If your dog passes away at home, it’s incredibly tragic. Having to handle your friend’s sudden death can cause extreme distress. The trouble is you have to deal with the pet’s body and the details that come with that. Burial is one of the options that are there for dog owners. It is not necessarily the most approved method, but it is preferred. Some alternatives include cremation, pet cemeteries, or donating the body to a research institution. It is up to you to decide how to let go of your beloved pet.
Article Summary
Contact the Veterinarian
The first thing to do is assess the situation and try to feel for your dog’s heartbeat. If there is a pulse, you may want to do CPR as an emergency effort to keep them alive. Learn how to do CPR on a dog for instances like this. Once their death is a certainty, take them to the veterinarian. Sometimes, the veterinarian’s office may have the ability to store the body for a couple of days while you decide on the best way to proceed. Most vets are in contact with one or more companies that handle burials and aftercare so they can make the connection for you.
When is it Okay to Bury Your Dog
The laws on burying a pet generally approve the activity if it occurs on the grounds of the resident’s home. That means you cannot bury a pet in a yard of a rented property. It is also not allowed to bury a pet at a friend’s house and definitely not in a public space. For burial to be approved, the dog cannot have had any diseases that are hazardous to human health [1]. In the ideal setting, pets that underwent chemotherapy or euthanized using controlled drugs are advised by experts to not be buried at home. Of course, this is not very practical as you would want to give your pet a proper send-off. If your beloved dog dies at the vet and they refuse to release the body for pet burial, please a written reason should be requested. Considering cremation? See how much it costs to cremate a dog first.
Handling Pet Remains
It is essential to wear gloves when handling the dog’s body. When a death occurs, the fluids in the body are released from the body, exiting through the mouth, anus, and genitals. You may want to clean these areas, so it would be advisable to wear something protective, so you do not get anything on you when moving the body. Any blanket or sheet you use to wrap the body should be large enough to engulf its remains. You can put the body in a curled-up position, so it looks peaceful and makes it easier to wrap around. Slide the body after wrapping it in a plastic bag and tie it in a knot; the remains should be kept refrigerated to preserve them until burial. That reduces the decomposition rate of the remains and the chances of the spread of disease. If that is not possible, the basement may suffice, but that is a temporary measure as the stench can be too much to bear.
How to Bury Your Dog
That being said, the first step is to wrap the dog’s body in a blanket or a sheet. If it had a favorite blanket, that would be a great option as it takes the pain of having to see your pet’s remains. It also reduces the chances of getting any of the mess on you, should decomposition have begun. Select a spot on your property with loose soil, so it is easy to dig up. It should also have good drainage, meaning water does not pool, and there should not be a water source close to the burial spot. It should not be an area at risk of digging by other animals, including the other dogs.
You can then dig the pet’s grave while the remains are elsewhere, giving you time to dissociate with something else. It’s not a good idea to dig the hole while the dog’s remains are next to it due to emotional trauma. As for depth, the hole should be three feet deep and be wide enough for the dog, though your state may have varying roles on the hole’s specifications. Some prefer putting the body in a cardboard or wooden coffin but placing it in the wrapped state also works. Avoid plastic or material which is not breathable. When refilling the hole, it is a good idea to spread a layer of kitty litter or baking soda to block the decomposition smells that will attract scavengers. Once the grave site is filled, walk over the top of the mound and jump on it to compact it. Loose soil can be easily disturbed, and other animals can uncover the carcass.
FAQs
How do I bury my dog in my backyard?
Your dog can be buried in something breathable like a blanket, cardboard coffin, or towel. Avoid coffins made out of plastic or airtight materials.
What do you do with a dead dog?
If your pet dies at home, you can call the local animal control. They tend to have low-cost services for the disposal of deceased pets. You can also take them to the pet cemetery.
Reasons not to bury your pet in the backyard
If your pet dies after suffering from a disease, their decomposing body can be a catalyst to spread the illness to other animals or people. Similarly, if it underwent chemotherapy before death, the chemicals can prove harmful to the surrounding ecology. There are other alternatives for dog burial as well like the pet cemetery.
