If your pet has just died at home, nothing has to happen in the next hour. Keep them cool, then call your vet clinic (or a 24-hour emergency vet if it is closed) or a pet cremation service: they can explain your options and often come to pick your pet up. In Québec, you choose between communal cremation (no ashes returned), individual cremation (ashes returned), aquamation or, depending on your town, burial.
Updated October 7, 2026. Bylaws and prices read on that date and linked in the text. This guide gives practical pointers; for any question about your pet, your vet is still the best person to call.
The first hours, step by step
- Take your time. You can stay close, stroke them, say goodbye, and let the rest of the family do the same. If you have any doubt that they have died, call your clinic or an emergency vet right away.
- Lay them down gently. Place them on a towel or blanket in a quiet spot. If you prefer, wear gloves to handle them; the City of Montréal advises avoiding touching a dead animal with bare hands (Montréal, in French).
- Keep them cool. The Québec crematorium Incimal advises keeping the pet "cool or refrigerated": in winter, in a sealed, closed container outside; in other seasons, with bags of ice, ice packs or a cooler (Incimal, in French).
- Call your vet clinic. It works with a crematorium and can take care of everything. If it is closed, its voicemail will often refer you to a 24-hour emergency centre. You can also call a pet crematorium directly.
- Arrange a pickup if you can't travel. Several services come to your home, usually for a fee (see below).
- Choose the type of aftercare. You don't have to decide on an urn or keepsakes right away: ashes can wait.
And in the following days: notify your city within 15 days if your pet was registered (see below).
Who to call in the Québec City and Lévis area
- Your vet clinic: the first call, day or evening (voicemail with an on-call emergency).
- SPA de Québec: home pickup when your pet has died at home, on weekday afternoons, "at affordable rates," with payment before the trip. Check its map to see whether your municipality is served (SPA de Québec, 418-527-9104, in French).
- SPA de Lévis: it runs animal services for the City of Lévis, including the "collection of nuisance domestic animals, alive or dead" (City of Lévis, 418-832-2525, in French). No fee posted: ask by phone whether they pick up a pet, and at what price.
- A pet crematorium: most work mainly with clinics, but several accept calls from families and offer transport.
Cremation, aquamation or burial: the options
| Option | What it is | Do you get the ashes? |
|---|---|---|
| Communal cremation | Your pet is cremated with other animals. | No |
| Individual (private) cremation | Your pet is cremated alone. Some crematoriums let you attend. | Yes, in an urn |
| Aquamation | A water-based method rather than fire, offered by some Québec services (for example Aquanimaux and Incimal). | Yes, for the private option |
| Burial in a pet cemetery | The body or urn is buried in a place meant for it. | Not applicable |
| Burial on your property | Depends on your town (see below). | Not applicable |
Can you bury your pet in your backyard in Québec?
It depends on your municipality, and the answer is not always written down. What we found on October 7, 2026:
- Montréal: the City states that "in Québec, the law prohibits burying an animal in the yard of your house or in any unauthorized place" (Montréal, our translation). It cites no section of law, and we did not find the matching provincial text.
- Lévis and Québec City: their animal bylaws (RV-2021-20-99 and R.V.Q. 2698) say nothing about burial on private land.
- A Québec vet who does in-home euthanasia sums it up: before burying a pet on private land, check your municipality's rules, which vary from town to town (Partir avec dignité, in French).
So before you dig, call your city (311 or citizen services). Montréal also says an animal found dead on your property can go in a closed bag with household garbage. If cremation isn't possible for you, ask your city what it allows.
What it costs: a Québec price survey
Most Québec crematoriums do not publish their prices: often, the vet clinic sets the final price. Here are the public prices we could read on October 7, 2026. Always ask for a quote by phone, including transport and taxes.
| Service | What is posted | Source |
|---|---|---|
| SPCA de l'Outaouais (Gatineau) | Communal cremation: $21 (small animals), $49 (cats), from $54 (0 to 25 lb) to $132 (111 to 150 lb), plus tax. Individual cremation: $297 plus tax, urn of your choice, whatever the weight. | spcaoutaouais.ca |
| Auranimal (Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon) | Cremation from $375 plus tax for a pet of 30 lb or less, basic urn included. Transport offered (price not posted). | auranimal.ca |
| Incimal (Berthierville) | Cremation price set by the vet clinic. On-site farewell time: $125 (30 min) or $185 (1 h), plus tax. Home transport: extra fee. | incimal.com |
| SPA de Québec | Euthanasia by appointment on weekdays; the fee (not posted, not taxable) includes group cremation. No return of the body or ashes: for that, go through a clinic. | spadequebec.ca |
| Compagnons Éternels (Montréal and Ottawa) | Cremation prices not posted. Ottawa cemetery: $1,295 for burial of the body, $795 for an urn. | compagnonseternels.ca |
| Québec City–Lévis area | No prices found online: the local crematoriums we looked for had no readable website. Your clinic can give you its crematorium's prices. | — |
In short (estimate): communal cremation often costs under $150, and individual cremation about $300 to $400 or more, depending on weight, transport and urn. A Noovo Moi article gave a range of $50 to $600 for cremation, depending on weight and type, but it dates from 2016 (updated 2023). Add euthanasia if it happens at the clinic or at home: its price varies from clinic to clinic, so ask directly.
Notify your city within 15 days
- Lévis: a pet's keeper must notify the City or the animal service of its death within 15 days (bylaw RV-2021-20-99, s. 57).
- Québec City: same rule, 15 days (R.V.Q. 2698, s. 47, in French).
- Montréal: you have 15 days to cancel your cat or dog permit (Montréal).
Elsewhere, check your municipality's website.
A list to keep by the phone
- ☐ My vet clinic's number: ____________
- ☐ Nearest 24-hour emergency vet: ____________
- ☐ Pickup service or crematorium: ____________
- ☐ Towel or blanket, gloves, ice packs or a cooler
- ☐ Communal, individual or aquamation? Price quoted, including transport and taxes
- ☐ Do I want to keep their collar, a lock of fur or a paw print? (ask before the pickup)
- ☐ Notify the city within 15 days
Taking care of yourself
Losing a pet is real grief, even when you saw it coming. In Québec, Info-Social 811 is a free, confidential phone consultation service, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; grief is one of the reasons to call. Your vet can also point you to support near you.
When you are ready, our guide on how to remember a pet who passed away covers ashes, photos and small rituals. If someone close to you is going through this, see gentle pet sympathy gift ideas.
FAQ
What do I do if my pet dies at home at night?
Lay them on a towel in a quiet spot and keep them cool, for example with ice packs or in a cooler. Call your clinic: after hours, its voicemail will often refer you to a 24-hour emergency vet. Pickup or cremation can wait until the next day.
How much does pet cremation cost in Québec?
Posted prices vary: for example, $21 to $132 plus tax for communal cremation and $297 plus tax for individual cremation at the SPCA de l'Outaouais, or from $375 plus tax at Auranimal (30 lb or less). Many crematoriums don't publish prices: ask your clinic.
Can I bury my dog or cat in my backyard in Québec?
It depends on your municipality. Montréal says it is prohibited; the Lévis and Québec City bylaws don't mention it. Call your city before you do it.
How long can I keep a dead pet at home?
As short a time as possible, and always cool. The Incimal crematorium advises keeping the pet refrigerated, with ice or a cooler, or outside in a sealed container in winter. A service such as Compagnons Éternels offers pickup within 48 hours.
Do I have to tell the city when my pet dies?
Yes, in Lévis and Québec City, within 15 days, and in Montréal you must cancel the permit within 15 days. Elsewhere, check your municipality's bylaw.