Amelia WilliamsI’ll never forget the day I had to say goodbye to our childhood dog. The house was so quiet without his steps, leaving nothing but dog hairs on the couch he used to sleep on. It was unconditional love taken too quickly from us.
He was our family, and we wanted to honor him the same way he gave us so much love from his tiny little body. Our good boy deserved kindness in his passing too, and we settled for nothing but the best for him.
Only a few funeral services in Auckland understood our grief – even fewer, those who knew how to make the heavy feelings feel easy.
We hope this review of the best funeral services in Auckland allows you to find the right people, those who will make the goodbyes feel like it’s never the last time.
How much does an animal funeral service cost in Auckland?
The cost of an animal funeral service in Auckland ranges from $250 to $450 for pets under 50kg.
The amount depends on the type of animal, the weight, the type of funeral service, and any additional items such as keepsakes and the choice of urn.
1. Gentle Waves Pet Water Cremation
Location: 65 Barrys Point Road, Takapuna
Contact:
- Phone: +64 221617511
- Website: https://www.gentlewaves.co.nz/
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/gentlewaves_nz
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Sunday: By Appointment
The Gentle Waves won us over with their unique service offering. The company is the only one in the city to offer water cremation (aquamation), which we find as an eco-conscious alternative to traditional flame cremation.
Beyond this, we appreciate that the services are organised into 3 clearly defined packages, ideal for varying needs and budgets.
We find the Basic Package sufficient for a respectable option, though it’s important to note that no ashes are returned for this one.
We found the Premium Package to offer the best value for money. It comes with a 60-minute private farewell service, allowing families to be involved in the goodbye process. It also includes full cremation inclusions, a keepsake, and a framed photo.
Other small touches elevate them among the best, like that farewell room that provides a calm space for grieving families. There are also Afterpay options, giving clients financial flexibility during an already difficult time.
More importantly, it’s a gentler send-off to your beloved furry companions. These packages provide you with private farewell rooms where you may spend all the time you need to say goodbye to your pet.
Also, 1% of every sale supports canine cancer research at Massey University, so your peaceful send-off can help other mans’ best friends spend more time with their humans.
We only wish for their pricing to be more transparent – the lack of upfront details forces clients to contact them, which could be convenient during a time of grief. Other than that, we are satisfied with their services.
Gentle and comforting
“Our beloved fur-baby cat, Toby, became very sick and had to sadly be put down. In the very devastating state we were, Erica and Summer were so lovely, with lots of patience and hugs, taking us through the whole process of their cremation system which seemed a more gentle and comforting way. They were always available, prompt and ready for any questions. I would highly recommend Gentle Waves Pet Water Cremation for your fur baby.”
-Jennifer K. | Site
Calm and respectful approach
“I highly recommend Summer and Erica’s water cremation service. They bring a calm, respectful approach to a process that can feel overwhelming, and it is clear they genuinely care about the families they work with. Their professionalism and warmth made a difficult time a little easier — I’m grateful for the way they handled everything with such care and dignity.”
-Yuen Hao C. | Site
2. Caring Cremations
Location: 4c Amokura Street, Henderson
Contact: +64272472557
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
One of the best things about Caring Cremations is that they can accommodate a wide range of animals. This includes dogs, birds, reptiles, and even small rodent pets. Both individual and communal cremation are available for flexibility as well.
The individual cremation comes at a great value for money, in our opinion. It comes with a crafted wooden box for ashes and a cremation certificate. Turnaround is fast too, as the ashes are typically ready within 3 business days.
The level of respect and peace they offer is also a solid factor. Their on-farewell room allows families to get as much private time as they need to say goodbye. The staff were also warm and friendly, allowing families to grieve without worry.
The place also offers many helpful advantages, such as pickup directly from homes or vet clinics. We find this convenience useful for families struggling to make arrangements during a difficult time. Clients noted that this is done with compassion.
We just wish that their pricing were much clearer and better broken down per package. This could be improved to help clients make quicker decisions and ensure they’re not paying for hidden costs.
Shows genuine compassion and support
“Losing our very precious Bobby was absolutely heartbreaking… but Scott at Caring Cremations treated him with the care and respect he deserved. From the very first minute on the phone, Scott was exceptional, showing genuine compassion and support. He was even willing to stay a bit longer after hours to ensure everything was handled with care. We are forever grateful for the warmth, understanding, kindness and respect Scott showed – not just to Bobby, but to us as well. Thank you for helping us say goodbye to our wonderful boy with love and gentleness. I would recommend Caring Cremations without any hesitation!”
-Elena Terekhina | Google Reviews
Caring and comforting
“Scot was so caring and comforting at a terrible time for us. He looked after our little Maisy with respect and walked us through the process with a calmness and patience that really helped. We were given private time with our little girl to say our final goodbyes. Maisy is now home with us thanks to Scot and team. We would highly recommend Scot and Caring Cremations.”
-Jason Gill | Google Reviews
3. Truly Treasured
Location: 77 Great South Road, Papakura
Contact: +64800300109
Opening Hours: Open 24 Hours
Truly Treasured wins in terms of capacity, accommodating pets of all sizes, from small birds to large horses. But beyond this, it’s their deeply personal approach that sets them apart – pets are treated by name and handled with respect at every stage.
