Burial
Evidence of ritualized burial dates to the Paleolithic period, the earliest stage of human development. Dog remains have been found at human burial sites, sometimes in the same grave. One burial site found in northern Israel dating to 12,000 years ago featured an elderly man cradling a dog in his left arm. Such burials may have been performed to ensure that the person had a guardian or companion in the afterlife or simply as a reflection of a special bond between the two.
Egypt, of course, is probably best known for its ritualized burial practices. Although cats are most commonly associated with the Egyptians, they prized dogs as well. Pet burial sites for dogs and cats dating back 3,000 years were located along the Nile. Pets were also interred in the tombs of their owners and were just as elaborately mummified as the humans with whom they were buried. One pharaoh ordered that fine cloth, incense, and scented oil be used in the mummification of his favorite guard dog.
The dog-headed god Anubis ruled over the Egyptian afterlife. Anubis was black and had prick ears and a long, pointed muzzle. The Egyptian city of Hardai, called the City of Dogs — Cynopolis by the Greeks — was the center of Anubis worship.
Pet burial lost favor over the centuries and wasn't resurrected, so to speak, until the time of Queen Victoria, who was a great animal lover. The grounds of Windsor Castle served as a cemetery for any number of her favorite animals, including many dogs, which were immortalized with life-size bronze statues.
Of course, not everyone had an estate on which they could bury their dogs, and there were rules against burying pets in human cemeteries, so this led to animals being tossed out with the trash or thrown into the nearest river. This was unacceptable to the animal-loving Victorians and became the impetus for the establishment of the first public pet cemeteries.
Pet Cemeteries
Among the first pet cemeteries of the modern era were Asnieres, near Paris, and Hartsdale Canine Cemetery, in New York, founded in 1896, the oldest pet cemetery in the United States. Today, there are more than 600 pet cemeteries in the United States. The largest U.S. pet cemetery is Bide-a-Wee Home Association, located in New York.
Los Angeles National Cemetery, operated by the Veterans Administration, has two dogs interred on its grounds, a practice that's now prohibited. One is Old Bonus, adopted by residents of the soldiers' home, and the other is Blackout, a war dog wounded in the Pacific during World War II.
You can find a pet cemetery in your area by contacting the International Association of Pet Cemeteries. Choose a cemetery that's located on land owned by the proprietors or the cemetery corporation. Check to see that the cemetery is deeded to prevent future land development or other non-cemetery use of the property. The cemetery should also maintain a care fund to ensure that funds will be available for maintenance of the grounds.
Most pet cemeteries have a transport service and will pick up your dog's body from your home or from your veterinarian's office. They offer cremation or burial and can work with you to choose an urn, headstone, and burial site. The costs for cemetery burial vary. You can choose communal burial, communal cremation, or individual burial or cremation.
Communal cremation is the least expensive option, and your dog will be cremated at the same time as other animals. Communal burial is less expensive than individual burial, and your dog will share a grave with other animals. This is a common choice, according to the IAPC. Individual cremation allows you to have his ashes buried, stored at the cemetery in what's called a columbarium, scattered in a favorite spot, or kept at home in an urn.
With individual burial you can visit your dog's grave whenever you like, but it's the most expensive option, especially in areas where land is scarce. If for some reason you aren't able to bury or cremate your dog in any of these ways, you can still purchase a memorial plaque at the cemetery, have a flowering tree planted, or place memorial statuary or a bench at the cemetery to provide a place where you and your family can visit and remember your special dog.
Home Burial
You may prefer to bury your dog at home. Certainly that's less expensive than commercial burial or cremation, and it allows you to visit your dog's resting place at any time, but it does have some drawbacks. Unless you plan to be in the same home for the rest of your life, you'll have to leave your dog's body behind when you move. And the people who buy your home might not appreciate having him there.
You must also consider local or county ordinances or state laws that regulate pet burial. Health hazards are associated with burying pets in a yard, primarily the concern that other animals may try to dig them up. Your veterinarian or the local pet cemetery may be able to advise you on the legalities, or you can check with your municipal government. Home burial is most commonly permitted in rural and some suburban areas.
The loss of a pet often brings feelings of guilt and depression. If you find yourself crying frequently, feel as if there are knots in your stomach or a constant lump in your throat, and have no energy for day-to-day tasks, you may want to seek counseling for your depression.
If you bury your dog at home, place him in a non-biodegradable container. You can purchase a wooden casket from a pet cemetery or use some other wood or metal container. Before you put the body in the casket, place it in a heavy-duty plastic bag. Bury the receptacle at least three feet deep. This helps prevent other animals from being attracted by the scent and digging up the grave. You can plant a tree, some perennial flowers (which bloom year after year), or another favorite plant at the site, or you can mark it with a plaque or headstone.
