Pet funerals?

[sally_smith]

My dog is sadly comming to the end of his life and I was wondering what ideas Answerbankers had of saying good bye to him? also, is it OK to bury him in the garden?

[krissy04]

sally_smith...im sorry for what you have to go through...I know loosing a loved one, or animal is pretty hard. I think its totally OK to bury your dog in the garden, and to gather the family around, and to say your last words...

 Keep your head up Kiddo :) everything will be ok!

[PurplePixie]

I have a small animal rescue & keep the animals (who are often older or disabled) for the rest of their lives. I have a little grave area at the bottom of my garden which I've decorated with pretty garden mobiles etc...and have marked each grave with something special for the pet which makes me remember the happy times.

For my beautiful cat Simba, I planted a shrub called 'firespark' because he had such a spark in him. For another, some roses...because she was a real lady. I always bury them wrapped in a lovely blanket & have a little ceremony of my own.

There are places that you could get a pet cremated & either bury or scatter ashes somewhere special. That's an idea if you might one day want to move home.

It's a tough time, but your job is to give your beautiful dog a dignified end, surrounded by love. Then remember all the good times & what he meant to you. Best wishes & good luck x  

[hugoboss]

We lost a very much loved dog a few years ago. We had her cremated alone (they usually cremate a number of dogs together), and took the ashes to her favourite walking place. We then threw her ashes into the sea next to the path. We knew it was the right thing to do, and it was very moving. Then she could be in her favourite place forever. I know it's hard losing a member of the family (which is what pets are really). I hope you manage to give it the send off it deserves, when the time is right.

[smudge]

I am really sorry you're about to lose your beloved pet. When our cat Smudge, aged 13 years, had to be put to sleep, we brought her home & buried her in our garden. A few years later we made a secret garden, with fairies & pixies etc., around the area where she lays. I would have preferred to have had her cremated & placed the ashes there instead, but that option wasn't offered by the vet at the time. For personal reasons, I am for cremation rather than burial for humans & animals. I hope this helps.   

[smudge]

P.S. Just remember, we are all thinking of you. -x-

[5029]

Sorry to hear of your loss - they really do become part of the family.

 

I would only bury him in the garden if you don't plan to move again - you don't want to think of him in someone elses back garden, you could bury him in a pet cemetary or get him cremated.

[willowherb]

i have lost 2 dogs over the years and i know how you feel..if you want to you can bury him in the garden and maybe plant a tree for him,,the dogs trust runs a scheme where you can have a kennel named after your dog in memory if you wish to pay for that sort of memorial..the end of a dogs life can cause severe depression and i hope you can remember all the good things about him he is just a thought away,,i have allways replaced my dogs as fast as possible as new life coming into the home gives you no time to dwell on the passing,,especially when you have a puppy to think about..and feed..when i lost my first dog i knew he had to be put down so i treated him to everything he liked to eat the most and gave him lots of love and i was their with him at the end,,as the vet was not able to control him as he went mad due to a brain tumour..he had been beaten by his previouse owners and allthough i got him sorted he was never right but he trusted me and at the end i was the one that gave him the injection,,that put me in bed for 2 weeks with grief,,then the last ones back legs went and we couldnt watch him suffer so he had to be put down age 13 and the one i have now is nearly 7 ,,so he is starting to slow down a bit,i dread the day when the time comes,,and their is a book available of coping with animal bereavement,,all the best and dont let anyone say its just a dog its part of your family and deserves the same respect as a person,,

[sally_smith]

I want to thank you all for your kind responses (with exception to barrymonkey). I am really overwhelmed by the kindness and your thoughts of so many Answerbankers. At the age of 30 he was my first pet and I got him from a rescue centre. I knew he was old and I just wanted to give an old dog a home, I was not expecting how much a part of the family he had become.

 Thank you all for your kind words. Sally.

[smudge]

Yes I agree with you peanut - there are some really hard thinking people around, who do not give a hoot for peoples feelings. But you know what they say "What comes around goes around". At least we have clear consciences!

[littleoldme]

Hi Sally. Just wanted to add my voice to the sympathy. One thing I would suggest is that when the time finally comes - buy another dog as soon as possible (after making all the proper checks of course), otherwise the house will seem horribly empty.

I'd also suggest getting a dog of a different breed, so you won't make subconscious comparisons. When we lost our spaniel two years ago, having dealt with her diabetes and increasing blindness for the previous three years, we were devastated. However, we are now the proud owners of a lovely labrador - just as lovable, but a very different breed, so we didn't feel so much that we were "replacing" our old dog as if she was a sofa or a TV set.

Oh and barrymonkey, I don't know if you think you're being clever or funny, but you're being neither

[hattster]

We have several dogs buried in the back garden. I asked a local stone mason if he could make a plaque with all their names on for which he did and it only cost me �20 well worth it. The kids place flowers and toys on it on anniversarys etc, it also helps the children to come to terms with a loss

[JB]

I lost my lovely little dog in September - very suddenly and no time to say goodbye properly. In this respect you are lucky that you do have this opportunity, but devastating at the same time.

I would opt for cremation/ashes scattering if at all possible (I wasn't able to make that decision at the time)

On a lighter note, despite my protests (!) I am now the proud owner of 2 puppies, and must admit that despite my initial reservations, they have helped enormously! They are the same breed as my 'little girl' but there is no comparison as all of their personalities are completely different!

I do understand what you must be going through, and you certainly will grieve, but rest assured that you will come through it.

[druiaghtagh]

So sorry sally_smith  for what you are going through. When my lurcher Nina died of cancer , the whole family were devastated, we had her for 13 years. We had her cremated and wer givenhe ashes in a lovely crafted wooden box and her name on a plaque on box. EWer buried her in a sunny spot in the garden along with her toys and collar. We quickly replaced her with a rescue dog called Megan, who is now 10 and i do noy like to think on the sad day that will come one day, she is a jot to us and did not replace Nina as she has her own personality.She helped us over the grief of losing Nina. If you feel able, i suggest you think about adopting a rescue dog, you will be so bsy making thempart of your home and family it will help ease your heartache.

[Binky]

I agree regarding the idea of adopting a rescue dog.  If you were a dog, wouldn't you like the idea of when you are gone, your owners adopting one of your kind in need?  Concerning your poorly friend, when he does pass on, bury him deep in the garden so that local animals don't attempt to excavate him, and place all his favourite things with him, such as toys and a blanket.  A plaque is a good idea to mark the spot.  Take plenty of pictures before he gets too ill. 

[sally_smith]

Thank you all for all your responses. Sadly on Monday our dog passed away. He was taken very ill and had to be put to sleep. We took him home and buried him in the garden. I miss him terribly and am looking to get another dog in the near future. I think that I will look for a rescue dog again.  

[druiaghtagh]

My heart goes out to you Sally_smith, your wonderful pet is now suffering no more. I'm sure he had a wonderful life and was well loved and he knew that. I know how hard it is and how empty your house must seem.You obviously know how much love dogs have to give you, as you have for them, take a few weeks to get used to it and then consider a new dog, it will help toease your pain by giving your love to a new animal.