How Do You Dispose Of A Dead Dog?

The methods to dispose of a dead dog include burial, cemeteries, incineration, and more. If your pet dies at home, you may call your local animal services to properly dispose of your pet’s body. You can also choose your dog to be cremated privately with your family or publically depending on your choice.

The death of a pet is a heartbreaking experience for pet parents. It’s still a frustrating and disturbing moment when your pet passes away spontaneously or is put to sleep by a professional vet. You may also have preparations in place for your pet’s unexpected death whether they’ve been ill or are elderly and nearing the last days of their life. 

However, your best-laid plans could be interrupted by grief or other factors. If you’re coping with the death of your beloved pet, it is best advised to get support from your family member, friend, or a veterinary professional. The confusion about how to handle your pet’s remains also contributes to the pain of their death.

What Should You Do When Your Pet Dies At Home?

We normally think of a pet’s death with being put to sleep at a veterinarian’s office. So what happens if your pet dies a natural death at home?

It could be tough to handle your pet’s remains when they die at home. You may want to contact the veterinarian or another animal service, such as an animal disposal firm. ^[1]

After your pet’s death, their body could still give you hints of what seems to be life, like:

• Twitching after death due to natural nerve spasms
• Their mouth releases air when moved
• Body fluids and gases are passed

All of these things could be quite depressing and unexpected for pet owners. Unfortunately, they are not signs that your dog is reviving. They are actually the normal body functions that occur as your dog passes away.

How to Handle Your Dog’s Remains After Their Death?

While handling your pet’s remains, always wear gloves and properly wash any area that came in contact with your dog, as well as any spilled fluids. After the immediate death, it gets important to keep germs away from the surface.

If you want to prepare for your pet’s burial and wish to leave their body at home, then make sure their body is kept in a cold place for no more than 24 hours. ^[2]

How to Dispose Of A Dead Dog:

• Home Burial
• Pet Cemeteries
• Incineration

If you want your local vet to manage the death and disposal of your dog’s remains, give them a call as soon as possible. Your veterinarian should be able to arrange for the body collection and eventual burial or cremation, depending on your wishes. ^[3]

Home Burial

Some pet parents choose to bury their deceased dog at home. This option is affordable for disposing of a deceased dog by eliminating the high cost of cremation and provides a good resting spot for cherished pets at home. It’s important to worry about local rules if you’re considering a home burial. ^[4]

It is considered legal in the UK to bury domestic animals in your garden. Animals should not be buried in the gardens of rental houses, any land that you do not own, or in public areas. Before burying your dog, consult your veterinarian to ensure that their ashes are not harmful to public health, and choose a location away from water supplies.

Note: When burying your dog at home, make sure the grave is at least three feet deep to keep their bodies hidden.

Pet Cemeteries

There are many pet crematoriums and cemeteries in different countries like Australia, United States, Malaysia, and the U.K. that could provide pet burial services. Many cemeteries might have rules that include your dog’s remains to be buried in a box, coffin, or any other container. It could further add more to the total cost.

Pet cemeteries can also provide private plots for your dog’s burial. You may also use a potted plant or a stone covering to mark the grave ground. ^[5]

Incineration

You can cremate your dog’s body if you could get access to an incinerator. This is most likely how every animal shelter probably does it. You can either call your local vet or ask for their help if you don’t any access to it.

Dog cremation could be more expensive than the home burial, but it provides people with more opportunities for remembering their pet’s ashes.

Pet ashes are returned to their owners by crematoriums and could be preserved or dispersed according to the owner’s desire. Many pet parents want to keep their dog’s ashes in keepsake pieces like jewelry.

People sometimes disperse their dog’s ashes in areas or a special place that they love.

When it comes to pet cremation, keep in mind that there are many alternatives available, including private or public cremation. If you want to keep your pet’s ashes for a remembrance, keep in mind that, while most crematoriums try to keep ashes apart during communal cremations, this isn’t always possible. ^[6]

Conclusion

Don’t be afraid to express yourself. Talking to someone who can understand the loss of a pet could be a huge source of consolation. If you do not wish to talk to a known person, you can always share your feelings with pet grieving support groups.

The volunteers, who range in age and experience, have undergone extensive training in order to assist individuals like you. They receive calls from their own place and can lend a sympathetic ear, even though they are unable to provide a shoulder to cry on and to assist you in getting through this difficult time.