Is it okay to bury a pet in the back yard?

Charlie003
Charlie003 Posts: 1,333 Member
edited September 2024 in Motivation and Support
It is a terrible thing to lose a pet. Like losing a part of the family. There are cremation services for pets and what not. But, is it wrong to bury them yourself in today' s world?
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Replies

  • ZebraHead
    ZebraHead Posts: 15,207 Member
    I would but some places probably have laws/ordinaces that don't allow it.

    If it's a mouse - no brainer

    If it's a horse you may have a problem.

    Not making light of the issues just saying if it's illegal where you live you may want to check it out first.
  • aneumany
    aneumany Posts: 165 Member
    idk wat kinda pet it is, but i buried my bird in my backyard, rip tweetie :(
  • aray379
    aray379 Posts: 131 Member
    When I was growing up I had a handful of cats die because we lived on a busy road. We buried them in our yard and I made gravestones when I was younger that laid flat...kind of morbid I guess if you think of it but I know plenty of people that still do it. And I think I liked knowing they were near by when I was a little kid.
  • karamae
    karamae Posts: 136 Member
    I think it's technically illegal but growing up, we had almost an acre and buried all of ours in our yard. Our pets were part of our family and we didn't want to ship them off somewhere! Do what's in your gut. :)
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    I buried my hamsters in the backyard, but my dog and rabbit both got cremated.
  • godroxmysox
    godroxmysox Posts: 1,491 Member
    we buried our hamsters in shoeboxes in the back yard, but i never even thought about if it was illegal =\
  • SweetPandora
    SweetPandora Posts: 660 Member
    Yes and a little ceremony of choice is a good idea. Everyone can put something in the grave for your pet to take with him/her.

    My daughter and I buried our beloved Toonces (cat) in our backyard. When we moved a few years ago she wanted to know when we were digging him up to bring him to the new house!

    Losing a pet is very hard, they are members of the family.

    Karen
  • DrBorkBork
    DrBorkBork Posts: 4,099 Member
    We live in a mobile home park where pets are not allowed.
    That said, we've buried 5 gerbils under our house.
  • 2Heavy2Long
    2Heavy2Long Posts: 315 Member
    My daughter knows our dog is getting very old and might not live much longer. She wants him burried in the yard when he dies so she can visit him. I personally won't even bother to check local ordinances.
  • DreamLittleDarling
    DreamLittleDarling Posts: 800 Member
    I have no idea if it's illegal or not, I don't think so though, because when our dog had cancer and had to be put down the vet asked us if we wanted to take him home and bury him ourselves or if we wanted them to take care of him, we took him home of course. Every pet my sisters and I have ever had, and my grandparents pets as well, are all buried in my grandparents back yard. It's a big yard and they have a storage buidling in the back with some space between the building and the fence, and there's probably 30 years worth of pets buried back there... guess maybe that makes us weird? but it's just what we've always done.
  • catwrangler
    catwrangler Posts: 918 Member
    if it died of natural causes it's probably OK. If it had to be euthanized, there may be laws against it, because of the drugs used. If another animal dug it up and ate it, that animal would also die.

    where I live you can bury your pets at home but 3 feet deep and away from water sources.
  • BigDave1050
    BigDave1050 Posts: 854 Member
    When I lived in Phoenix I lost one of my dogs. Was told I could have him creamated or bury him in the back yard. Out here where I'm at in SC you can pretty much bury anything you want. I would check to see if there is a city/county ordenance on if you can or not.
  • PlanetVelma
    PlanetVelma Posts: 1,223 Member
    I think it depends on where you live - also if you have other pets - keep in mind that sometimes your other pets may dig up the corpse...that happened to me as a kid once. There's 2500 worth of therapy right there! LOL
  • MaxandHenrysMom
    MaxandHenrysMom Posts: 59 Member
    I'm sorry for your loss. We buried our cat in our backyard a few years ago.
  • _SusieQ_
    _SusieQ_ Posts: 2,964 Member
    My weinee dog and my cat died within a week of each other a few years ago. We buried them both at the side of the house. Then my husband built a little "garden" around them with a mound of rocks over each spot. Yea, we might have to disclose that should we ever sell the house....
  • catwrangler
    catwrangler Posts: 918 Member
    The ad on this thread is for pet cremations :flowerforyou:

    Cremation is expensive, though. Where I live it's over $100 for a private cremation.
  • FairyMiss
    FairyMiss Posts: 1,812 Member
    I have guinea pigs in the garden my dogs were cremated ashes returned in nice little urn sentimental reasons.

