Options for Dealing with Your Deceased Pets Remains

It's not a nice topic, but one that needs to be dealt with. Losing a pet is a lot like losing a family member for a lot of people. This includes my family. Over the past ten years, we have lost three dogs. Dealing with the grief alone is hard, but having to deal with their remains can be overwhelming. It's always best to know ahead of time what you want to do with your pet after it passes.

The first dog we lost ten years ago, was Carmel. He was a dog that I had gotten not long after my dad passed away. He'd been such a great companion for me and losing him was devastating. His health had slowly declined the last couple of years of his life. At first, it was arthritis, then came the loss of sight and hearing. When he passed away, he was almost thirteen years old. I had never had to really deal with the death of a pet until then. My parents had lost a dog, but that was just a faint memory. Not really knowing what my options were, we buried Carmel in the backyard. We live in a suburb area, just outside of the city limits. As far as I know, the county we live in allows pet burial on personal property. A lot of our neighbors have also buried pets in their backyards over the years. On one hand, I'm fine with this. Our backyard was where Carmel had grown up and lived and I felt he could rest peacefully there. But on the other hand, I worry that if we ever sell the property, what would the new owners do with his little area of the yard? I have a fence around his burial plot with a headstone and lots of flowers that bloom each year. It's my way of remembering him and respecting him. But, new owners would probably do away with the fenced area and that bothers me. I can't change it now, though.

In 2006, we lost our Sheltie, Aspen, and just a couple of weeks ago, our Anatolian, Honey. With these two dogs, we dealt with their remains differently than those of Carmel. We knew ahead of time that we did not want them buried in the backyard. We decided to have them cremated. It is a decision that we have not regretted. It does bother some people, though, just the idea of burning a loved one's remains. For us, we accept it as being the best way to keep our pets with us. I'm not meaning it in a morbid sense, but more as a safe way of keeping them. This way, if we ever move, we know they will go with us and we don't have to worry about their graves being desecrated. It is rather expensive, but worth it in the long run.

There are pet cemeteries throughout the United States. In fact, there are over 600 active ones. Many of these cemeteries operate alongside other pet related businesses, such as grooming, boarding and hospitals. Cemeteries that are good will be following all the local and federal laws and regulations that are necessary. They also will provide long-term care of the facility. The upkeep and maintenance must be figured into budgets and any surrounding growth must be considered. You may want to research your local pet cemetery before choosing this option. You do not want to leave your pet in a place that is not prepared to take care of the grounds and protect them.

You may also have your choice of the type of burial you prefer for your pet. You may choose to have an individual burial plot or you may decide that communal burial is more within your budget. Communal burial sounds harsh, like they would just be tossed in one on top of the other without any respect, but that's not the case. It is a large plot with several pets placed in it, but it is done respectfully. It is also the most affordable option.

Another choice is of course, cremation. Again, this can be done individual or communal. Some pet owners may feel the need to cremate their pet, but not necessarily want the remains returned to them. If this is the case, then communal cremation is the most affordable option. If you choose to cremate individually, it will cost a significant amount more, but you will be able to have the remains returned to you. Even with individual cremation, you have other options. You may decide to scatter your pet's ashes at a favorite location, bury them in a special area, store them in a columbarium at a pet cemetery, or keep them at home in an appropriate urn. The choice is really yours.

Something else you may consider is a memoriam. Maybe you want to purchase a special tree, plant, fountain, or any other item and donate it to a pet cemetery or local park. This is a good way to help start the healing process of losing your pet and guarantees that they will always be remembered.

No matter what you decide to do, make sure it is appropriate for you and your family. It must also fit within your budget and give your pet the dignity in death that it deserves.