The individual cremation option is impressive, as it already includes pick-up from the home or vet clinic. It comes with a certificate of cremation, too, and a return of ashes. For convenience, they offer personal delivery or tracked courier return.
Their equine cremations are unique and one of the best we’ve encountered. For this, they provide an end-of-life package, including in-home euthanasia consultations, collection, and expert handling by an experienced equine team.
Most of the feedback we’ve gathered is overwhelmingly positive. In particular, clients noted how kind they are in communication and how sensitive they are when explaining cremation details.
That said, they’re not the best when it comes to managing communication delays, especially during public holidays. There were frustrations over inconsistent courier fees too, so we wish to see improvements here.
First-rate communication
“It’s devastating losing our fur babies, but Truly Treasured soothed the final journey of mine. Their communication from first call through to the courier company was first rate. I went for a simple return of my wee dog’s ashes but I was impressed with the little sack she came in, the named box and her death certificate. Thank you 🙌 …”
-Lisa Cruse | Google Reviews
Made the process easier
“Wow! It is always difficult to say goodbye to one that was so precious to us. Truly Treasures made this process so much easier.
The urn was so beautiful! And the photo captured our little girl perfectly. The engraving, certificate, and how everything was packaged spoke of their care and dedication.
Thank you so much. There was a few tears shed, but it was wonderful.😊”
-Sharlene Almond | Google Reviews
4. Pet Cremations Ltd
Location: Unit 3/9 Brigade Road, Māngere
Contact: +6492638692
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
As a family-run business, Pet Cremation won a spot as one of the city’s most hands-on providers. Many clients often note that they’re respectful and professional, helping families get through difficult moments.
In terms of services, we like that they have 3 distinct cremation options: Group, Special, and Private Individual Cremation. For those on a budget, the Special Cremation may be the best choice as it comes with all the inclusions and a separate space in the chamber.
However, if you need time and space for your family for the service, you can opt for the Private Cremations. This takes 2 to 4 hours and requires an appointment.
Small as it may seem, we definitely appreciate their presentation. Ashes are returned in a white box wrapped in tissue, tied with a red ribbon, and often adorned with a single rose. It’s simply a meaningful token that we’re sure all families will love.
The overall turnaround for ashes is fast, so clients can get their beloved back with no hassle.
However, there are times when they take a long time before responding to inquiries, which is inconvenient at a time of emotional stress. Fortunately, this only happened a handful of times, and they’re still reliable in most cases.
Friendly and caring staff
“Thank you to John and family for what you’ve done for us! So grateful for the beautiful work you done getting our little fur baby back to us in a beautiful manner. Appreciate your work so much 🥺❤️ Definitely recommend!! There’s not enough stars here to rate properly. When we arrived with our beloved Buddy the other day, it was John that took care of us and was so light hearted and funny and kept me smiling at such a sensitive time so I’m super grateful for that too!”
-Whitney | Google Reviews
Kind, considerate, and calm
“Jay was kind and considerate and calm in his interactions with myself and my mother. Horror reason to need the services of PC, but everything was done to allow the experience was smooth, discrete and caring. Thank you.”
-A L Lomas| Google Reviews
5. Pets @ Rest Limited
Location: 6/110 Mays Road, Penrose
Contact: +6496330203
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Saturday: 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Pets @ Rest is one of Auckland’s longest-standing and most trusted pet cremation providers. We’re not surprised, considering they have a broad range of services, providing cremation options for all types of pets.
We find their private cremation to be the best value for money. This includes a 2 to 3-hour service that comes with an optional viewing room and access to a grief library. It’s a solid option for those who want to say their personal goodbyes.
Everything else meets our standard. Ashes are individually handled and are returned within 22 hours (one of the fastest in the city). Clients can also easily arrange for home pickup and delivery, which makes them accessible.
For all cremations, ashes are returned in either a pine or cardboard urn. What’s nice is that even if the clients choose not to retain the remains, the communal cremation still ensures respectful final handling.
Unfortunately, we did receive reports of the owner being a little cold and defensive in responses. This affects the clients during emotional conversations, so improvements in this area will be very much appreciated.
Caring people all the way through
“Kobe passed at home on Sunday after 20 years of love.
This is the 2nd pet Ive brought to them over the years and both times they’ve been awesome. Compassionate and caring people all the way through. Thank you Mindy and team for the heartbreaking but wonderful job you do.”
-cazpeople | Google Reviews
Sincere empathy and compassion
“Thank you Mindy and team Pets at Rest for taking good care of our sweet queen of hearts ‘Dolly’. Your genuine care as we honoured her. The lovely box with her remains so pretty with delicate engraving on top. Complete with Certificate and a beautiful card of comfort. Your sincere empathy and compassion really helped as we said our long goodbyes. The whole process was fitting for our dear family member – 21 years gifted to us 💕 Stay being the way you do what you do, thank you from Nav and Trish Rogers”
-Trish Rogers | Google Reviews