    now my 52 pound tortise i had cremated, was not going ot dig a hole that big.
  • jamie78
    jamie78 Posts: 514 Member
    Mine too
    The ad on this thread is for pet cremations :flowerforyou:
  • stang_girl88
    stang_girl88 Posts: 234 Member
    I would check your local laws. I know that it is illegal in the places I have lived so I always have my pets cremated. There are other reasons to, but that may open up a can of worms lol. Whenever my pet comes home from being cremated, I usually spread some of their ashes over their favourite spot outside, so they are still 'with us'. But, it is up to you!
  • ivansmomma
    ivansmomma Posts: 500 Member
    Our siberian husky/german shepherd mix dog is buried under a tree in our yard. We had our kitty cremated and she is in a pretty little box. As all of the above have stated, it may not be legal, but do what is in your heart.
  • GenerationD05
    GenerationD05 Posts: 93 Member
    I agree that it'd probably depend on where you live. With that said, My best friend buried his dog in his backyard (I even helped dig the hole with him). My dad also buried our dog on his lot as well. It might've been illegal for both of them... but I'm pretty sure no one knew that it was being done. If anything, ask your vet (or any local vet). I'd assume that they'd know.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Having worked for both the local SPCA and area vets, and seen a lot more animal related death than the average person, I've never heard anything about it being illegal around here. Pretty much anytime a pet dies at the vet or if they take it to be euthanized, the owner is asked if they'd like the pet cremated (then asked private or communal - if it's private it's cremated alone, and you get the ashes back, and communal it's cremated with other animals, then the ashes are buried, at least at the places I know of) or if they would like to take it home to bury it. Never a peep about it being against zoning ordinances, and as the SPCA works with the local police a lot, they would know.

    I have two cats buried in my yard. One was a neighborhood stray that was hit by a car, another was a neighborhood stray I would have adopted but he had feline leukemia and was put to sleep. (Damn shame about that, but I couldn't in good conscience let him roam free to infect others, and knew he wouldn't find a home.) The two cats who were my real companion pets have been cremated, as was my father's dog. So I have three little urns in the house.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    The ad on this thread is for pet cremations :flowerforyou:

    Cremation is expensive, though. Where I live it's over $100 for a private cremation.

    Compared to the costs for people, though, it's a bargain. My parents were both cremated, and the expenses tacked on were shocking and shameful.
  • Misiaxcore
    Misiaxcore Posts: 659 Member
    I buried my mini Maltese doggy in the backyard =[ Well my dad did lol. He died of a heart attack at the hair dresser, poor thing.
  • elliecolorado
    elliecolorado Posts: 1,040 Member
    Growing up we always buried our animals in the back yard, never questioned if it was legal or not. But recently I had to have one of my cats put down and I had him cremated. The cremation cost $50 through the local animal shelter.
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    When me an my brother were little we had a pet parakeet that died.So we buried it in the back yard and totally recreated the scean from poltergiste where they bury it there bird.Then a month later we dug it up to see what it looked like it was pretty gross lol
  • SCC88
    SCC88 Posts: 215 Member
    When we burried our pet hamster my mum said to bury it in a box and place a slab of rock on top and then lay all the dirt on, otherwise foxes and cats will smell it and dig it up ... just an FYI.
  • JoLeeFA
    JoLeeFA Posts: 211 Member
    My daughter (4 year old at the time) had a tea cup poodle die. The dog was 2.5 pounds. She is buried about 10 feet away from my kids' swing set in the front yard. Maybe morbid to some, but made my daughter feel good that she could talk to her "Peach" when ever she wanted. She was a brave, brave girl as she walked across the yard in her Hannah Montana bathrobe to place her pup's shoebox/casket into the hole her Daddy dug.
    Since then, my dog, a humming bird, a mole, and a red bird have been added.

    Do whatever is in your heart! I am sorry for your loss
  • Jaradel
    Jaradel Posts: 143 Member
    When I was a kid I had gerbils, and when they died (sadly they don't live very long), my grandfather and I put them in peanut cans and taped the lids on and buried them in the back yard. But when my dog died many years later, at the age of 13, we had her cremated. If you live in an urban or suburban area I would check your local ordinances, but if you're in a rural area - particularly if you have a large property - you can probably bury him/her in your yard, IMO. If you do go that route I would second the suggestions that you put your pet in a sealed container before burying him/her, to discourage scavenger animals.
  • smilesdancing
    smilesdancing Posts: 1 Member
    I know that it is permissable to do so in Seattle WA. All my fuzzy old kitties have a resting place in our yard. It is hard to lose a pet. I find having somewhere to visit helps in the grieving process. Good luck.
    Diana
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