To Bury or Display Your Pet

Deciding what to do when your pet passes away is obviously complicated.  There are so many choices to make and options to consider.  The most common and popular method is cremation.  If you come this far in my series on pet cremation, this is probably the decision you’ve made, or at least one you are heavily considering.

In our culture, burial is still the more popular option for managing our loved ones after they have passed on.  However, cremation has been gaining in popularity for generations as a less expensive alternative.  As discussed in previous articles, cremation is also a nice way to honor your lost dog or cat by giving him or her a permanent place in your home, one that transcends life and death.

If you prefer the idea of burial but don’t have the ability to bury your pet in traditional manners, there is still one more option.  You can choose an urn for your pet and have a burial for that urn and his or her ashes.  Pet cemeteries offer much less expensive burial plots for urns because they take up less land space.  Some pet cemeteries also have enclosures intended for cremation urns that will give you peace of mind that the ashes are safe.  You will also have a place to visit your pet whenever you choose.

If you would prefer to bury at home, cremation and a pet urn make this process easier as well.  If you live on a plot of land that has space limits it lessens the amount of room necessary for a proper burial.  This is especially true if you have a pet that is a large breed.  Choosing to bury an urn instead of the body will also lighten the load on whomever has to put in the physical labor to create the grave site.

With the option of urn burial at home, you can also have a headstone made or plant a tree to permanently memorialize your lost companion for generations to come.  This provides a close, safe place for you to honor your pet and enjoy the memories you have of him or her.

If you would like to choose a more natural burial, there are many biodegradable options out there.  One of the most interesting is a sea burial concept from Marble Products International.

While this Carpel Rock Salt Pet Urn above is a beautiful piece, it is made from rock salt and is designed to fully dissolve within four hours.  This particular urn is 80 cubic inches in volume, so it could hold pets of several different sizes.

The burial process also offers the opportunity to have a funeral or ceremony to celebrate your pet’s life with those who love you and loved your pet with you.  My next article contains several ideas for how to hold a burial ceremony if you choose this route.

The alternative to burial is to keep your pet’s ashes in an urn in your home.  Many people prefer this option so that their companion animal can remain close to them for years after his or her life in this realm has ended.  In this case, choosing an urn that properly memorializes your pet is very important.