The loss of a pet is never easy. For most of us, the days immediately following a beloved pet’s death pass in a fog of grief, confusion and even guilt as we struggle to imagine the coming months and years without this pet at our side. No matter how your pet died, it’s a time of confused and turbulent emotions, and certainly not a time when most of us would feel equipped to make critical logistical decisions. Sadly, these decisions are time-sensitive, and you may not have long to make them. One of the biggest choices you’ll face during this difficult time? The decision of whether to bury or cremate your pet.
It’s not a decision many of us ever want to think about, but it’s a decision we’ll need to make all the same. Your pet was a faithful companion in life. Now that they’re gone, it’s your job to make sure they’re laid to rest in a way that’s respectful and honors their memory.
Some of us may choose to ignore the decision until we need to make it, putting it off until a pet dies. Others may be conscious of the fact that we won’t be up for making decisions when that day comes, and may want to put some thought into the matter ahead of time. There’s no right or wrong way to go about this decision-making process, and whenever you choose to begin the process, we want to be there to help you. That’s why we’ve put together this guide, analyzing the options of pet cremation vs. burial, so you can weigh your options and make the informed decision you and your pet deserve.
What Is Pet Aftercare?
Pet aftercare is a broad term referring to the physical handling of a pet’s remains after their death. It usually refers pet burial and/or cremation — the two main methods for caring for a pet after death, but it can also include the creation of commemorative items such as headstones and memorials. Regardless of which method a pet owner chooses, the purpose of pet aftercare remains the same — to give the owner the chance to say goodbye in a loving and respectful way.
When it comes to deciding whether to bury or cremate a pet, there is no right or wrong decision. Both options come with pros and cons, complications and advantages. Rather than looking at which choice is objectively better, try to look at the decision from a personal standpoint. Which makes more sense for you, your family and your pet?
To help you make this difficult choice, let’s lay the options out, side by side.
Pet Cremation
Pet cremation is the same process as ordinary cremation, bringing with it all the same advantages and potential drawbacks that you might think of when you consider cremation on a human level. Just a few of the most common benefits to take into consideration here include the following.
Benefits of Pet Cremation
- It’s economical: Burial can be expensive. While the laws in some communities may allow you to bury your pet in your own backyard, other states require you to bury your pet in an official pet cemetery, which often doesn’t come cheaply. By comparison, pet cremation costs are often more modest, representing a more economical option that allows you to say goodbye to your pet without putting a hole in your budget.
- It’s easy: While cremation may immediately sound like the more complicated option, this isn’t the case. There are hundreds of pet crematoriums across the country that offer these services, and your vet can likely connect you with one if you’re interested. All you’ll need to do is make basic arrangements while this aftercare service takes care of your pet for you.
- You can still have a memorial: Many of us commonly associate memorial services, and memorial items such as headstones, with burials; but the two aren’t inextricably linked. You can still hold a memorial service for your pet, and you can also still have a headstone or other type of memorial made to honor your pet’s memory, even if you choose cremation. In fact, a pet urn that hold’s your pets ashes and remains can be a happier memorial item than a depressing headstone. A decorative urn or keepsake could spark happier memories and be a more gentle option, especially for kids.
Types of Pet Cremation
Another great benefit to cremating your pet is that there are several different options available based on your closure needs and budget. While the fact of the cremation remains the same, the circumstances vary slightly depending on which option you choose, allowing pet-owners to select the type that best works for them and their situation.
If you choose cremation for your pet, you’ll be asked to select from one of the two main options:
1. Private Cremation
Private pet cremation is also called an individual cremation. As the name suggests, this type of cremation means that your pet will be cremated apart from other animals, so that you can have your pet’s remains back after the cremation.
With private cremation, your pet cremation company can complete this process behind closed doors, or some crematoriums will give you the option to be present if that’s something you would prefer.
At the end of a private cremation, the crematorium will give you your pet’s cremains. Some pet owners may choose to scatter them in the woods where your pet loved to play, others may prefer to place them in a columbarium at a local pet cemetery, and still others may keep them on the mantel in a decorative urn. Whatever you choose to do with these cremains, the fact that you have the choice is the primary advantage of this private cremation.
While this freedom to choose your pet’s final resting place is an undeniable advantage, pet owners should also be aware that this option will be slightly more expensive than other cremation options, and weigh this knowledge accordingly.
Something to keep in mind with private cremation:
When making arrangements for private cremation, it’s important to ask the cremation company what they mean by “private.”
For some cremation companies, “private” really means semi-private, where multiple pets are in the same chamber but are partitioned off during the cremation process. This is, of course, less expensive, but it also means there could be some comingling of cremains. This may not be a good option for pet owners that want to be assured that the remains they’re getting back are from only their pet.
For other cremation companies, like Agape, “private” cremation means one pet, one chamber. This ensures there is absolutely no possibility for mixed cremains, so that pet owners can be absolutely sure that the cremains they’re getting back belong to their pet, and their pet only. This option does tend to be slightly more expensive, but many choose to look for a company that does this because of the assurance that you’re getting your best friend back.
