Petatree was barely three weeks old when a client asked us to organize a memorial for their dog, Scout. We’re still finding our feet beyond our core offering—turning a pet’s ashes into the life of a tree—so the request caught me off guard. But it made perfect sense to Scout’s family: they wanted to be…
Petatree was barely three weeks old when a client asked us to organize a memorial for their dog, Scout. We’re still finding our feet beyond our core offering—turning a pet’s ashes into the life of a tree—so the request caught me off guard. But it made perfect sense to Scout’s family: they wanted to be together, share stories, and say a final goodbye. Kneeling by the backyard hole they’d dug—Scout’s ashes on my left, a Dwarf Dogwood sapling on my right (yeah, I know)—the weight of what I was doing finally hit me. Faces around the circle showed a mix of smiles, tears, laughter, and sadness as they traded favorite Scout moments. When their eyes drifted back to me, a wave of nervous excitement rolled through. Time to pour the ashes-and-soil mix. There was a light breeze; I had a sudden, cinematic fear of a rogue gust sending ashes toward a family member. Funny in a movie, not so funny here. Thankfully, the pour was perfect. Then I lifted the sapling and felt the finality: once it went in, this tree would be Scout’s memorial—forever.
I could see the same realization on their faces. And they were waiting for me to say something—something real. I hadn’t planned this far, and I hadn’t expected it to feel so dramatic. I went with my gut: “Would each of you like to share a few last words for Scout?” As if on cue, Cheryl—Scout’s mom—began with a beautiful farewell, and everyone followed with genuine, loving tributes. I set the tree on the ashes and soil, backfilled the hole, and Scout’s memorial took its quiet place in the back corner of the yard. There were hugs, warm smiles, and a clear current of positive energy passing among us. I’ve attended several human funerals—including those for my parents and my brother—and none left me feeling as positive, happy, and complete as this did.
Driving home, I kept wondering: how did sharing a memorial for a pet I’d never met make me feel so fulfilled—like a slightly better version of myself? And why hadn’t I felt that at most human funerals? A few days later, life resumed its usual rhythm. I took Buddy, our Maltese–Yorkie (Morkie), to the leash-free park and watched the swirl of people and dogs: running, sniffing, laughing, barking, yelling, smiling, talking, pooping, scooping—controlled chaos in motion. It struck me that our pets create a space where we’re allowed to express and share emotions we often keep under wraps. As a culture, we don’t “do death” particularly well. But when a pet dies, that furry family member reminds us of everything they gave us: unconditional love, introductions to strangers who became friends, the forced exercise we secretly needed, and the laughter—good, bad, and gloriously silly.
That’s when the answer clicked. Pets let us feel exactly what we’re feeling—in the moment—without judgment. We don’t humanize pets; our pets humanize us. So, Scout—even though I didn’t know you in life—thank you for helping make me a better human being.
Petatree provides expert support for each stage of aftercare, from cremation to choosing the most fitting memorial for your pet.
We recommend the Petatree Living Memorial to honour the life your pet.
Instead of putting the ashes of your pet into an urn, which will wind up “on the shelf” you can have your pet’s ashes mixed with Petatree’s pH Buffer (which neutrallzes the alkalinity of the ashes and releases the nutrients within) and plant a tree: a LIving Memorial for your pet that celebrates life and grows more beautiful over time.
“I can’t tell you how much Meagan, Rebecca and I appreciated everything you brought to our home today!!! Not just the tree but Buddy, (Chief Furry Officer) your kind words and your presence. You turned an otherwise sad day into a great day and from the bottom of our hearts we say thank you !!!”
Cheryl MacPherson
,
Mississauga
“when my first little girl, Ethel died I was very happy with the respect and the service you provided; now her sister Lucy has passed and I’d like to turn Lucy into a tree as well”
Armaan
,
Toronto
“Thank you with helping our family deal with Cinnamon’s passing. Cinnamon was our daughter’s first pet and your story of the tree being a form of re-birth in the natural cycle of life really helped us talk about it and help us all feel better!”
Steven J.
,
Vaughan
“Really looking forward to our new tree!! Thanks so much for organizing everything! Your level of service is nothing short of amazing and so caring.”
Manon L.
,
Toronto
“I wish our Veterinarian had told us about this; why don’t they know about Petatree, someone should tell them”
S. Hammond
,
Toronto
“ Thank you so much for all your help and kindness again. My family is very grateful to you and your services.”
Jane A.
