Pet cremation and funeral services in Colombia: individual, collective, and what to check before paying

Quick answer: if your dog or cat died inside the house, don't put it out with the trash. Confirm whether the case is a public-road pickup or a home pickup, and if you want its ashes, hire a private service that puts the method in writing. We're very sorry; let's take it step by step, without panic.

The first thing to be clear about is that cremation with ashes is a paid private service. It is not the cleaning service or a government procedure.

If the animal is on the public road in front of your home

Here there is a written rule. According to Decree 1077 of 2015 (article 2.3.2.2.2.3.43), the cleaning service provider must remove, within six hours of any citizen's request, dead animals of minor species not exceeding 50 kg that have been abandoned on public roads and areas. Collection, transport and disposal are paid by the territorial entity. If the animal on a road or public area weighs more than 50 kg, collection is the responsibility of the territorial entity. The Water Supply Regulation Commission (CRA) repeats the same rule in its Opinion 27081 of 2016, although it clarifies that it is not binding and does not resolve individual cases.

Note: that rule refers to public roads and areas. It is not a free pickup at your home inside your apartment. In Bogotá the official pages don't say the same thing: a 2022 Alcaldía note mentions pickup in homes too, while the UAESP FAQ indicates that a dead domestic animal is requested from a private provider and that public-road cases are reported to Línea 110. My advice: call Línea 110 and ask about your specific case before waiting for anyone.

What not to do

Don't put it in the household trash bag. Article 111, numeral 6, of Law 1801 of 2016 prohibits improperly disposing of dead non-edible animals, or parts of them, within household waste.

Also don't copy burial pit or burning instructions circulating online. The ICA guides that discuss this are for livestock carcasses in emergencies, not for a dog or cat in an urban garden. While you decide, keep the body in a cool, dry place, use gloves if you have to move it, and don't leave it for long.

In Medellín, the Subsecretaría de Salud Pública oversees the final disposal of biological risk waste, including animals that died of infectious diseases. If you suspect your animal died of something contagious, let your veterinarian know.

Individual or group cremation: the word that changes everything

The commercial difference that the operators consulted document is simple. Individual means they cremated that animal alone and return its ashes to you, usually in an urn. Collective or group is a shared process and, in the two offers reviewed, without return of identified ashes.

For example, Cremapets, at Bodega 1 of the La Paz business and logistics center, Carrera 36 #8-442, Zipaquirá, distinguishes individual cremation (ashes and urn) and basic group cremation, and declares coverage in Bogotá, Soacha and the Sabana. Funeraria Campos de Paz, based in Guayabal, Calle 2 Sur #65-263, Medellín, offers individual cremation with an urn of that animal's ashes and collective cremation without individual ashes, with pickup in Medellín and the metropolitan area. These are examples, not a closed directory.

As for timing, there is no official statistic: operators quote different waiting times, and Campos de Paz mentions 24 to 72 hours including collection. Don't assume that ashes arriving days later signal fraud; ask about the timeframe, request the method in the contract, and check whether you can observe the process.

What the service provider should show

Incinerating animal remains, including pet cremation, requires prior air emissions permission from the competent environmental authority, according to the legal opinion of MinAmbiente dated September 27, 2024. The furnace must comply with Resolution 909 of 2008: operate at 750 °C or higher in the combustion chamber and at 900 °C or higher in the afterburner, with gas retention longer than two seconds. That is an equipment standard, not something you have to measure; but you can ask whether they have the permit.

Before paying, ask in writing:

• The phrase "individual" or "collective" and whether they return ashes.
• Coverage area and pickup timeframe.
• Whether they can pick it up at home or at the clinic.
• Evidence of the emissions permit from the environmental authority.
• Whether you can witness the process.

A nice viewing room doesn't replace any of these details. And don't let anyone sell you an "official certificate" as if it were a government requirement: that requirement does not appear in the sources reviewed.

Price: there is no official rate

I didn't find a national peso rate for pet cremation or for a funeral plan. The price is set by each contract and varies by weight and method. One operator publishes its own list by weight; another only quotes. The prices you see online are commercial lists, not a rate for your city, and they change. Ask for a written quote with the type of cremation, weight and whether they return ashes. A low price without that information is not a safe bargain.

A long weekend to keep in mind: November 16, 2026

The editorial calendar marks November 16, 2026 as the Cartagena Independence long weekend. I haven't verified any special hours, so that Monday, ask directly whether Línea 110 and your private operator are open.

How to publish the service without overpromising

If you are a provider, your listing should state coverage area, whether it is individual or collective, whether pickup is included, whether you return ashes, response hours and what document you show. Post photos of the vehicle and the service area, never of the body. You set the price and it is confirmed before payment. If you don't yet have an emissions permit and work as an intermediary, say so clearly.

To separate product from service, see this guide on selling items and offering pet care. Walking and care while the animal is alive do not cover the body or replace the permit; that is what the guide on dog walking and home pet-care servicesis about. And if you have a bed or harness left over, they are sold separately, as explained in the guide on accessories, beds and clothing; the animal, of course, is not an item for sale.

Frequently asked questions

❓ What do I do if my dog or cat dies inside the house?

Don't put it out with the trash. Confirm whether the case is a public-road or home pickup and, if you want ashes, call a private service that puts the method in writing. Keep it in a cool, dry place, and use gloves if you must move it (verify with the official source).

❓ Does the cleaning company pick up the pet from the apartment?

The written rule in Decree 1077 applies to public roads and areas, up to 50 kg and six hours from the request. In Bogotá the official pages don't say the same about the home, so confirm your case with Línea 110 (verify with the official source).

❓ Can I throw the body in the trash bag?

No. Article 111, numeral 6, of Law 1801 of 2016 prohibits improperly disposing of dead non-edible animals within household waste. It is better to hire a cremation service or consult the appropriate channel depending on where the body is (verify with the official source).

❓ How does individual cremation differ from collective cremation?

In the offers consulted, individual cremation returns that animal's ashes, usually in an urn, and collective or group cremation does not. Check that the contract states which one you paid for, and ask about the delivery timeframe and whether you can observe the process (verify with the official source).

❓ How much does pet cremation cost? Is there an official rate?

The sources reviewed show no official national rate. The price depends on weight, method and operator; some publish a list and others only quote. Request a written quote before paying and compare the same method (verify with the official source).

❓ How do I avoid scams, and what should I ask the service provider before paying?

Ask in writing for the individual or collective phrasing, the area, the pickup timeframe and whether they return ashes. Ask about the environmental authority's emissions permit and whether you can witness the process. Be wary of low prices without those clarifications (verify with the official source).

❓ Where do I publish a pet pickup or cremation service?

You can list it in the pet services category of Colombia Move, indicating area, method, whether pickup is included and direct contact. Don't offer veterinary care or a government certificate that doesn't exist, and use photos of the vehicle and service area, never of the body.