Goat, pig and alpaca aftercare in London, Ontario
A 150 lb goat or a pot-bellied pig won't fit the plans most pet crematories are built around. This guide explains your real options, from private cremation to farm-gate collection, and what each one costs.
- What to do in the first few hours
- Disease reporting, explained plainly
- Keepsakes: fleece, feathers, halter
London, Ontario
Who can help with a goat, pig or sheep in London
London is surrounded by some of Ontario's richest farmland. Middlesex County and its neighbours have dairy and beef farms, pig and sheep operations, horse farms and hobby farms, and the Western Fair each September shows off the region's livestock. When a horse, cow, alpaca or goat dies, the farm's location and lane access shape almost every decision that follows. Bring the animal's details and the farm's lane layout to the first call.
Farm families around London generally choose between a private cremation, with ashes returned, a shared cremation, or deadstock collection and other disposal routes permitted in Ontario. A horse or cow needs a large-animal cremation unit, which few facilities have, so check travel distance and costs up front. A quote that names every charge, from pickup to the return of ashes, lets you compare fairly.
If nobody in London takes your species at its weight, look to a larger centre such as Hamilton or to providers serving Toronto. Equine crematories often take donkeys, llamas and big pigs, and some charge by the pound, which can work out fairly for a mid-size animal. Ask whether they'll meet you halfway or share a collection run with another owner in your area.
With roughly 422,000 residents, London is the 6th-largest of the 15 Ontario communities we cover. The nearest larger centre is Hamilton, about 72 miles (116 km) away, which is where some providers serving London are based.
For a second opinion on price, Guelph (63 miles), Hamilton (72 miles) and Burlington (77 miles) are close enough that their providers cover London routinely. Two written quotes tell you more than any price list.
81.1%[1]
CANA projects the Canadian cremation rate will reach 81.1% by 2030.
$600-$1,000[2]
Cremating a 1,000-pound horse was reported to cost about $600-$1,000, depending on location and the price of propane.
3-5% of body weight[3]
Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight.
None of the figures on this this page are ours alone: they rest on Extension Horses (eXtension national Cooperative Extension) and Embrace Pet Insurance.
Burial, cremation and farm tradition in Canada
In Canada, where roughly 81.1%[1] of people are cremated, scattering is a familiar idea, and that suits smallholders. Many local keepers take a goat's or sheep's ashes back out to the paddock rather than keeping them indoors. On your own land scattering generally needs no permit, which makes it an easy tradition to adopt even if you'd never bury stock.
The Canada percentage above is from CANA Industry Statistical Information (2030) and refers to human funerals. Treat it as context for London, not as a count of pets.
When the weather sets the timetable in London
Without local weather figures for London, trust your own sense of the day. If you're comfortable in a T-shirt, treat it as warm and move quickly; if the troughs are icing over, you have more time but harder access. Farm animals don't die to a forecast, so plan for the week you're in and the one ahead.
How much to budget in London
Provincial rules for dead livestock apply to pet goats, sheep and pigs as well, and many keepers use a licensed deadstock collector as the lower-cost option, with nothing returned. If you want your animal's ashes, private cremation is the route; the table shows published Canadian reference prices for animals in the weight ranges most farm pets fall into.
Rather than repeat the price table on every city page, we keep one for Ontario: Ontario costs. What each service includes is on the services page.
Free tool
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
Rules worth knowing in Ontario
In most places a pet goat or pig is still a goat or pig in the eyes of the law, so the rules written for farms apply to it. Those rules exist for water safety and disease control, and they tend to favor collection, rendering or cremation over burial. The notes below cover Ontario in general; ask your vet or animal health office about your species.
In Canada, each province sets its own rules for dead livestock, and they generally apply to pet goats, sheep and pigs too. Ontario, for example, has a dedicated deadstock regulation covering burial, composting and licensed collectors. Winter matters: frozen ground rules out burial for months in much of the country, so many keepers cremate first and scatter the ashes in spring.
For Ontario's rules on burying a pet at home or scattering ashes, see the Ontario guide. Local rules in London can be stricter than the state's, especially in homeowners' associations and rentals.
