The one thing that pet owners fear the most is the loss of their beloved pet. While it is an unpleasant and heart-wrenching topic, it is important to know your options in the untimely event of your pet’s passing. This can be especially true if your pet’s passing comes unexpectedly. Advanced planning should be considered to make the unfortunate event easier to deal with when the day comes. It should also be considered in the event that your pet passes while you are travelling and your animal is in the care of an individual or an organization. What are your wishes for your pet’s death care? In the event of a tragedy would you know your options? Would your friends or family members know what to do? These are all questions that should be answered in advance as they are difficult to deal with even with advanced preparation. There are several options available including home burial, burial in a cemetery, cremation and rendering.
If you decide to bury your pet at home you should check with your local city or county government to make sure there are no restrictions in place regarding the burial of animals. If there are no such regulations you should place your pet’s remains in a heavy duty plastic bag and then place them in a metal or wooden box. Next, you should dig a hole at least three feet deep to serve as the final resting place. This can be an emotional experience so make sure to have a few close friends or family members on hand to lend their support. It can also be difficult to dig such a large hole so you may need physical help as well. While this option is the least expensive it might not be an option if you move frequently and wish for your pet’s memorial to be near you.
Another option is burial in a pet cemetery. There are several things to consider when looking into this option. The first thing you want to do is check with the owner or Management Company to make sure the cemetery is on “dedicated” land. This means that the land is dedicated to being a pet cemetery and that its function will not change if the land is sold. You will also need to consider the type of burial. Most cemeteries offer communal burial where multiple animals are buried together. In communal burial there is typically a memorial wall with engraved plaques for each pet resting there. Some cemeteries offer individual plots with individual grave markers; however, this is more expensive than communal graves. To find a pet cemetery, start by asking your Veterinarian for a recommendation. If they do not have a dedicated pet funeral home that they use you can simply look up pet cemeteries in the yellow pages or online.
One of today’s most popular options is pet cremation. During cremation the remains of your pet are incinerated and you are presented with the ashes upon completion. One factor for consideration is if the crematorium does dedicated or multi-animal cremations. If they cremate multiple pets the ashes are divided and each owner ends up with the remains of their pet in addition to the remains of the pets of others. Dedicated cremations are common; however they are more expensive. Regardless of the option you choose most Veterinarians will make a plaster plaque of your dog’s paw and include it on a special box filled with the remains of your pet. This can make for an attractive display case for your pet’s remains. If this sounds morbid to you; you can choose to spread the ashes of your pet in a special place you shared with your pet such as a river or trail you used to swim or hike together.
The final option is controversial for some and is known as rendering. This is a process in which your pet’s remains are processed and turned into useful ingredients such as tallow or fertilizer. Some find this offensive while others feel that their pet’s body is essentially being recycled back to the planet. Some find comfort in the fact that their pet’s can be of further use after their death. You should check with the county animal control department if you are interested in researching this option.
Regardless of the option you choose, remember that the memory of your pet will always be with you. When you have made your final decision make sure that your friends and family are aware of your wishes. Make sure to keep phone numbers and addresses of the selected care provider on file for convenient access in your time of grief.
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