Everything You Need To Know About Burying Your Dead Pet - Metro

Being best pals with your pet(s) is the greatest thing in the world – until they die, and then it becomes the hardest thing in the world.

Whether they died of old age at home, or were put to sleep at the vet’s, it’s never easy.

In fact, the death of a pet is utterly heartbreaking.

It can also be a confusing time – are you allowed to legally bury any animal in your garden? Can you bury pets in the park? (I once scaled the fence of the park opposite my house in the dead of night, armed with a spoon and a dead hamster as I didn’t have a garden to bury her in.)

Is there a size restriction to pets you can bury at home?

We found out, with the help of Clare Hamilton, owner of Cherry Tree Vets in High Wycombe.

Where can I bury my pet?

UK law states that you can legally bury your pet in the grounds of the home that it lived in, as long as you own (not rent) the home, and that the animal isn’t hazardous to human health.

This means that technically, you can’t bury your pet at a friend’s home if you don’t have a garden, and you definitely can’t bury it in a park…

Make sure you bury your pet away from any water sources.

What would make my pet hazardous to human health?

‘Ideally, any animal given chemo or euthanised with controlled drugs should not be buried at home,’ advises Clare.

‘Although in reality, it can be difficult emotionally to tell someone whose pet is passing away that they cannot bury their pet at home.’

If your animal died at the vet’s, and they’re refusing to let you take your pet home for burial, ask for a written reason why.

How do I make sure my pet is actually dead?

Often when a pet dies, they will twitch for a few minutes, which is heartbreaking, as it can seem like they’re not actually dead – but it’s actually very normal nerve spasms.

When you move your pet, they may let out what sound like a gasp of air, but unfortunately, it’s not them coming back to life. It’s the air emptying out of their lungs.

Your pet may also pass bodily fluids and gas after they die.

All these things can easily convince a hopeful pet owner that their best friend hasn’t actually died.

We’ve all been there – you don’t want to bury your little buddy just in case. So how can you tell for sure?

‘If you’re uncertain whether your pet has passed away, feel or listen for the heartbeat,’ advises Clare.

‘This will allow you to understand whether your companion has passed away and allow you to come to terms with their death.’

It can be quite traumatic when the above bodily functions occur, so it’s worth imagining that your pet’s spirit has safely left their body, and is already frolicking happily somewhere nicer.

Where should I store my pet until I can bury him/her?

‘If you are not going to be burying your pet immediately, it is best to store your beloved pet in cool storage,’ Clare advises.

‘Ideally they should be kept at four degrees Celsius or below, or frozen.

‘If frozen then you have almost unlimited time but if at four degrees, then you have a couple of days to decide the best options for your pet’s burial.

‘For larger dogs, I would recommend burying them within a few hours as rigor mortis can set in and make moving the pet extremely difficult.’

How should I go about burying my pet?

‘It is best to bury a pet several feet deep,’ explains Clare.

‘The animal should be wrapped in something biodegradable such as newspaper or cardboard, then once buried, it’s best to place something heavy on top of the refilled hole.

‘This could be a large plant pot, or some concrete slabs in order to prevent foxes from digging.’

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Should I hold a wake?

Standing around your pet’s grave can be a lovely way of saying goodbye to your pal, and will hopefully aid you in getting some closure. Allowing surviving pets to have a sniff around the grave may also help them understand where their buddy has gone.

It’s nice to get children involved to help them come to terms with the loss of their friend – perhaps ask them to say their favourite things about their pet, and give a final goodbye.

As a child, I used to throw glitter on top of my pets to see them off, but looking back, this wasn’t the best choice for the environment as glitter is toxic and doesn’t break down – your plants won’t thank you for it, either.

If your child wants to send their loved one off with some sparkle, then make sure it’s biodegradable glitter.

If I can’t bury my pet at home, what are my options?

‘Another option is cremation,’ says Clare.

‘This can be done either individually, so that you get the ashes back, or with other pets at the same time.’

Ask your vet, or Google pet cremation in your local area.

If you’re currently coming to terms with the death of a pet, then you may find this guide helpful.

Sleep well, sweet angels, until we meet again.

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