Comparing providers
Looking for an alternative to Furry Friend Farewells?
Most families comparing companion cremation providers are really asking two things: will this be handled with care, and can I prove the ashes are my pet's. Here is how we answer both.
We do not publish other companies' prices, turnaround times or operating details on this page. Providers change how they work, and a comparison table written by a competitor is not a fair source. What follows is what we do, and the question we would want a family to ask us.
What to compare, point by point
The left column is what Harbourside does. The right column is the question we would want you to put to Furry Friend Farewells — and to us.
| What matters | Harbourside | Ask Furry Friend Farewells |
|---|---|---|
| Individual cremation | Individual only. One companion in the chamber at a time, never partitioned, never shared — there is no communal option on our price list. | Question to ask Furry Friend Farewells: “Is my pet alone in the chamber, or is the chamber divided between several pets at once?” |
| Proof it is your pet | SafeHarbour Verification: a numbered stainless tag stays with your companion from collection to return, with each stage logged on your private tracking page. | Question to ask Furry Friend Farewells: “How is my pet identified at every stage, and can I see that record?” |
| Who answers the phone | Alby or Rachael, personally, at any hour — including nights, weekends and public holidays. The number is 0493 814 474. There is no call centre and no answering service. | Question to ask Furry Friend Farewells: “If I ring at 2am, do I reach the person who will actually collect my pet?” |
| After-hours and weekend fees | No after-hours surcharge, no weekend surcharge, no public-holiday surcharge. The package price is the price. | Question to ask Furry Friend Farewells: “Is there a surcharge for after-hours, weekend or holiday collection?” |
| Published prices | Every companion package and weight band is listed publicly, from $430 for an individual cremation with ashes returned. | Question to ask Furry Friend Farewells: “Can I see the full price list, including every weight band, before I commit?” |
| What is included | An ink paw print, a clipping of fur, and a signed Certificate of Individual Cremation with every package — not sold as extras. | Question to ask Furry Friend Farewells: “What is included in the price, and what is charged separately?” |
| Return of ashes | Usually within 5–7 business days, hand-delivered or collected in person wherever distance allows, rather than posted. | Question to ask Furry Friend Farewells: “How long will it take, and will my pet's ashes travel by courier?” |
| Tracking | A private tracking link is issued to every family, showing each verified stage as it is completed. | Question to ask Furry Friend Farewells: “Can I see where my pet is in the process without having to ring and ask?” |
| Aftercare | Free grief resources to download, a free public tribute page for your companion, and no time limit on how long we hold ashes for you. | Question to ask Furry Friend Farewells: “What support is there after the ashes come home, and is it charged for?” |
| Independent feedback | 132 Google reviews at 5.0 stars, published on our Google Business Profile where we cannot edit them. | Question to ask Furry Friend Farewells: “Where can I read reviews you do not control?” |
Proof, not reassurance
- A numbered stainless SafeHarbour tag is fitted at collection, in front of you if you are there.
- The tag number is recorded against your pet's name on a private tracking page only you can open.
- Each stage is timestamped as it is completed, so you never have to ring to ask where your pet is.
- The tag comes home with the ashes, alongside a certificate naming your pet.
The day itself
We collect from home, from the clinic, or from the side of the road if that is where it happened. There is no fee for coming at night, on a weekend or on a public holiday, because that is when most of these calls arrive and charging for it would be indecent.
Ashes are usually ready within 5–7 business days and are hand-returned wherever the distance allows.
After the ashes come home
Fourteen grief resources are free to download, with no email required. Every family is offered a free public tribute page for their companion, and we hold ashes for as long as a family needs us to at no cost.
Verified on Google
What families say after their companion comes home
5.0 out of 5132 Google reviews
They dropped everything to be here the day I lost my boy.
“I could not recommend Alby and Rachael highly enough to take care of your beloved fur family. The empathy and support they provide is second to none. They made an already difficult process so reassuring. And I trusted them to take the best of care of my boy.…”
Stephanie ThompsonChampion Jockey · Sky Racing Expert Commentator · Gold Coast QLD · with her heart horse “Dunk” Treated with such kindness from the very first call.
“Alby and the Harbourside team were so kind and compassionate when we lost our beloved Lydian. From the first phone call we felt looked after — nothing was rushed, nothing was outsourced, and every detail was handled with such care. Having him returned home to…”
Lydia SmithFor Lydian · Google Review They understood she was family, not ‘just a bird’.
“Our cockatiel Pippa was with us for 18 years — through three house moves, two kids growing up, and every morning coffee on the verandah. When she passed I was nervous about ringing around because some places really do treat small pets like an afterthought.…”
Hannah WilkinsonFor Pippa · Cockatiel · Google Review
Questions families ask us
- Is Harbourside an alternative to Furry Friend Farewells?
- Yes. Harbourside performs individual-only pet cremation across coastal and northern NSW, with published prices from $430 and 132 Google reviews at 5.0 stars.
- How do I know the ashes are my pet's?
- A numbered SafeHarbour tag travels with your pet from collection to return, logged against their name at every stage on your private tracking page, and it comes home with the ashes.
- Do you collect from home after hours?
- Yes, at any hour, seven days, with no after-hours or weekend surcharge.
- Is there any cost to holding my pet's ashes for a while?
- No. We hold ashes for as long as you need, at no charge, and return them whenever you are ready.
Talk to us before you decide
Ring us with your questions even if you are still comparing. Nobody will push you toward a package.