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All Articles & Guides / Pet Loss / How to Plan a Pet Funeral

How to Plan a Pet Funeral

Our pets are often part of the family. They bring us joy and comfort, offering unconditional love and support whenever we need it. The death of a pet can be a huge loss, and many people grieve their pets as they would any other loved one. Holding a pet funeral can bring closure and comfort, allowing you to say goodbye and honor the memory of your faithful friend.

A pet funeral doesn’t need to be expensive or elaborate. You could hold a simple ceremony in the backyard with immediate family only or hold a larger funeral and memorial service so everyone who knew your furry friend could come and share their memories. There are no firm guidelines that you have to stick to, so you should plan a pet funeral that is perfect for you.

Pet Memorial Stone.

Choose Where and How to Have a Pet Funeral

Once your pet passes, you’ll need to make arrangements for a pet funeral. Whether you choose to enlist the help of a pet funeral service or have a DIY pet burial is up to you.

Pet funeral service companies ease the burden of planning what happens once your beloved pet has passed. There are over 700 funeral homes, crematories, and cemeteries that primarily cater to our precious furry friends. Full-service packages will include pickup services whether that be from your vet’s office or your home, a viewing ceremony, and cremation services. If you’re euthanizing your pet, a veterinarian will often have relationships with local pet funeral service companies to help you during the grieving process.

Pet Cremation vs. Burial

Choosing between cremating or burying your pet can be a tough decision. One factor is cost since prices can vary drastically depending on your choice. Burying your dog or cat in your backyard keep expenses down while burying your pet in a pet cemetery can be expensive, especially if you’re opting for a memorial service and viewing.

Pet cremation prices generally depend on two factors – how much your pet weighs/their size, and whether you’re opting for individual or communal cremation. Communal cremation means that multiple animals will be cremated at one time and you can’t request your pet’s remains to be returned to you. Individual cremation doesn’t always mean they’ll be the only pet cremated, but there will be a partition so that you can request your pet’s ashes.

Communal pet cremation can cost anywhere between $30 and $100 while individual cremation can cost between $100 to $350. Prices will depend completely on each facility so although it’s an emotional time, calling around can save you money that can be spent on a beautiful pet cremation urn or pet memorial to help honor your furry friend.

Do Pet Cemeteries Exist? 

Yes, pet cemeteries exist that are solely for pets, but there are also cemeteries that allow you and your pet to be buried together. Owners can opt for cremated remains to be buried or a casket burial for their pets. There are even famous pet cemeteries around the world that date back to the 3rd century B.C., showing just how we’ve valued our treasured pets over the years. Some of these include:

  • Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in New York
  • Hyde Park in London, England
  • Ashkelon Dog Cemetery in Israel
  • Cimetiére des Chiens et Autres Animaux Domestiques in Paris, France
  • A. Pet Memorial Park
  • Jindaiji Pet Cemetery in Tokyo, Japan
  • Rodeo Animal Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • Ilford Animal Cemetery in London, England

Check your local area to see if you have a pet cemetery near you.

Candles and pet photos.

Pet Funeral Planning - How to Bury a Pet

If you’ve decided you’re going to bury your pet after they pass, you’ll need to know guides and safety rules on how to bury a pet and where you can bury them.

Where Can I Bury My Dog or Cat?

The only place you’re legally allowed to bury a pet is on private property with the permission of the owner or a pet cemetery. If you’re thinking of burying your pet at a park you’ll need to rethink your decision. Pets cannot be buried in public parks but you may be allowed to spread their ashes in a favorite location if you check with local authorities. If you live in a home without land or a yard, search online for pet cemeteries near you or consider pet cremation. Keeping your pets in an urn in your home may provide some comfort and you can even create a pet memorial garden.  

Steps to Burying a Pet in Backyard

Burying your dog or cat in your backyard is a common choice for grieving pet owners. There are a few things to consider when you start the process.