,
Toronto
I highly recommend John at Petatree – not only is he knowledgeable and professional, but he is extremely empathetic and supportive during a painful time. He was able to guide us as we made tough decisions for our pet’s final transition. He was very responsive and the process was smooth and effortless.
Sean Pinto
Thank you so much to John for helping us out. We put our beloved cat to rest. Petatree, thank you for all you’ve done for us, from me and my family
Sami Kadiri
I lost my cat to a house fire on the long weekend, John & Petatree were there to make sure she had a proper sendoff.It
was an honor to have these folks involved in saying goodbye to her.
Adipa Wijayathilaka
John really went above and beyond in the services he provided. Truly someone who takes pride in his work!
Eason Hou
I Want to Thank Brother John, and The People at PETATREE, for Their Compassion and Care of Our Dear Ayla’s Final Transition🌟 🙏 🌟
Quite the Sad state at Our Household, when Our Little Girl Passed. And then there was John with His Caring Words and strengths- someone whose voice one would want to hear, especially in our time of sorrow, and loss. Compassionate, Caring, and Professional Thank You John*, and PETATREE* for All You’ve done for Us, and Our Baby AylaBlessings,🌟 🙏 ♥ 🌟
Max Heinrichs
Thank you John and Petatree for helping us going through the cremation process for our pet. John was always responsive and supportive. Everything was smooth and easy. 100% recommended. Extremely grateful with you guys.
Alejndro Montalvo
I cannot be grateful enough for John and his company during a very hard time. He helped us with our fur baby Cheecha when she passed 3 weeks ago. He is very pleasant to deal with, very empathetic, responded to text
messages and answers calls promptly. He very much eased the stress of having to deal with the question ‘what do we do now?’. He’s like a friend we’ve known for a long time, who took care of something very precious for us. So thank you, John.
Char H
We called John at 1:30am when our beloved cat passed away and he picked up right away, providing us very useful advice. We then met him six hours later (at 7:30am!) near his office and he already came up with a tailored made plan for us. John also guided us in every step over this process, communicating details with love and care. The tree that John picked for us in the end is also perfect for our environment. Thank you.
Vincent Wong
When my pet passed away unexpectedly, we were in desperate need of an incremental service late in the evening. Petatree was the only service that could take our pet outside of business hours, which was a huge relief during such a stressful time. The entire process was handled with exceptional care and professionalism, but what stood out most was the human touch. Every step felt thoughtful, kind, and compassionate, making a difficult situation a little easier to bear.What’s more, they are incredibly honest with their business. It was clear that they genuinely care about you and your pet, without any attempt to take advantage of you during such a vulnerable moment.
Yaunshu Cai
I highly recommend Petatree for anyone in need of this type of service. Their warmth, integrity, and professionalism truly make a difference. 5stars!
Mi Hai Alfi
Absolutly amazing service
Owen Jones
I want to say that our experience with this company was very soothing. They did not try to take advantage of us at a difficult time. We lost our dear Pebbles and had taken her to John. He made the experience for us alot more easy to go through. Thank for the exceptional service and taking care of our dearly beloved Pebbles.
Alana Mckechnie
Thank you for the great service.We really appreciate it specially to John who is very approachable and a nice guy
Helque Bourketa
Great service and very respectful with our lost. Thanks to John, I
have a very beautiful tree to care 😊
Katia Zunika
Great, friendly, and caring service! John was amazing during a hard time and took care of everything very quickly. No other service was as helpful or personable as this one.
James McCarthy
The loss of a pet is just as heartbreaking as that of a best friend.
PetiTree provide a living memorial for our loved pets. Thank you!
I Costa
Everything about our dog Smores’ final farewell was handled perfectly. From the moment we arrived, the staff showed incredible kindness, patience, and understanding toward our family. We were never rushed — instead, we were gently encouraged to take all the time we needed, which truly eased our stress during such a difficult time. The calm and comforting atmosphere helped us find a sense of peace in our grief.
I’ll admit, at first I thought the service would be quick — I just wanted to get through the sadness. But when we saw Smores, all the emotions came flooding back. The staff gave us the space to share our memories, look through old photos and videos, and say our final goodbyes in our own way. It became a beautiful moment of reflection and love.
I wish I could remember the name of the young man who helped us — he was outstanding. He spoke proudly about caring for the grounds and explained the history of Petatree and the options for Smores’ headstone, always reminding us to “take our time.” His sincerity and respect meant so much to us. We left feeling that Smores was truly cared for, and that his resting place will be treated with the same love he gave us throughout his life.
