Pet Bereavement Guide: Trusted Options for Safe Body Disposal

Fair Warning: In this article, I’ll be discussing various modes of disposing of a pet’s body after they pass away. If this topic upsets you, please know that this information is essential for pet owners and covers a variety of options.  Disposing of a pet’s body is something no one wants to think about, but all pet owners need to know about.  This is informational only; please consult with authorities in your area before disposing of, burying or cremating any animal.

Disposing of a pet’s body is often easier in rural areas, where burying in the back yard may be possible.

A pet’s death is always sorrowful, and the loss of our cat Peanut Butter was no exception. She died a few days after one of my last blog posts about her. You can read more on Facebook or on our Rainbow Bridge page, where I’ve posted a tribute to our sweet, sassy cat. But what blind-sided me at the time was that disposal (for lack of a better term) of a pet’s body in my town wasn’t simply a matter of digging a hole and burying my pet in our back yard. I grew up in the country. As a child, we had various pets that were simply buried on our property. Sometimes we had them cremated and scattered the ashes in our woods or on the back yard. Now I live in a suburb, and it’s not that simple. Having to deal with the complexities of disposing of our cat’s remains made a terrible day even more difficult. I’m hoping that a bit of education for other pet lovers may help them avoid the shock of discovering the many regulations that surround disposing of a pet’s remains.

Know the Rules Regarding Disposing of a Pet’s Body in Your Area

To find out the rules in your area, call your veterinarian or the local animal control office. They can tell you more about how to dispose of your pet’s body and the laws in your area. In many rural areas, burying a pet’s body on your own property is part of the ritual of pet ownership. Increasingly, however, some townships and counties forbid it in areas that have wild animals. Coyotes and other animals may dig up a pet’s body if it is not properly wrapped in a barrier of some sort and if not buried deep enough. The sorrow of losing a pet will be magnified exponentially by having a wild animal desecrate your pet’s remains. In most states, it is required that a pet be buried between two and six feet deep, which is quite a task. You may also have to consider the proximity of your burial spot to any water sources so that disposing of a pet’s body won’t contaminate any water sources.

Disposing of a Pet’s Body: A Variety of Options

As animal lovers, most of us are loath to simply put out the body of our cat or dog in the trash, but in some states this is an accepted way to dispose of a pet’s body. If you can do this in your area and you are comfortable of this method of disposing of a pet’s body, contact the garbage company and ask them how to prepare the remains. You may need to seal it securely in a plastic bag, then put it into a box that is sealed shut with tape before placing it on the curb. Or call a local landfill and ask if they will accept the remains. If they do, you can drop the body off and they will dispose of it in a safe and sanitary manner.

Cremation

Cremation is another way of disposing of a pet’s body that is both safe and sanitary. Your local veterinarian may have the facilities to do this for you; if not, they can recommend a pet cremation service in your area. Cremation is a relatively inexpensive method of disposing of your pet’s remains and offers some distinct advantages:

• It’s relatively inexpensive – starting at $50-$100 in some areas
• It is sanitary and environmentally friendly
• You can request your pet’s cremated remains and put them in a keepsake box, memorial urn or other sealed receptacle
• Many pet cemetery’s offer burial of cremated remains for an additional fee

Formal Burial

Pet cemeteries offer pet burial at a variety of price points depending on what “extras” you may want. They can arrange for a headstone, a memorial service and even a funeral if that is your wish. There are some advantages to using a pet cemetery:

• You can have a fitting memorial for your pet
• You will have a grave to visit if this brings you comfort
• Your pet’s remains will be treated with dignity and respect

Do You Want a Memento?

I often hear people say, “I wish I had a keepsake of my pet,” after they lose a pet who was a member of the family. When your pet passes away, it can be helpful to think about any memento you’d like to have. If your veterinarian will be taking care of disposing of your pet’s body, they may offer a memento such as a plaster cast of your pet’s footprint or a simple paw print. Either one of these could become a cherished memento, so do take advantage of any service that is offered.

This memorial glass flame can make it easier to dispose of a pet’s body.

If your pet is cremated, you can either have the crematorium bury the ashes for you (they will have a pet cemetery where they can legally do this) or return the ashes to you in either a box or a sealed urn. If you would like a smaller memento, there are companies that can use some of the ashes to create a beautiful piece of jewelry, glass art or portrait with some of the ashes. If you want to go this route,  request that the remains be returned in a box that  you can open so that you can send some on to the company creating your memento. You can have some of your pet’s ashes sealed inside a pendant or vial, used to create a beautiful piece of blown glass memorial art such as those at Spirit Pieces or any number of other options.

However you end up disposing of a pet’s body, keep in mind that the body of your beloved cat or dog is simply an empty shell at this point. While you will want to treat it with dignity and respect, the essence of your pet has left the body. Take comfort in knowing that they have moved on and are no longer suffering or in pain.