Can You Bury a Pet in Your Backyard?

Maybe.

That's not me trying to dodge the question.

It really depends on where you live.

If you own your home and want to bury your pet in the backyard, check your local rules first. Don't assume that because it's your dirt you can automatically bury a pet there.

Most people probably aren't calling City Hall before burying the family hamster.

But I need to tell you to check.

There's something else that's more important.

If your pet was put down by a veterinarian, the drugs used for euthanasia can remain in the body. If another animal digs the body up, those drugs can hurt or kill that animal.

So if you're going to bury your pet, the grave needs to be deep enough that another animal can't get to them.

I learned that one a long time ago.

We had a childhood pet buried at home and something got into the grave.

I'll leave the rest of that story alone.

Just dig deep.

I've buried a pet at home before. A cat I had was put down, I brought the cat home and buried it under a tree.

So I'm not against backyard burial.

Just know what you're doing before you start digging.

Check the rules where you live.

Think about where you're putting the grave.

And make sure another animal isn't going to turn your pet's burial into something you really don't want to see.

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