The death of a beloved pet is a very stressful event in anyone's life.
Choosing what to do with your pet's body before they die is therefore a good
idea. If
your pet dies before you can make arrangements, most veterinary hospitals can
keep your pet's body for a few days while you consider your options.
Unpleasant
as this subject may seem, peace of mind comes in knowing exactly what will
become of your pet's remains and making the choice that feels right. There are
several options available to you:
 Your vet can dispose of your pet's remains
You can have your pet buried in a pet cemetery
You may be able to bury your pet in your garden - check with your county
government first
You can have your pet's remains cremated
Pet cemeteries and crematories generally offer a wide range of burial and cremation choices to fit your
needs. Veterinary clinics and humane societies may also operate pet
cemeteries and crematories. Before choosing a pet cemetery, check to make sure the cemetery sits on
"dedicated land" which means that the land will always remain a pet
cemetery regardless of ownership. Standards set by the International Association
of Pet Cemeteries (800-952-5541) can guide your selection.
When choosing a pet cemetery, pets can be buried either in a private plot or in a communal plot. In a
private burial, a pet's remains are separately prepared and placed in an
individual grave site, crypt, or mausoleum. In a common or communal burial, a
pet is buried in the same plot with other deceased pets. Cemeteries that do not
provide individual gravestones for pets buried in a communal plot often provide
a memorial wall affixed with plaques honoring those pets.
Cremation has become a popular and practical option for handling the bodies
of deceased pets. You will be able to place your pet's 'ashes' in a small urn
which you can keep with you at home. It may also be a good idea to scatter the
ashes under a tree or bush planted in your pet's memory (check with your county
government's regulations). Before selecting an animal crematory, find out the cremation procedures. Many
animal crematories do mass cremations and then divide the ashes. What this means
is that if you don't request an individual cremation, you may receive the ashes of other pets in addition to those of your own.
 Search
our Directory of Pet Cemeteries
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