Pet Burial for Large Animals

Pet Burial for Large Animals

Pet Burial for Large Animals

There are countless resources available to assist families who have recently had to say goodbye to a beloved pet dog, cat, bird, or other small animal. From pet cemeteries to county animal control groups, you have the option to cremate your pet or bury them (either in a pet cemetery or even in your own backyard).

Not every beloved pet who passes away is small, however. Very large dogs, horses, llamas, and other farm animals do not always meet the local regulations for pet remains disposal, which means you may have to make special arrangements.

  • Cremation: The most common method of disposing of very large animals is cremation. Although you can bury a larger dog (or even a horse), finding the space and making the arrangements tends to be costly. Although the cremation of a large pet will cost more than that of a small pet, you should be able to make arrangements through your city or county to have this service performed. In almost all cases, they will provide someone to pick up the animal’s remains for you (again, because the animal is larger, this may come with an additional fee).
  • Veterinary Services: If your pet is being put to sleep by a veterinarian or other professional, be sure and ask about their disposal options. They often have on-site services or contract with burial/cremation specialists so that you can be present while your pet is being put to sleep, but you do not have to personally handle their remains. (Non-veterinary euthanasia services may also provide similar services.)
  • Rendering Plants: As unpleasant as it to think about, neither cremation nor burial is the most effective way to dispose of a large animal’s remains. Rendering plants exist to take animal remains (whether from slaughterhouses, roadkill pickup services, veterinarians, and/or private pet owners) and reduce them into usable protein products for manufacturing. If money is a consideration, you may want to contact a rendering plant or carcass disposal provider, as they do not always charge for their services.
  • Waste Management Plants: Waste management plants can sometimes take animal remains, although you will need to make arrangements for transportation. Because of the hazardous nature of this type of waste, it is always best to first call your city’s waste management system to make sure they will accept your pet’s body. This is usually more cost-effective than traditional pet cremation.

Saying goodbye to any kind of pet is hard, but because of the added burden of a large animal’s remains, these types of pets can be even more difficult to let go. If at all possible, talk with your pet service provider before while your pet is still alive and healthy so that you know who to call and what to expect once death does eventually occur.

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