Colorado Pet Cremation Guide: Laws, Costs & Options

Updated December 21, 2025 for 2026.

Losing a pet is never easy, and making decisions about cremation can feel overwhelming. This guide explains pet cremation in Colorado—how it works, what it tends to cost, what rules may apply, and how to compare pet cremation providers with confidence.

Throughout Colorado, families most often arrange cremation through a veterinary clinic, an animal shelter, or a dedicated pet aftercare provider. You can usually choose between communal cremation (no ashes returned) and private or individual cremation (ashes returned), along with options like a brief goodbye, keepsakes, and pet urns or pet cremation jewelry.

Pet Cremation Overview in Colorado

Pet cremation in Colorado is a common aftercare choice because it’s flexible: you can keep ashes at home, place them in a pet cemetery, or scatter them in a meaningful location (where allowed). Many providers also offer add-ons like paw prints, fur clippings, memorial boxes, and grief resources.

In most cases, the process looks like this:

• You authorize cremation (often through a vet or directly with a pet aftercare provider).
• Your pet is transported to the crematory (by you, your vet, or a pickup service).
• The cremation is completed based on the option you select (communal, partitioned/individual, or private).
• Ashes (if returned) are placed in a temporary container, an urn, or a keepsake.

If you are choosing an urn, Funeral.com has a helpful pet urn size chart that explains typical sizing by your pet’s weight, plus practical tips for choosing a comfortable capacity.

Average Pet Cremation Costs in Colorado

Pet cremation costs in Colorado vary by provider, your pet’s size, your location, and the level of service you choose. Prices also change over time. The ranges below are meant to help you set expectations, not replace a direct quote.

Communal pet cremation (group cremation, no ashes returned)

• Typical range: about $75–$200
• What drives the cost: pickup/transport fees, weight tiers, and whether a clinic bundles aftercare into euthanasia services

For example, A Paws in Time (Highlands Ranch) lists a flat communal cremation price on its general price list, and Mountain Veterinary Service (Boulder area) publishes a communal cremation price for pets under 100 lbs. You can compare published pricing on A Paws in Time’s pricing page and Mountain Veterinary Service’s pet transport and cremation page.

Private/individual pet cremation (ashes returned to the family)

• Typical range: about $150–$600+
• What drives the cost: weight tiers (cats/small pets vs. large dogs), urn choice, and whether the provider is offering “private” (only your pet in the chamber) or “individual/partitioned” (multiple pets separated)

In Colorado, you may see terms like “private,” “individual,” or “partitioned.” For example, Humane Colorado describes how individual cremation is separated with partitions and posts price tiers for dogs and cats on its End of Life services page. A Paws in Time’s price list also shows tiered pricing for private and partitioned cremation by weight on its general price list.

Private pet cremation with a simple memorial or viewing

• Typical range: about $500–$1,200+
• What it may include: a scheduled time to say goodbye, use of a viewing room, staff support, and sometimes a witness cremation option

For example, A Paws in Time lists separate fees for private viewing time and a witness cremation fee in addition to cremation cost on its pricing page. Other providers may offer visitation rooms, small ceremonies, or an appointment-based farewell option.

If you want an urn that can be personalized with engraving, you can browse Funeral.com’s engravable pet urns for ashes collection. For a broader overview of styles and materials, see Pet urns for ashes: a complete guide for dog and cat owners.

Pet Cremation Laws and Legal Requirements in Colorado

This section is informational and not legal advice. Rules can vary by county and city, and providers may have their own policies.

Colorado does not have a single “pet cremation law” most families interact with day-to-day. Instead, pet aftercare typically falls under broader rules for animal remains disposal and environmental requirements for facilities.

Animal remains disposal and permitted facilities

State guidance on animal carcass disposal notes that carcasses may be taken to certain approved options, including off-site incineration such as a pet crematory, and that these facilities should be permitted and approved by local authorities and/or the state air pollution control division. See the Colorado Department of Agriculture document Animal Carcass Disposal (CDPHE) for the state’s described options and permitting context.

Local rules can matter for burial and disposal

Some families consider home burial. Whether that is allowed (and what depth or distance-from-water rules apply) can depend on local ordinances. As an example of local guidance, Boulder County publishes general information about disposing of a dead animal on its public safety site: How to Dispose of a Dead Animal (Boulder County). If you are considering burial on private property, check your county/city rules first.

Scattering ashes on public lands

After cremation, ashes are often treated differently than a body because cremains are mineral in nature—however, scattering policies can still apply on public lands. If you are considering scattering on federal land, park-specific rules may require dispersal, keeping distance from water and trails, or a permit. For an example of how this works in Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park posts guidance here: Scattering Ashes (Rocky Mountain National Park).

Types of Pet Cremation and Service Options in Colorado

Most pet cremation providers in Colorado offer a menu of options. The names can vary, so it helps to ask the provider to explain exactly what happens in your chosen option.

