Frequently Asked Questions
Heaven’s Pets at Lake Lawn Metairie is a pet cremation and bereavement center, providing total pet death care services and products. Heaven’s Pets is a joint venture between Heaven’s Pets, LLC and Lake Lawn Metairie Cemeteries.
Heaven’s Pets at Lake Lawn Metairie is located on the historic and serene grounds of Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans. The 5000-square-foot facility is solely dedicated to the caring of pets and features an on-site pet crematory, grief counseling and viewing rooms for pet owners. Adjacent to the facility is a lovely Memorial Garden where pet owners can pay tribute to their beloved pet.
When a pet’s death occurs, ask your veterinarian or emergency clinic for Heaven’s Pets and call 504-482-PETS(7387). Read more about what to do when your pet dies »
We highly encourage that you visit the pet crematories in the area before you make your decision, so that you can learn about all of your options. Visiting the pet crematories in advance of your pets passing will help you make a difficult decision easier with the knowledge and information learned. This will give you peace of mind that your beloved pet is well cared for after they are deceased. Here are some things to consider:
- Are you allowed to inspect the facility and their processes without an appointment?
- Is the staff professional, caring and attentive to your needs and questions?
- Is the pet crematory clean and well maintained?
- What happens to unwanted pet cremains?
Remember, if you feel that a pet crematory is not forth coming, you cannot inspect all of their operations or not allowed to, then you probably want to consider someone else.
Heaven’s Pets at Lake Lawn Metairie is here to care for not only your pet, but for your entire family by offering Private and Communal cremations, transportation of your pet’s remains, a wide selection of urns, keepsakes, prints, complimentary grief resources and permanent memorialization.
Yes. Heaven’s Pets will gladly prearrange your pet’s cremation and any accompanying services. We understand that this is a difficult time and are here to make it a little easier. Simply come by, call our office or visit our pre-planning section any time and we can take care of making the necessary arrangements. Then when your pet passes, ask for Heaven’s Pets.
You may choose to transport your pet to Heaven’s Pets on your own, or Heaven’s Pets at Lake Lawn Metairie will pick up your pet from your veterinarian or emergency clinic. Simply ask for Heaven’s Pets and call 504-482-PETS(7387).
A private cremation involves the cremation of one pet. Your pet will be cremated ALONE and not with any other pets or separations in the cremation chamber. Your pet’s cremains will be returned to you.
A communal cremation involves the cremation of multiple, unrelated pets. Your pet’s cremains will not be returned to you, and will be respectfully scattered in our Memorial Garden.
Pet cremations take place in the crematory of the Heaven’s Pets at Lake Lawn Metairie building.
Pet owners cannot witness the actual cremation. However, through a Private Viewing, pet owners can participate in the service by collecting a lock of hair and any prints, as well as, witnessing the placement of their pet into the cremation chamber. The Private Viewing is an additional scheduled service to a Private Cremation.
At any time prior to the cremation, all pet owners are able to come to Heaven’s Pets at Lake Lawn Metairie and spend time through a visitation with their loved one to say goodbye.
When a pet’s death occurs, ask your veterinarian or emergency clinic for Heaven’s Pets and call 504-482-PETS(7387). Our staff is available for you 24-hours a day, so you can call at any time. Families are welcome to bring their pet in on their own to our facility or we can pick up your pet from your veterinarian, or emergency clinic.
Each step of a Private Cremation includes an identification process called tagging and logging that ensures the identity of the pet. This process begins once we receive your pet and follows them throughout the entire cremation process. We utilize the same identification system that is used for human cremation.
Heaven’s Pets at Lake Lawn Metairie will work with each situation individually to carefully and respectfully handle the cremated remains.
Unfortunately and sadly enough, in many states including Louisiana, pets and their mortal remains are classified as waste. Most owners would not want their pets’ bodies to be handled with commercial refuse and classified as waste along with road-kill, livestock and animal medical waste. You must ask your veterinarian or pet crematory how they will dispose of your pet if you do not wish to have their cremated remains returned to ensure they will not be sent to the landfill.
In general, small animals, such as cats, dogs, rabbits, snakes, birds, ferrets, lizards, goats and pot belly pigs can be cremated. In some cases we can handle larger animals, however, we can not cremate horses.
Our prices are are one flat rate regardless of your pet's weight. Private Cremations begin at $200 and Communal Cremations begin at $100. If you have any questions, please call Heaven’s Pets at 504-482-PETS (7387).
Yes, all pets are welcome to attend memorial services.
No, Heaven’s Pets does not offer taxidermy services.
Yes, Heaven’s Pets at Lake Lawn Metairie can assist in the ordering of pet caskets.
Heaven’s Pets grief counseling sessions are held on the second Tuesday of every month. These sessions are held at Heaven’s Pets at Lake Lawn Metairie and virtually from 7 to 8:15 p.m. and are complimentary to anyone who has lost a pet. It is recommended that if you are interested in a counseling session to please call 504-482-7387 or email info@heavenspets.com and make a reservation.
An ossuary is an underground repository for the placement of privately cremated remains.
Whole body pet burials will not be allowed anywhere on the grounds of Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery. Cemetery regulations prohibit whole body animals from being interred in any area dedicated for the interment of human remains. However, pet cremains may be interred in one of our columbarium’s or memorial curbing of our Memorial Gardens.
Cemetery regulations prohibit pet cremated remains from being buried with a pet owner or family member.
The area to be used for the Heaven’s Pets at Lake Lawn Metairie business has not been dedicated for the burial of human remains; therefore, the placement of cremated pet remains into the ossuary is permitted.
Cash, Care Credit and all major credit cards are accepted methods of payment.