Experiencing the loss of a pet can feel like losing a member of the family. For many pet owners, holding a funeral or memorial service for a beloved cat or dog can allow those close to the animal to grieve and come to terms with the animal’s passing.
However, there are certain factors you’ll need to decide upon before laying your precious dog or cat to rest. For instance:

• Do you want to bury or cremate your pet?
• Where do you want to place your pet’s remains?
• Do you want a pet funeral service or memorial?

Let’s look at the necessary steps to take for a pet funeral:

1. Know the city bylaws
Before you decide how to handle your pet’s remains and where to lay them to rest, you’ll have to become familiar with the bylaws for pet burials, according to you municipality.  For instance, some bylaws restrict how your dog or cat can be buried, which means you may have to locate a sanctioned pet cemetery. To get familiar with your city, county, or town ordinances,  put in a call to your municipal government to ask about regulations around pet burials.

2. Pet burials
As mentioned, depending on your municipal laws, your pet may need to be laid to rest at a legal pet cemetery. The price of burying your pet in a legal pet cemetery varies depending on size of pet, location, and burial services selected. Most pet burial plots are dug for under $600, and an additional $50 to $500 if the cemetery necessitates pets be buried in a casket. However, if your city, town, or county allows for home burials, many pet owners decide to bury their beloved cat or dog on their property. Many opt for a final resting place in their backyard, or plant a tree, shurb, or flowering plant in honor of the animal. Keep in mind, in almost all states, it’s considered illegal to bury a pet on public property (i.e., park, beach, or forest).

3. Cremating your pet
Cremation is generally less expensive compared to burial in a pet cemetary. Pet cremations cost  between $60 (for communal cremation). to $150 (for individual cremation) and allow the family to keep the dog or cat’s ashes in an urn or scatter them in a meaningful spot. Pet urns range in price, depending on size and material, starting at $20 up to $250. Pet cremations can be arranged through most veterinary offices.

4. Pet funeral homes
While some owners opt for a private burial for their pet in their backyards, others want a pet funeral, which means a pet-specific funeral homes will take care of every aspect of your beloved pet’s burial. For instance, funeral homes can arrange:

• Picking up your dog or cat’s remains from the veterinary office
• Arranging cremation or burial services
• Preparing the body for viewing
• Host a space for a formal funeral or memorial service