Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Take the first steps
• Method 2 of 3: Bury your pet at home
• Method 3 of 3: Bury your pet in an animal cemetery
• Tips

It's never easy to come to terms with the loss of a pet. Your pet is part of your family, and you feel lost without him or her. Making matters worse is that you need to find a place to bury your pet. Before you can bury your pet, however, there are some decisions you need to make.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Take the first steps

1. Examine your pet. Check his pulse and see and feel if he is still breathing. Your pet may be in trouble, but not dead yet. Call your vet and ask him or her to help you with the next steps.
   • If your pet is alive, take him to a local vet or call the animal rescue as soon as possible.
   • The best way to feel the heartbeat in a dog or cat is on the inside of the top part of the paw, where the paw attaches to the body. You're looking for the femoral artery. Use two fingers (not your thumb) to see if you feel the pulse. It can be difficult to feel the heartbeat in a cat.
   • If you feel a pulse, have someone count for 15 seconds while you count the heartbeats. Multiply the number by four, and you have the number of beats per minute. Your doctor will probably want to know the number of beats per minute, if possible.
2. Take action within a day. The body will decompose fairly quickly, usually within a day. So it is important to bury the body as soon as possible. If you keep the body in your home, you can take some steps to keep it from decomposing.
   • You can wrap something around the body and put it in the fridge, although it is important to take action within a day. You can also put the body in the freezer, so that the body remains good for longer and the decomposition process is slowed down.
   • If both options are not possible, leave the body exposed on concrete. This will draw the heat out of the body.
3. Tell it to people. When you grieve, you may forget to tell the people you need to tell. It's important to tell your kids if they were in school when your pet passed away. You will also have to figure out a way to tell your kids if you have young children.
   • Try not to use euphemisms when telling children. It can be confusing for children when you tell them you put the pet to sleep. Tell your children that your pet has died and tell them in a simple way what that means. You could say something like, “Honey, I have to tell you something sad. Our cat Kitty passed away today. That means she is no longer breathing and her body is no longer moving. She will not come back ”.
   • Showing your kids the body can help, although it's fine to soften the blow by partially covering the body with a sheet or putting a favorite animal toy nearby.
   • Answer your children's questions as honestly and directly as possible. However, you can also say that you don't know. Also be prepared for the way your child is grieving. Some kids will want to write a letter or put flowers on your pet's grave. Other kids like to be alone for a while, and other kids like to be cuddled more often.
4. Show your other pets the body. By letting your other pets see the body, sniff it, and respond to it, they understand what happened and can shut it down. When they see the dead body, they may not look for the pet as long after it is buried.
5. Find out about the rules for burying your pets. In principle, in the Netherlands you can bury your pet in your own garden or on your own ground at a depth of at least 75 centimeters. However, there are municipalities that impose additional conditions. It is therefore best to contact the municipality before burying your pet to find out exactly what the rules are. You may not bury your pet in a park or other public place, or in the yard of your rental home.
   • Call the municipality to see what the rules in your municipality are exactly. Often your vet knows this too.
   • Often you can also find the rules of your municipality on the municipal website.
6. Choose a place to bury your pet. If you have an owner-occupied home or a piece of private land, you can decide to bury your pet there. However, you have other options. In our country there are several animal cemeteries where you can buy a place for your pet.
   • Ask your vet what the nearest animal burial site is. You can also search the internet for animal cemeteries.
   • In addition to burial, you also have the option to have your pet cremated. There are several pet crematories in our country. They often pick up the pet from your home or from the vet to take it to the crematorium. You usually pay transport costs for this.
   • Know that you can choose an individual cremation (where you only get the ashes of your own pet) or a group cremation (where your pet is cremated together with other pets. An individual cremation is more expensive. a scattering field or have it spread.

