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Burying a pet

A Guide to Pet Burial From Your Friends At So Loved Pets

Losing a pet is an immensely challenging time for any pet owner. As you navigate through the emotional process of saying goodbye, deciding on the final arrangements can be an essential part of the healing journey.

Following cremation, many choose to bury the biodegradable container with their pet’s ashes. This guide will help you understand how to respectfully and safely carry out this burial.

Understanding CREmation

Before delving into the burial process, it’s important to understand what our type of cremation looks like. At So Loved Pets, we offer an environmentally-friendly cremation process that uses a solution of water and alkaline chemicals to accelerate the natural decomposition that occurs after burial.

The result is a sterile solution and bones, which are then processed into a fine, white ash and returned to you in a biodegradable urn or container.

Choosing a Biodegradable Container

So Loved Pets typically provides the ashes in a biodegradable container suitable for burial.

These containers are made from materials like recycled paper, sand, gelatin, and other organic compounds, which decompose naturally when buried.

If you bury in a different container, consider the following:

Material: Ensure the container is entirely biodegradable and suitable for the soil type where you plan to bury it.

Personalization: You can personalize the container with engravings or eco-friendly paints.

Choosing a Biodegradable Container

So Loved Pets typically provides the ashes in a biodegradable container suitable for burial.

These containers are made from materials like recycled paper, sand, gelatin, and other organic compounds, which decompose naturally when buried.

If you bury in a different container, consider the following:

Material: Ensure the container is entirely biodegradable and suitable for the soil type where you plan to bury it.

Personalization: You can personalize the container with engravings or eco-friendly paints.

Selecting a Burial Site

Choosing a burial site is a deeply personal decision and can be influenced by many factors:

Home Burial

Many choose to bury their pet on their own property. This option allows easy visitation and can provide comfort knowing your pet is nearby. Ensure local regulations allow pet burials, and consider future plans for the property.

Pet Cemetery

A pet cemetery offers a dedicated resting place that ensures the pet’s grave will be cared for permanently. These facilities often provide options for communal or private burial plots.

Natural Burial Grounds

Some regions have natural burial grounds that allow for the burial of pets. One good example in our area is Bluestem Conservation Cemetery These areas are designed to return the body to the earth with minimal environmental impact.

Preparing for Burial

Once you have your biodegradable container, you’re ready to prepare for the burial:

Check Local Regulations: Always check with local authorities to ensure that burying your pet’s ashes in a biodegradable container complies with local ordinances.

Depth of Burial: The typical recommendation is to bury the container at least three feet deep. This depth helps prevent any disturbance from wildlife and supports the natural degradation process of the container.

Marking the Grave: Consider marking the grave with a natural stone, a plant, or a biodegradable marker. This not only memorializes the spot but helps prevent accidental disturbances.

Preparing for Burial

Once you have your biodegradable container, you’re ready to prepare for the burial:

Check Local Regulations: Always check with local authorities to ensure that burying your pet’s ashes in a biodegradable container complies with local ordinances.

Depth of Burial: The typical recommendation is to bury the container at least three feet deep. This depth helps prevent any disturbance from wildlife and supports the natural degradation process of the container.

Marking the Grave: Consider marking the grave with a natural stone, a plant, or a biodegradable marker. This not only memorializes the spot but helps prevent accidental disturbances.

Conducting the Burial Ceremony

The burial ceremony can be a way to provide closure. Here’s how you might consider organizing the ceremony:

Involve Family and Friends

Invite those who loved your pet or have supported you through your pet’s life and passing to join the ceremony.

Share Memories

Encourage attendees to share their favorite stories or qualities about your pet. Perhaps consider reading aloud what others’ wrote on your pet’s personal obituary page.

Plant Something

Consider planting a tree, shrub, or flowers over the burial site as a living memorial that will grow and thrive over time.

Aftercare

After the burial, it is natural to continue to feel grief. Consider these steps for aftercare:

Visit the Site: Regular visits to the burial site can help with grief by providing a physical space to remember and reflect.

Create a Memory Book: Compile photos, toys, and memories of your pet in a scrapbook or digital format to look back on fondly.

Seek Support: Join a pet loss support group or talk to a counselor who specializes in grief, especially if your sadness feels overwhelming.

Aftercare

After the burial, it is natural to continue to feel grief. Consider these steps for aftercare:

Visit the Site: Regular visits to the burial site can help with grief by providing a physical space to remember and reflect.

Create a Memory Book: Compile photos, toys, and memories of your pet in a scrapbook or digital format to look back on fondly.

Seek Support: Join a pet loss support group or talk to a counselor who specializes in grief, especially if your sadness feels overwhelming.

Honoring Your pet’s memory

Burying your pet’s biodegradable container after aquamation is a beautiful, respectful way to say goodbye while honoring the life they lived. It’s a choice that also benefits the earth, aligning with the natural cycle of life and death.

Although the process is fraught with emotion, it can ultimately provide a sense of peace and closure, knowing that your beloved pet rests gently in the earth, returning to nature from which it came.