Saying goodbye to a family pet can be tough so people are increasingly deciding to cremate pets to ensure they have a memorial.
Heaven Sent Pet Cremations, running since 1994, is that place and they cater for all sorts of animals, from dogs and cats, to goats, budgies, turtles and rats.
Co-owner Graham Spence said having a pet cremated was a growth industry.
''We cremate 1200 animals a year [and] they are all sorts of domestic animals,'' Mr Spence said.
Dogs and cats provided the most business with, ''at a guess'', 40% of all cremations being dogs and 30% cats.
Most animals came from vets because people had to make the tough decision to euthanise them and often had not thought about what they would do with their pet next.
''[People] are torn between their devotion to the pet and the need to do what, in their hearts, is right for the animal. Most make [the] decision [to euthanise],'' he said.
''We can provide the ashes back to them, then they can scatter them where they like ... or bury them.''
Two ministers were on call for anyone who wanted to have a funeral service for their pet and a viewing room was also available at the Invermay premises.
Mr Spence said being able to help and provide a service to people who were grieving was the best part of his job.
''To be able handle their animal with dignity and respect ... was very satisfying,'' he said.
Open Plains Pet Cremations, also in Mosgiel, was experiencing a similar surge in business.
''There's been a huge shift in how people view their pets,'' Open Plains practice manager Margie Murray said.
''They have ... taken the decision to cremate them [because] if they shift, they would want to take their pets with them. These pets are part of the family.''
Mrs Murray said they probably cremated more dogs than any other animal and did about 20 cremations a week.
Open Plains vet nurse Abbie Eaton chose to have her 10-year-old Staffordshire terrier Mia cremated after it suffered liver failure.
''I didn't have time to think about it really,'' she said.
''I think cremation is a really good way to go because you've got the ashes with you.''