Thank you, Petatree, and everyone at Havelberg for helping us through such a painful time with dignity, compassion, and genuine care.
Andrea Clarke
Frequently asked questions
What is Petatree and how does it work?
Petatree helps you honour your pet by turning their ashes into the life of a tree. After cremation, your pet’s ashes are blended with a special pH buffer and conditioned soil inside our green-tech urn. A tree seedling is planted in this mixture so your pet’s ashes help nourish the tree as it grows.
What’s included in the Petatree Memorial Kit?
The Petatree Memorial Kit includes:
– A fully compostable Petatree urn made from sustainable fibre
– A specially conditioned soil mix tailored to your tree type
– A pH buffer that protects the roots from the natural alkalinity of ashes and helps release nutrients
– A tree sapling of your choice
Why do I need a pH buffer for my pet’s ashes?
Cremated remains are naturally very alkaline and can damage young roots if used on their own. Petatree’s pH buffer neutralizes that alkalinity and “activates” the ashes so the nutrients can be safely absorbed by the tree, giving it a healthier start in life.
How long will the urn and planter last in the ground?
Both the Petatree urn and planter are made from composite “green-tech” fibres designed to fully compost within roughly 30–60 days after burial, allowing the tree’s roots to grow through naturally and integrate with the surrounding soil.
Where is Petatree based, and who can use the service?
Petatree is based in Toronto, Ontario, and describes itself as a “completely Canadian” story, working with Canadian partners for product development, cremation, and tree choices. Tree seedlings are supplied through TreeTime.ca, which serves Canada and parts of the U.S. For exact availability and logistics in your area, visitors are encouraged to contact Petatree directly using the phone or email listed on the site.
What if we don’t have a permanent outdoor place to bury/plant our tree
All Petatree saplings are designed to grow naturally indoors for a lifetime. Yet, they can live outdoors as well if and when permanent transplantation is chosen.
Also, Petatree trees are “dwarf” hybrids. They are hearty, will grow well in any space and will grow to a height of approximately 1.5- 2.0 metres.
“We don’t have a lot of space, won’t our tree get too large?”
Not our trees; we choose only dwarf hybrid versions of the tree types we offer our clients. They will reach a height of about 1.5 metres and the choices of tree type are endless.
“how do we know if we have the appropriate environment to keep our tree healthy?
we spent a lot of time on this subject before launching our company. After all, our trees are a symbol of “rebirth” so we take this very seriously. All trees require at least 12 months for their immunity systems to fully develop. So all of our saplings (trees) are at least 24 months or older to ensure their health. Also, the tree types we have chosen are native to the areas of our clients and are extremely hearty. Last, they can and will grow indoors permanently as well as outdoors – depending on your needs.
Isn’t it hard to keep a tree healthy – and alive?
Our company is predicated on the promise of rebirth and providing pet owners a unique, natural memorial for their pets —-
So, we spent 15 months researching this subject with Innovation Guelph, MaRS and our Arborist
Here’s what we discovered:
Decades of scientific study, grafting and genetic cross-hybrid pollination has led to the safe and natural development of trees that will grow indoors – permanently – and outdoors if you wish.
We choose tree types that are native to the areas of our clients and are extremely hearty.
Tree saplings require 12 months of growth to establish a healthy immune system; Petatree saplings are a minimum of 24 months old and are examined regularly before becoming part of a living memorial for your pet.
What if our Petatree Planter doesn’t “go” with our room’s decor?
Our planters are made with all-natural products; the exterior is a beeswax finish and it looks like the bark of a tree. However, if that isn’t suitable we recommend using the Planter to plant your tree and then place it in a planter that suits the room’s style.
Why are our Planters designed to such a high standard of compostibility?
Because, if and when you find a permanent outdoor home for your tree, our Planter will compost
completely within 30 days of planting into the ground- just drop the entire planter
and tree into a freshly dug hole – no messy transplantation and it’s totally
green.
There are three main causes of death among tree saplings:
1. An under-developed immune system: It takes 12 months for a tree sapling’s immune system to fully develop.
That’s Why…
every Petatree sapling is at least 18 months old before becoming part of a living memorial
2. Direct contact with high-alkaline materials – especially pet’s ashes
That’s Why… Petatree formulated a pH buffer that neutralizes the alkalinity of ashes so they don’t kill the roots of your tree,
3.Lack of essential nutrients
That’s Why..Petatree’s pH Buffer also “activates” the ashes, releasing the nutrients. Tree saplings require 23 nutrients to grow most robustly: Cat and dog ashes have 22 of them, naturally.