Communal cremation

Communal pet cremation means multiple pets are cremated together, and ashes are not returned. This is often the lowest-cost option and is commonly offered through shelters, clinics, and county services.

Individual or partitioned cremation

Individual or partitioned cremation generally means more than one pet may be in the chamber, but they are separated (often with partitions) so each family’s ashes can be returned. Some organizations explain their specific process in detail, such as Humane Colorado’s description of individual cremation on its End of Life services page.

Private cremation

Private pet cremation typically means your pet is the only pet in the chamber during the cremation. Families choose this when they want the highest level of separation and reassurance about returned ashes.

Viewing, visitation, or witness options

Some providers offer an appointment-based goodbye (viewing room) or a witness cremation option. These services usually add cost but can feel meaningful for families who want a more guided farewell.

Memorial items and returns

If ashes are returned, they may come in a temporary container or in an urn you select. Many providers also offer paw prints, ink prints, fur clippings, photo tributes, and memorial jewelry. If you want to keep a small portion of ashes in a wearable keepsake, Funeral.com’s guide to cremation jewelry explains common styles and what to look for.

Cultural Norms and Local Practices Around Pet Cremation in Colorado

Colorado families often blend practical aftercare with outdoor-centered remembrance. It’s common to:

• Keep ashes at home in pet urns (on a shelf, mantle, or memory table).
• Create a “trail tribute” ritual—returning to a favorite walk, campsite, or viewpoint to reflect (while following any land rules).
• Choose a small keepsake urn or jewelry so multiple family members can feel connected.
• Hold a simple goodbye at a clinic or a pet aftercare provider’s viewing room when available.

Because Colorado has a mix of city, mountain, and rural communities, aftercare preferences vary widely—what matters most is choosing an option that feels respectful to your family and practical for your situation.

How to Choose a Pet Cremation Provider in Colorado

When comparing pet cremation providers, focus on clarity, traceability, and respectful handling. These questions can help:

Ask for written options and pricing

• Do you have a general price list or written estimate?
• What is included in the base price (temporary container, basic urn, paw print, return delivery)?
• Are there added fees for pickup, after-hours service, or oversized pets?

Confirm exactly what “private” and “individual” mean

• Will my pet be the only pet in the chamber (private), or separated with partitions (individual/partitioned)?
• How do you track pets through the process?

Understand chain-of-custody and identification

• How is my pet identified (tag, paperwork, tracking system)?
• Can you describe how ashes are returned and labeled?
• What is the typical timeline for return?

Look for transparency and professionalism

• Are staff willing to explain the process without rushing you?
• Do they offer grief support resources or referrals?
• If you want to witness or schedule a farewell, what are the rules and hours?

If you’re unsure what kind of urn to choose, start with Funeral.com’s pet urn size chart, then browse urn styles and materials in this pet urn guide.

Notable Pet Cremation Providers in Colorado

The list below is not a recommendation or endorsement. It’s simply a starting point for your own research into pet cremation in Colorado. Availability, pricing, and service areas can change, so contact providers directly for current details.

• Denver Pet Cemetery & Crematory — Commerce City/Denver area: Offers pet cremation and pet cemetery services, with urn and memorial options. Website: Denver Pet Cemetery. Phone: (303) 288-0177.
• Lasting Paws Pet Memorial Services — Multiple Colorado locations (including Loveland, Wheat Ridge, Henderson, Centennial, and Colorado Springs): Offers private cremation and other aftercare services through veterinary partners and direct arrangements. Website: Lasting Paws cremation services. Phone (Loveland contact): 970-962-9200.
• A Paws in Time — Highlands Ranch: Publishes a general price list and offers communal, partitioned, and private cremation, plus viewing and witness options. Website: A Paws in Time pricing.
• Humane Colorado — Denver area: Offers end-of-life services and posts information about individual cremation options and pricing tiers. Website: Humane Colorado end-of-life services.
• Pet Passages (Denver/Centennial area) — Centennial: Provides pet aftercare and cremation services with support resources for families. Website: Pet Passages Denver.
• Ashes to Ashes Pet Cremation — Montrose: Offers private and communal cremation options and memorial products. Website: Ashes to Ashes Pet Cremation. Phone: (970) 209-5144.
• Mountain Veterinary Service — Boulder area: Offers pet pickup/transport and cremation coordination with published baseline pricing for communal and private cremation for pets under 100 lbs. Website: Pet transport and cremation. Phone: (303) 718-2419.
• Park County Animal Control — Fairplay/Park County: Notes that it offers private and communal cremation services (pricing dependent on weight and service type). Website: Other services & fees (Park County Animal Control). Phone: 719-836-4380 (as listed on the page).
• Humane Society of Boulder Valley — Boulder: Provides euthanasia and cremation service appointments and pet loss support resources. Website: Pet loss & support services.

FAQs About Pet Cremation in Colorado

Final note: Laws, policies, and pet cremation costs change. Always verify details directly with your chosen provider, your veterinarian, local animal control, and official state or local sources before making decisions.