If you ever move, you won’t be able to bring your pet’s remains with you. And you will most likely need to inform a potential buyer of your property that a pet was buried in the backyard, which may or may not deter someone from buying the property.
If your pet passes away in the winter, the grounds may be frozen and you may not be able to dig a grave. Special equipment could be rented to dig even if the grounds are frozen, however this is costly. An alternative is to freeze the pet’s body until a grave can be dug. However, not many people are comfortable with the idea of having their pet’s body in a freezer for months.
If your pet was euthanized or has passed away from a contagious disease, then it could be very dangerous to rodents or other animals who may dig up the grave. They could ingest some of the anesthetic agent or contract the disease. In those cases, a cremation is recommended.
Are there alternatives to burying a pet in the backyard? Yes, the two most common ones are cremations and burying a pet at a pet cemetery.
Related Questions
How can I safely bury a pet in the backyard? Burying a pet can be done safely by following these simple steps…
Time is of the essence. You should bury your pet within 24 – 48 hours of their passing to keep their body from decomposing. If you are unable to do it within this timeframe, you can freeze your pet’s body. Freezing the body will prevent decomposition.
Double-check with your local municipality that you are in fact allowed to bury your pet in your backyard. If it’s legal, then find a spot in your yard that adheres to the rules and regulations as given to you by your municipality. Oftentimes, they require that your pet’s burial be a certain distance from a water source.
Call your utility companies and ask them to locate your yard for water, electrical and gas lines. They will come and spray paint where the lines are in your yard. Be aware that this process can take several days or weeks to complete, so you may need to freeze your pet’s body in the meantime.
Dig a hole for your pet’s grave. The depth of the hole needs to be in accordance to your municipalities guidelines. It is often between 2 and 4 feet deep. The deeper it is, the better it will be to prevent other animals and rodents from digging the grave.
Wrap your pet in a cloth or place your pet inside a pet casket that will decompose. For example, one made out of wood. Do not bury any toys or any other objects made out of plastic, as they won’t decompose over time.
After you fill up the hole with dirt, place a few stones on top to indicate where your pet was buried. If you want to truly honour your pet, take a look at some of our granite pet memorials that we custom-engrave here at Furever Memorials. They can be engraved with your pet’s photograph and look very realistic.
Is burying a pet in the backyard a good idea? It can be under the right circumstances. However, one should consider the following…
What do you do with a dead dog in Ontario?
(c) by storing the dead animal and disposing of it in accordance with subsection (3). (2) For purposes of composting, a dead animal must immediately be covered with at least 60 centimetres of sawdust or other biodegradable material that is high in carbon content.
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