dispose of their pet’s remains when the time comes. Here are the highlights of what we found in a brief Internet search on this question.
It seems apparent that none of the world’s most prominent religions are strongly opposed to pet cremations. Even the Jewish Faith, which is adamantly opposed to cremation of humans, does not seem to entirely rule out the practice in regards to pets. In general, at least one Rabbi says, remains of a pet may be interpreted by some Jews as a “source of ritual impurity” and, accordingly, would be inappropriate for display in a home. But, even this Rabbi concedes that such objections are debatable, of course, given the emotional connection that most pet owners have with their beloved friends.
Other than that, somewhat trivial, objection to pet cremation among Jews, we found no other mention of religious prohibition of the practice. In fact, one prominent American leader, Dick Cheney, who is popular among many fundamental Christians has publicly acknowledged that he and his wife ordered a cremation for their beloved pet dog who died during Cheney’s term at Vice President. And, several articles on the topic written by experts in Islam say that cremation may be the most spiritually helpful method of disposal that a pet owner can choose. “One must let go of a pet that has died as it now belongs to Allah,” one website devoted to Islamic issues says. Cremation, with its built in air of finality, may therefore be helpful in reminding pet owners to keep their attention toward Allah rather than on the emotions associated with the loss of their cherished friend, the website goes on to suggest.
Of the various branches of Christianity, Catholicism has long been the most outspoken against cremation of humans. Only relatively recently has the practice been approved for humans, and even with the approval comes rules regarding the disposition of ashes. No such prohibitions exist, however, against pet cremation. Catholic leaders, like leaders of the world’s other major religions seem almost indifferent to the way bodies of pets are disposed.
The one overriding theme that comes about the religious literature we surveyed on this topic seems to be that pet cremation is a perfectly reasonable and safe practice – so long as it is done with dignity and respect. Cruelty toward the memory of any pet, especially when cremation is somehow a part of the cruelty, is simply not permissible in any religion.
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prohibition of the practice. In fact, one prominent American leader, Dick Cheney, who is popular among many fundamental Christians has publicly acknowledged that he and his wife ordered a cremation for their beloved pet dog who died during Cheney’s term at Vice President. And, several articles on the topic written by experts in Islam say that cremation may be the most spiritually helpful method of disposal that a pet owner can choose. “One must let go of a pet that has died as it now belongs to Allah,” one website devoted to Islamic issues says. Cremation, with its built in air of finality, may therefore be helpful in reminding pet owners to keep their attention toward Allah rather than on the emotions associated with the loss of their cherished friend, the website goes on to suggest.