Method 2 of 3: Bury your pet at home

1. Ask the Land Registry for information about cables and pipes in your garden. Before you start digging in your garden, it is a good idea to first request information about the cables and pipes that lie in your garden. That way you don't accidentally dig them up, which could cause problems.
2. Think about other aspects of the place. For example, it is important to choose a high, dry location if you want your pet's body to decompose. Also choose a spot that is downhill from a water source and at least 50 feet away from that water source. 30 meters is a better distance, however. Also make sure that the site is 15 meters away from other water surfaces such as ponds, rivers and ditches. Try to find a dry place where groundwater does not rise while digging. This way, none of your pet will end up in the groundwater when the body decomposes.
3. Cover your pet. First, find a sturdy piece of linen or paper that is large enough for your animal. You should not use plastic, because it will not be digested and is bad for the environment. Then find a box. It is best to choose something made of cardboard or wood (not metal) because the animal will remain in it. You can also decorate the box if you wish.
   • If you want your pet to decompose in the soil, don't wrap it around its body or put it in anything. You can only let your pet decompose in the soil in the event of a natural cause of death.
   • However, if you put your pet to sleep, it is not safe to let it decompose naturally in the soil. In this case, wrap something around his body.
4. Dig a hole. In the case of a larger pet, make the hole at least three feet deep. If your pet is smaller, you can make the hole less deep. However, make sure the hole is at least 75 inches deep. Keep in mind that you may have to dig deeper if your box or crate is larger. Make sure to make the hole deep and wide enough so that the box or crate with your pet in it will fit in the hole.
   • If you want to decompose your pet in the soil, bury it in a shallower hole. By law, however, the hole must be at least 75 centimeters deep. Also, don't bury your pet so deep that the groundwater rises.
   • The body can decompose better in a shallower grave.
   • If it is difficult for you to dig a hole in the ground, know that you should not bury your pet above ground.
5. Put the box or crate in the ground. Lower the box or crate with your pet into the ground. Cover the box or crate with soil and press down on the soil at all times. If you're not using a box or crate, just put your pet in the hole. You can also bury your pet with his favorite toys or a flower.
6. Consider having a ceremony. You can make it a small ceremony by reading a poem or saying something briefly. You can also light candles around the house in memory of your pet. Having a funeral ceremony allows you and your family to say goodbye to your pet, even if it is just a short ceremony.
   • Think about what you would do if it were a person's funeral. For example, you can read a short story or have someone give a short speech about your pet.
   • Let your kids participate. Have them read a favorite poem or story, or something they wrote for the pet.
   • You can also play a favorite song or eat something your pet liked.
   EXPERT TIP

   Add some stones. Mark the place where your pet is buried with stones. However, stones also serve an equally important functional purpose: they keep other animals from digging up your beloved pet.

   • You can choose a decorative stone as a tombstone.
   • You can also plant something on your pet's grave to help him remember, such as a rose bush.
7. Know what other options you have. If you are unable to bury your pet yourself, you can usually take it to your municipal waste sorting station. You can also take your pet to your doctor or call the animal rescue service to have your pet picked up.
   • Your vet can arrange for your pet to be taken to a pet crematorium or collected by a rendering company.
   • It may seem sad to have your pet disposed of like this, but know that you loved your pet very much when he was alive. Only his body is left, not the pet you loved so much. If you wish, you can place a rock in your yard to remind your pet.

Method 3 of 3: Bury your pet in an animal cemetery

1. Choose a cemetery. If you have multiple options, you will have to consider a few things. Costs sometimes play a role in making a choice. You may also want a place close to your home. Inquire further about the destination of the cemetery in the zoning plan. If marked as a cemetery, the place will always remain a cemetery, even if the land is sold to someone else.
2. Decide whether to bury your pet separately or with other pets. At some animal cemeteries you have the choice to have your pet buried separately or together with other animals. In the latter option, your pet is buried in a grave with other pets.
   • You may also be able to choose from a tomb, mausoleum or crypt.
   • At some animal cemeteries, you can only have your pet buried with other animals.
3. Pick a spot. As with a regular cemetery, you probably have the option of choosing a specific place for the grave. You will work with the cemetery administrator to find the site of your choice.
   • You will have to pay for the grave before your pet is buried. You can also buy a grave before your pet dies.
   • Keep in mind that some pet cemeteries ask you to pay maintenance fees for your pet's grave every year.
4. Choose a gravestone. Just like with a normal cemetery, you have the option to have a tombstone placed. Work with the cemetery to choose a stone that you like for your pet.
5. Think about what you want to do for the funeral. At many animal cemeteries you can arrange something for the funeral in consultation. However, you don't have to organize anything if you don't want to or can't afford it.

Tips

• Everyone grieves at their own pace. Don't feel guilty or crazy if you grieve your pet.
• Some pet owners choose to cremate rather than bury their pet. Your vet can tell you more about this. As with human loved ones, you can buy a special urn to keep your pet close to you.