The Pet Parent Hotline

What Happens After Your Pet Dies? Understanding Aftercare Options


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What do you do when the worst happens and your pet crosses the Rainbow Bridge?
For many pet parents, navigating the grief and logistics of pet aftercare is overwhelming, especially if they’ve never faced it before.

In this episode, I’m joined by Gia Kondakor, director of Pet Loss Services at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, to talk about what happens after a pet dies and the choices you have to honor them with care and dignity.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

  • The differences between individual, partition, and communal cremation
  • How memorial services can provide healing and closure
  • Unique ways to honor your pet’s memory, from keepsake jewelry to creative art

If you’ve ever faced or are preparing for losing a beloved pet, this episode will help you make informed, compassionate choices you can feel good about.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Gia Kondakor – McAlister-Smith Pet Loss Services

P.S. You may hear us refer to the show as Starlight Pet Talk during this episode. That was our former name before we embraced the fur, mess, and mayhem. Same show, same mission—just a name that fits better now.

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Big pet challenges we help pet parents solve include: saving money on pet food, saving money on pet care, puppy training, cat behavior, behavior problems, pet budgeting, stress-free vet visits, solutions for multi-pet households, and more.

Contact: [email protected]

©Ⓟ 2025 by Amy Castro.

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The Pet Parent HotlineBy Amy Castro, MA, CSP

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