Wayside Waifs has been helping families for generations with compassionate aftercare for cherished family pets. Your friends at Wayside Waifs truly understand the pain of such a loss. We are here to support you during this time of sorrow and help make final arrangements for your pet’s passing.
What Makes Wayside Waifs Different
Unlike most pet cemeteries, all revenue from Wayside Waifs’ Pet Memorial Services goes to help the shelter provide loving care for its current residents until permanent homes can be found. We hope you will find comfort in knowing that your pet, even in death, is helping another animal.
The Pet Memorial Services office building is located behind the shelter and overlooks the cemetery. Pet Memorial Park was started in 1946 and includes the Top of the World, Peaceful Meadow, Cedar Shadows, and Companion Field. Please contact our Pet Memorial Services office to speak to one of our caring staff members at 816-986-4406 or email our team to discuss the different options available to you.
If you would like to honor your pet with a memorial to help us care for other animals in our shelter, please complete our online donation form. It is a wonderful way to pay tribute to your pet or to a friend’s pet.
If you have recently experienced the loss of a pet, we invite you to learn more about Wayside’s Pet Loss Support Group.
Honor Their Memory
Know someone who has experienced the loss of a pet? Show your support by making a gift in their memory. Send your condolences today.
Our Services Include
Individual Cremation
Your pet is cremated separately and ashes are returned to you in a beautiful, wooden urn. A copy of the Rainbow Bridge poem and a certificate of cremation are also included.
Cost for Individual Cremation:
- $145.00 (0 – 49 lb.)
- $175.00 (50 lb. – 99 lb.)
- $200.00 (100 lb. and above)
- $50.00 (Small mammals and pocket pets)
Communal Cremation
During a communal cremation, your pet will be cremated with other pets. The ashes of your pet are then buried in a communal grave in the Companion Field section of our pet cemetery. Each communal grave is marked with a number for future visitation.
Cost for Communal Cremation is $60.00 (any size pet)
Cost for Communal Cremation $25 for pocket pets
Cremation Burials
Following individual cremation, your pet’s ashes are placed in a small casket and buried in the Cedar Shadows section of our pet cemetery. Cost for cremation burial includes: individual cremation, watertight casket for cremains, granite headstone, plot, interment, and maintenance. We can offer a private or public memorial service to pay tribute to your pet before burial.
Cost for Cremation Burial begins at $530. Costs may increase slightly depending on the size of the pet.
Traditional Burials
The traditional burial package includes the plot, interment, casket, granite headstone, and a one-time grave maintenance fee. Three business days are needed to prepare for a burial which can be held Monday through Friday. We offer a viewing of your pet before the service. Friends, family members, and pets are welcome to attend. Following the viewing, the casket is moved to the gravesite where a final tribute is made by reading the Rainbow Bridge poem, and/or other selected readings. You may also reserve adjoining plots at this time so additional family pets may be buried in the same area at a future date.
Cost for Traditional Burial begins at $700.00. Costs may increase slightly depending on the size of the pet.
Urns and Caskets
Upgraded urns may be ordered through Wayside. Some urns can be engraved for an additional fee. Caskets are available in 10″, 20″, 24″, 32″, 40″, and 52″ sizes.
Pre-need Services
Wayside Waifs encourages pet owners to visit Pet Memorial Services to make final arrangements for your pet in advance. When your pet passes, you will have the peace of mind knowing that plans are in place to take care of your pet. Pre-need services may also be arranged entirely over the phone, if preferred.
Pickup Services
Wayside Waifs offers complimentary pet pick-up services from local veterinary clinics. If this service is requested, you may call our Pet Memorial Services office and we can help to schedule the pick-up with your veterinary clinic. We also offer local resident pick-up for $100.00 within 25 miles of our facility. Pick-up services are only available Monday through Friday.
Please contact our office at 816-986-4406, to make arrangements or for additional information regarding this service.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What services does Wayside offer?
Wayside Waifs provides compassion and comfort to those who have lost a pet. Our services include:
- Burial Services
- Cremation Services
- Headstones, urns, and caskets
How do you maintain the cemetery?
Our maintenance staff provides lawn care, leaf and snow removal, tree and path maintenance, and headstone resetting.
What can I do if my pet passes away at home?
Gently wrap your pet in a towel or blanket and place in a spare box or bag to protect clothing and upholstery during transport. Contact Pet Memorial Services at 816-986-4406 Monday-Friday between 10am-5pm to schedule a drop-off appointment. If it is a Saturday or Sunday, please call the Reception desk in the main shelter at 816-761-8151 for assistance. Keeping your pet in a cool place is essential if you are unable to bring your pet in immediately.
What payment methods do you accept for services?
Wayside Waifs accepts cash, check, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover. We do not currently accept CareCredit.
Why bury at a pet cemetery? Why not bury in your backyard?
Local laws may prohibit home burial in your area. Burial in a cemetery alleviates the concern of leaving your pet behind if you move. For those who wish to bury their pet on property other than Wayside Waifs’ cemeteries, we offer a variety of pet caskets that can be purchased from us.
How will my pet’s cremated remains be returned to me?
Your pet’s cremated remains will be returned to you in a beautiful wooden urn with a copy of the Rainbow Bridge poem. Or, you can choose to have your pet’s ashes interred in an urn from our selection.
How soon will my pet’s ashes be returned?
Remains can be picked up at our office within 7-10 business days. Extra time is sometimes needed to order special urns or to perform special engraving.
When can I visit my pet’s gravesite?
You can visit our cemetery during daylight hours, seven days a week, including holidays.
Wayside Waifs
3901 Martha Truman Road
Kansas City, MO 64137
816-761-8151
Adoption Hours
4/8 - 4/14, 2024
Monday - Thursday: Closed
Friday: 10am - 7pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10am- 5pm
Our Programs and Services
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