  • Beware of any plumbing or electrical lines especially if you’re digging close to your house. Calling your local utilities company will ensure you don’t hit any underground lines since they’ll come out to your property for free to mark them.
  • If you rent you’ll need to check with your landlord and you may even need to check with local authorities or an HOA committee (even if you own).
  • Your grave will need to be 3 to 4 feet to prevent other animals from digging up remains easily. The remains will decompose and can give off a smell so when you’re refilling the grave, add a layer of cat litter towards the final 6 inches to help deodorize the gravesite.
  • If you’re choosing to bury cremated remains you won’t need to dig as deep and you’ll probably be able to get away without calling the local utility company as long as you’re not digging deeper than a foot since most pipes and cables are a minimum of 18” below ground.

Finally, decide whether you’re holding a pet funeral with a memorial service that friends and family can attend. People may want to say goodbye to your pet and offer their condolences to you. You can treat a pet funeral just like a human’s and include readings, poems, music, flowers, and grave markers for your departed furry friend.

Whether you choose to hold a pet funeral before or after a home burial is up to you. It may be easier on people, especially children, to have buried and filled your pet’s grave before inviting them to share prayers and memories.

Planning Pet Memorial Services

There are a few ways you can celebrate your pet’s life through a pet memorial service. Consider an outdoor ceremony to scatter their ashes, request your pet cemetery to include a pet memorial service, or host a celebration of life at your home.

You can hold a pet memorial service with more people than just your family, especially in cases where your pet was well known to your friends, the group at the dog park, or neighbors. It’s often said that funerals are for the living, and pet funerals are no different so treat your pet memorial service as a celebration of your pet’s life. Honor your pet’s personality with laughs and stories or give your attendees a moment of silence to think about their favorite moments. Celebrating a pet’s life can help give owners closure and overcome grief.

You may want to create a special outdoor memorial to your pet. Some people choose to plant flowers or a tree over the grave, with others install a stone memorial or marker in their yards. If you had your pet cremated, you may want to set up a small memorial in your home and include photos, favorite toys, and other keepsakes. This way, your pet will be with you always.

If you’re cremating your pet, you can hold a scattering ashes ceremony. Many people find that holding a pet memorial service and scattering ashes ceremony in a pet’s favorite park, lake, or play area is a great way to honor their memory. If you do plan to scatter your pet’s ashes in a public place, be considerate of others and don’t leave the cremains where they can be found or easily identified. It’s also a good idea to check with a park ranger or your city’s park department about their rules and guidelines for scattering pet ashes.

If you’re attending a pet funeral or a pet memorial service consider bringing a small pet memorial marker or pet sympathy gift for your friend or family member. These personalized tokens can make a big difference in helping your loved one recover from their grief and loss.

Pet Funerals with Children

Most pet funerals are informal, and a great opportunity for children to express their feelings and to encourage them to remember the good times they shared with their pet. Encourage your child or children to be involved in planning and organizing the event. This will help them feel like they are part of the process and have some control over what’s happening. It may also help make saying goodbye a little easier.

Let your child help choose a casket or urn for your pet or find them a sweet sympathy gift reminding them of their beloved pet. You may want a formal pet casket, especially if your pet will be buried in a cemetery. You can also ask your child to give a eulogy of their happy memories.

It’s important to acknowledge your child’s feelings, even if they seem to be stronger than you expect. For most children, the loss of a pet is their first experience with death, and even the death of a goldfish may be difficult. If your child is sad and doesn’t want to speak at the funeral, that’s OK. Like everyone else, children grieve in different ways. You should encourage your child to be part of the process, but don’t push.

Saying Goodbye to Your Pet

For many people, a pet funeral is an opportunity for closure. It’s often difficult to accept a pet’s death, and even harder to move past it, so creating a way to honor and commemorate your pet can help you take a step towards overcoming grief. Choose your favorite ways to memorialize your pet to help you keep them close to your heart.

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