Losing a pet can be devastating for both the adults and the children in the family. Having a proper funeral and burial for your family pet can help with the healing process. Most families just aren't sure how to go about this. You can always consult with your veterinarian, or you can explore the following options and choose the one that best fits your family.
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Home Burial
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A home burial is a good option if you plan on living in your home for a long time. The first step is to contact your local governmental agency to find out if pet burial is allowed in your area. If it is, you will need to put on a pair of plastic gloves and set your pet inside of a heavy-duty plastic bag. Construct or buy a small wooden or metal coffin. Place your pet inside of it and then dig a hole three feet deep. This depth is necessary to keep other animals from digging up your pet's grave. When you lay your pet in the hole, have a little ceremony to say goodbye to your pet. Let the children recall some of the fun times they had with their pet. When you are finished, you can shovel the dirt back on top of the coffin and then add a stick or homemade plaque to mark the spot where your pet lies.
Pet Cemetery
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Not all communities have a pet cemetery, so you will need to ask your vet if there is one in your town. If so, you can contact the director to set up a time to pick out a casket, headstone and burial spot. This will cost you money, unlike the home burial. It is a good choice, however, if your particular location doesn't allow for home burials. On the day that you lay your pet to rest, you can prepare a little ceremony for your family. This part allows the family to grieve and express their feelings. You may even want to make a poster with some pictures of your pet. You can then visit the grave site any time that you need to.
Cremation
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For a lower cost than a full burial, you can choose to have your pet's remains cremated. This will turn your pet in to a sand-like substance that can be placed in an urn. You can keep the urn at home, or your family members can get together and visit your pet's favorite location. After each family member says a few words about the pet, the ashes of your pet can be scattered around. You can also bury the urn at home or in a cemetery as you would the pet's body. Also, if you want to keep your pet, but not in an urn, you can use a memory box. Add some of your pet's favorite toys to the box and decorate the box with pictures of your pet. Whenever you feel sad, you can take out the box and look at it.
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