2. Communal Cremation
Communal cremation is another pet cremation option. Communal pet cremation usually means that multiple pets will be cremated in the same chamber. This is a good option for pet owners that don’t have the time or resources for a private pet cremation or simply don’t feel the need for private pet cremation. Most of the time, the pet cremains are not returned to the families since the remains cannot be separated by pet. Instead, the cremains are typically buried or scattered by the cremation company in a designated resting place such as the woods or a farm.
The primary advantage of this type of cremation is the price, as this is by far the most economical option. For someone trying to save money, or perhaps someone who doesn’t have the time to schedule a private cremation, this is an efficient and practical option. If someone feels strongly about retaining their pet’s cremains afterward, however, it would be best to choose a private cremation that ensures you’re getting your pet’s remains.
Pet Burial
Pet burial is what many of us may immediately think of as the more “traditional” afterlife option. But why would you choose an expensive pet burial vs. pet cremation?
Benefits of Pet Burial
- There is a physical burial site: Burial means that there will be a physical site, typically with a commemorative marker, which you can visit to feel closer to your departed companion. Whether this is in a pet cemetery or your own back yard, there is comfort in having this sacred space where you can visit your friend even after they’re gone. Some choose this option so that they can visit their pet on their own terms, without having to pass it every day, such as you might with an urn memorial that stays in your home.
- It can be economical: The cost of a pet burial varies widely, depending on the level of personalization and the type of casket you’re looking for. This means that if you’re looking to keep costs to a minimum, there’s an option for that, and if you want to go all out, there are plenty of avenues for doing so.
Is It Legal to Bury Your Pet in Your Yard?
Short Answer: It depends on your municipality, county and/or state regulations
Not so very long ago, it was perfectly acceptable for families to lay a beloved pet to rest in the comfort and privacy of their own backyard. Times have changed, however, and pet cemeteries are quickly becoming the more common choice for pet burials. Despite this shift in popularity, families still have the option to bury their pet at home, right?
The longer answer: pet burial laws are complicated.
Why?
These laws and regulations might initially seem arbitrary and cruel, but the truth is that they exist to protect the health and well-being of you, your neighbors and your entire community.
Any organic matter that you bury will eventually break down and disperse throughout the soil and into local water systems. This means that any diseases your pet may have been carrying will be transferred and can get other animals sick or contaminate water supplies. In addition to this, some people may not bury their animal deep enough, leading to wild animals digging up the grave.
For these reasons, every municipality, county and state has its own rules and regulations regarding home pet burial. You may live in a region that allows this practice, but the odds are also good that it is prohibited.
For example, Los Angeles strictly prohibits home pet burials of any types. Failure to comply with these codes can even be grounds for legal action, something no one wants to deal with under the best of circumstances, let alone when also coping with the loss of a pet.
Even if you live in an area that allows for pet burials, keep in mind the above and be sure to do your research on properly disposing of the animal so that you do not put others at risk. Also keep in mind that, if burying an animal in your backyard is legal in your state, if you’re living in an apartment or renting a house, it would be illegal for you to perform a pet burial in the backyard, and the property owner could even evict you for doing so. You must own the land that you’re buying the animal on.
Based on these various factors, it should be clear that while home pet burials are sometimes permissible, they’re a complicated matter, and not something you should undertake lightly. In almost every case, a far simpler solution is to contact your local pet cemetery and bury your pet there instead.
So- Should I Cremate or Bury My Pet?
The decision of whether to bury or cremate a pet isn’t an easy one, and there isn’t a single right choice that will be the same for every person. Both burial and cremation offer advantages and disadvantages, and only you can decide which makes more sense for you and your unique situation. Your feelings on this matter will be personal to you, and you shouldn’t let anyone try to convince you away from the viewpoint you strongly feel is the right one.
If you’re having trouble deciding, however, and are struggling to see the advantages of one solution over the other, then we would like to gently guide you in the direction of pet cremation. Generally, pet cremation can offer lower costs and fewer complications during this difficult time. While pet burials, especially home burials, are filled with dozens of legal pitfalls, cremation is straight forward with minimal complications and no confusing caveats for you to navigate.
By choosing cremation, all you’ll need to do is have a quick word with your vet, who can put you in contact with a pet aftercare service. Once you’ve selected the type of cremation you’d prefer, your role will be complete. You’ll feel assured that the rest will be handled by capable and qualified professionals, and there will be no need for you to worry about any potential legal ramifications.
Reach out to Agape Pet Services for More Information
Whether you’ve recently lost a treasured companion, or you’re simply trying to plan ahead to ease the burden for yourself in the future, it’s worth taking the time to evaluate your options and decide which one is right for you.
If you’re interested in learning more about pet cremation and how it can be a valuable option for pet owners like you, don’t hesitate to reach out to us here at Agape Pet Services. We provide both private and communal cremations so you can choose the option that best suits you. And if you select a private cremation, we also offer a selection of commemorative urns to help you remember your friend even after they’re gone.
For more information about Agape Pet Services and our aftercare services, we invite you to contact us to learn more.
