Burying your pet at home should only be performed in accordance with local and state laws and with a landlord’s authorization if renting.
There are no official guidelines for the proper disposal or burial of deceased animals. To protect human, animal, and environmental health, please consider the following guidelines:
- When digging a hole, ensure that the top of the body is covered with at least 3-5 feet of earth. If this depth is not attainable, it is important to cover the hole with a large rock or wire to prevent wildlife from digging up your pet. Note that:
- Euthanized pet remains are poisonous and can possibly kill other animals who would ingest it
- Pets that died of a contagious disease should be cremated
- A deceased animal may leak body fluids after passing
- Buried animals must not come in contact with any surface bodies of water or groundwater, including inland lakes, streams, rivers, and open drains
- Deceased animals should not be buried in sandy soils, black land, rocky soil, flood land, or around a home’s foundation
- Animal graves must not be located within 200 feet of any stream or groundwater and 500 feet from a well that is used to supply potable drinking water
- Place a layer of lime at the bottom of the hole and on the body.
- Compress the earth and level the soil.
- Take a moment to yourself…
- If you ever sell your property, it is important to notify future buyers of the presence of any animals that may be buried on the land.
According to the AVMA 2020 Euthanasia Guidelines, Cases of suspected wildlife death from animal remains containing pentobarbital are investigated by the regional US Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement office. Animal remains containing pentobarbital are potentially poisonous for scavenging wildlife, including birds of prey, carnivorous mammals, and domestic dogs. Federal laws protecting many of these species apply to secondary poisoning from animal remains containing pentobarbital and may carry civil and criminal penalties, with fines up to $500,000 and incarceration for up to 2 years. Burial of animal bodies is not permitted in urban and suburban areas.