Pet Burial or Cremation – Which is Better ?

Hitesh Yadav

- Pet Enthusiast

Hey, Myself Hitesh Yadav and I am the author of the Pet Cremation Guides blog, Here I shares pet loss emotional advice, memorial ideas, and...

Hitesh Yadav

- Pet Enthusiast

Hey, Myself Hitesh Yadav and I am the author of the Pet Cremation Guides blog, Here I shares pet loss emotional advice, memorial ideas, and...

When a person leaves us, the final decision we make for them is whether to bury or cremate them. A similar decision we have to take when our beloved pet (whether it is a dog, cat, rabbit or any other) says goodbye to this world.

It is an emotional and very personal decision whether we should bury our beloved pet or cremate it. In this article, we will talk in detail about :-

• What is the difference between burial and cremation
• Their advantages and disadvantages
• Which method is better in which situation
• And how you can make the right decision in this difficult time

1.) What is pet burial?

Burial is a traditional method in which the body of a pet is buried in the ground. This can be done in two ways :-

1. Home Burial
2. Pet Cemetery

1.) Home Burial :-

You can bury your pet by choosing a safe place in the garden or courtyard of your house. Many people in USA still adopt this method.

2.) Pet Cemetery :-

In many countries animal cemeteries are also available where burial is done with respect.

✅ Advantages of Pet Burial :-

• Feeling your pet close forever
• A permanent place where you can go and remember
• An emotional way to explain the reality of death to children

❌ Disadvantages :-

• If you change house, the grave remains there
• In some places it is not legally allowed
• The grave can be damaged by rain, animals or soil erosion
• Many people do not have the courage to dig a grave themselves

2.) What is pet cremation?

Creation means burning the body of the pet in a special machine and turning it into ashes.

There are two options in this too :-

• 1.) Individual Cremation – In this type of cremation only your pet is cremated and you get the ashes of the pet back, which you can keep at your home in an urn.
• 2.) Communal Cremation – In this type of cremation many animals are cremated together.

✅ Advantages of Cremation :-

• Clean and organized method
• You can keep the ashes and keep their memory alive
• More facilities are available in cities
• You can take the ashes with you even whiletraveling

❌ Disadvantages :-

• Some people find the idea of ​​cremation emotionally difficult
• Cost can be higher than burial
• In some cases, there is a lack of trust whether the ashes are of the same animal?

You can read our pet cremation guide here – The Ultimate Guide to Pet Cremation: Everything You Need to Know

How to decide what is right for you?

Before proceeding forward below are some questions you can ask yourself :-

• Do you have a place for burial?
• Do you have any traditions in your religion or family?
• In which process do you feel – is it better to bury or cremate?
• Do you want to keep the ashes?

After answering these above question consider a choice with consulting your family or vet. In my opinion whichever method gives you emotionally peace and closure is the right method for you.

What to do after cremation?

If you choose cremation, you can preserve the ashes in the following ways :-

1.) Keep them in home in a beautiful urn. You can checkout below posts if you want to buy urns for your pet’s ashes :-

2.) Convert into memory jewellery (locket, ring)

3.) Bury under a tree – Tree Burial with ashes

4.) Create a memory corner – with photos, toys, ashes and with a memorial keepshake

5.) If you want the have a memorial tattoo for your pet. You can take inspiration from below post

83 Best Pet Memorial Tattoos Ideas

How to make the burial memorable?

If you decide burial for your pet then cosider having following burial rituals :-

• Build a beautiful grave
• Put your pet’s favourite toy or flower there
• Install a memorial stone
• Kids can write a goodbye letter for them

Legal and practical aspects

✅ Is it legal to bury a pet at home ?

Home burial is allowed in most places, but you must make sure that :-

• The body is buried 3-4 feet deep
• Lime or soil is added on top
• There is no water source nearby

✅ Where will you get cremation facilities?

Most of the big cities have Pet Cremation Centres. Even some cremation centres provides cremation vans also that pick pet’s body from your house. Also additionally you can contact a pet hospital they can help you by suggesting good pet cremation centre

Who To Involve In This Decision?

You can involve following persons and take advise from them :-

• Family members, especially children
• Vet doctor (post-death guidance)
• Pet grief counsellors (if you need emotional support)

Conclusion

Pets loves us unconditionally. When they are gone, the final decision we make for them is not just a process. It is a “tribute”, an expression of gratitude.

Whether you bury or cremate the most important thing is to send them off with love and respect.

Hitesh Yadav- Pet Enthusiast

Hey, Myself Hitesh Yadav and I am the author of the Pet Cremation Guides blog, Here I shares pet loss emotional advice, memorial ideas, and practical tips for bidding farewell to your pet. Inspired by my own experiences, I aims to help anyone who has lost a beloved pet companion in preserving their memories, with love.

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