The first day, step by step
- Say goodbye in your own way. There's time for a few quiet minutes in the barn or paddock, even on a busy farm day.
- Keep the body shaded, covered and away from dogs or any other scavenger while you're on the phone.
- Find a provider that takes your species at its weight. Ask your vet who they use nearby, or let us send you local options.
- Choose private, communal or collection, then get it in writing so there's no doubt about which one is booked.
- Decide how the animal gets there. Collection from the farm costs extra; taking it in your own pickup or trailer often cuts the bill a good deal.
- Plan where the ashes will go. You don't have to decide now. Many keepers wait for a season or anniversary before scattering.
Keeping your goat, pig or hen close
Southwestern Ontario weather can make large-animal aftercare harder. Lake-effect snow blocks farm lanes in winter, frozen soil rules out burial for months, and spring thaw leaves fields too soft for heavy vehicles. It is worth deciding, before the day comes, where a truck with a winch could reach an older horse or cow on solid ground, and asking providers what equipment they use.
For a plain comparison of the choices, open services, use the free tools before you ring anyone, or compare your instinct with the poll results, browse in-depth guides or recent articles. Close to London we also cover Hamilton, Ottawa, Brampton and Markham; the full list for Ontario and for Canada is a click away.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
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Before today, did you know the burial rules for farm species where you live?
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What was (or would be) hardest about the practical side?
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If you had to decide today, which aftercare would you choose for your pet?
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Free tools to help you plan
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
Livestock mortality planner
Plan disposal capacity and costs for farm losses, from one animal to a herd.
Urn size calculator
Find the urn volume you need from your pet's weight, plus keepsake and sharing options.
Questions people ask
Which nearby towns can I compare with London?
The closest communities we cover are Guelph (about 63 miles), Hamilton (about 72 miles) and Burlington (about 77 miles). Providers based in those places often serve London too. Ask each one for a written total that includes collection, so the distance is priced in.
Is cremation common in Canada?
For people, yes: about 81.1%[1] of Canada deaths end in cremation, according to CANA Industry Statistical Information (2030). Nobody publishes the same figure for pets, but in our experience pet choices in London follow the human pattern closely, so cremation is the default most families here start from.
Will I have to travel to Hamilton to arrange things?
Not usually. Providers based in Hamilton (roughly 72 miles from London) collect from here as a matter of routine, and the paperwork is done by email or phone. If you want to be present for a witnessed cremation, that is when the drive matters.
Can I bring my goat or pig to the crematory myself?
Usually yes, and it often saves the whole collection fee. Call ahead to agree a time, confirm they accept the weight and ask how they unload. A pickup or small trailer with a ramp works well; lay the animal on a tarp so it can be slid rather than lifted. Bring a helper, and don't try to lift a heavy animal alone.
Who collects dead farm animals in rural areas near London?
In Canada, licensed deadstock collectors serve many farming districts; in Australia and New Zealand, knackeries and pet-food processors often do the same job. They're quick and inexpensive, and nothing is returned. Anyone wanting their animal's ashes back needs a pet or large-animal crematorium instead. Your vet will know which services still run near you.
Can I get my animal's ashes back through fallen-stock collection?
No. Knackers, fallen-stock collectors and renderers process animals in bulk and nothing is returned. It's a respectful, lawful and inexpensive route, and some owners are comfortable with it. If you want your own animal's ashes, you need a private cremation, confirmed in writing, from a crematory that takes farm species.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] CANA projects the Canadian cremation rate will reach 81.1% by 2030. CANA Industry Statistical Information, 2030.
- [2] Cremating a 1,000-pound horse was reported to cost about $600-$1,000, depending on location and the price of propane. Extension Horses (eXtension national Cooperative Extension) - Horse Disposal Options, 2019, 2019.
- [3] Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight. Embrace Pet Insurance - Bury or Cremate Your Dog? Costs, Pros & Cons, 2025.
- [4] About 10,630 U.S. cattle and calves died every day in 2015. Our estimate: 3,880,000 / 365. How we calculate.
Tell us about your goat, sheep, pig or bird
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.