What to do when your pet dies?

It is important to respect the laws regarding the death of a pet. You cannot, for example, dispose of your pet’s body anywhere, be it in the wild,  in a rubbish bin or in any other place. This is obviously disrespectful to your pet and can result in very substantial fines.

What are the options for burying your cat, dog or other pet?

Handing over your pet’s remains to a vet

Owners of cats, dogs and other pets often turn to the vet when their favourite pet dies. The vet will know how to ensure that your four-legged friend is given a proper burial.

The vet will then inform you that your pet will be cremated as a group, i.e. his or her body will be burned together with other animal remains.

Crematoriums cost vary depending on the size of your pet. To find your nearest vet or crematorium, visit the website of the French National Order of Veterinarians.

Cremation of your pet

When your pet leaves you forever, there are several things you need to do. One of them is what to do with the body. If you are not interested in a burial, the best choice is a pet crematorium.

If you want to witness your pet’s departure, there are two options. You can have a mass cremation or an individual cremation. As painful as it may be, allowing yourself to witness the cremation of your pet is a real consolation. You can choose between taking the urn home and placing the ashes in a pet cemetery vault.

It is important to plan for the cost of burying your pet. A pet’s cremation can cost up to 300 euros and you must add the price of the urn chosen to cover the costs.

Burying your pet in a pet cemetery

There are many specialised cemeteries for burying your pet. A specialised company will take care of the body of your faithful companion with cleaning, preparation of the grave and burial and a funeral plaque.

There are many pet cemeteries where it is possible to bury a pet. As with human beings, you must use a funeral company to organise the funeral. The funeral company will take care of the grooming of the pet’s body, the preparation of the grave, the burial, the coffin, the funeral plaque, etc.

The funeral company usually charges 900 to 2000 US$ for a ceremony. It is always important to remember that the costs are not limited to this amount as the concession costs about 100 US$ per year.

Burying your pet at home

Backyard burial may seem like a logical solution to a pet’s remains, but it is not safe. Most pets are put to sleep with a very concentrated anaesthetic agent, which results in a very peaceful death. This can be dangerous for other wildlife, so it should be avoided.

Many people like to bury their dogs in their backyard. There are some regulations you need to know about, but generally you can. You can bury your dog at your property in most states of the US, but still check with your local veterinarian and homeowners association to make sure you comply with the specific laws and regulations.