When a beloved pet goes, all that remains is grief. But what about the burial? Can you bury pets in the garden?
Life with animals is something very beautiful, because they can enrich everyday life immensely. Especially for people who are otherwise very lonely, pets can become real friends and companions. But death is part of life and so at some point you have to say goodbye to your beloved pet. However, many people then want to have their loved ones as close as possible to them forever. However, an urn burial is not cheap, so most people consider burying the animal on their own property. But is it actually allowed to bury animals in the garden?
Which animals may be buried in the garden?
» small animals:
If you want to bury a small animal in the garden, then that's completely unproblematic. There is also nothing special to note. So if you want a guinea pig, rabbit, hamster or similar to go underground, you don't have to follow any regulations. However, you should not bury the animal close to the kitchen garden and it is best to place it in a small box before burying it in the ground.
» Dogs and cats:
It is also not forbidden to bury cats and dogs on your own property. However, you have to comply with certain regulations here, so you should definitely obtain sufficient information beforehand. The responsible veterinary office is always the first point of contact in this case. Normally, if you have a larger animal, all you have to do is make an informal request for a home burial.
If the carcass was cremated and the ashes are in an urn, you can of course bury them on your property without further restrictions.
Terms and Conditions for Home Burial
- In any case, it is important that the cause of death of the animal was not a reportable disease. If the animal has been euthanized by the vet, it must not be buried in the garden either, because components of the anesthetic could get into the groundwater.
- Another condition is that the propertyis not located within a water protection area. In addition, a distance of at least one to two meters to public paths must be maintained.
- You must dig the grave at least 60 centimeters deep so that no other animals can dig up the carcass again.
- You may not use a container that is slow to decompose. For example, a bed sheet or woolen blanket is recommended, but a large cardboard box would also be fine.
- Under no circumstances should you simply bury dead animals in the forest. If you are caught doing so, you could face very high fines.
By the way, the Hanseatic city of Bremen is an exception when it comes to house burials: house burials are not permitted here due to the high groundwater level and the dense population.