What happens when a dog or cat dies in the UK: the difference between individual and communal cremation, the rules for burying a pet at home, and ways to keep a little of them close.
When a much-loved dog or cat dies, you have to make decisions at a time when you least feel like it. This guide sets out the main options in the UK in plain language, so you can choose what feels right without being rushed. Your vet can arrange most of this for you, and it is always fine to ask for a little time.
The short answer
Most pet owners in the UK choose cremation, arranged through their vet or directly with a pet crematorium. With an individual cremation your pet is cremated alone and the ashes are returned to you. With a communal cremation several pets are cremated together and the ashes are not returned. You can also bury a pet at home if you own the land.
Individual cremation
Your pet is cremated on their own, so all of the ashes you receive are theirs. The ashes usually come back in a simple container, scatter tube or casket, and you can choose to keep them, scatter them or divide them between family members.
- It costs more than communal cremation, and prices vary with your pet's size and the provider.
- Some crematoria let you attend or collect your pet yourself.
- Ask how long it will take for the ashes to come back, and whether a basic container is included.
Communal cremation
Several pets are cremated together. Because the ashes cannot be separated, none are returned. Many people find comfort in this simpler, lower-cost option, especially if they prefer to remember their pet with a photo, a paw print or a lock of fur instead.
Questions worth asking
- Is the cremation individual, and will I receive only my pet's ashes?
- What is the total price, including collection and the container?
- How long will it take, and how will the ashes be returned?
- Is the crematorium a member of the Association of Private Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria (APPCC), which has a voluntary code of practice?
Burying a pet at home
UK government guidance says you do not need permission to bury a small pet such as a dog or cat on land you own, for example your back garden, as long as it does not pollute groundwater. In practice that means choosing a spot away from wells, streams and drains and burying deep enough that other animals will not disturb the grave. If you rent your home, ask your landlord first. If your pet was put to sleep, speak to your vet before burying them, because the drugs used can make the body hazardous to wildlife.
Keeping a little of them close
Whichever option you choose, many people like to keep something small. Before cremation or burial you can ask your vet to clip a little fur or help you take a paw print. Afterwards, a pinch of ashes fits in a keepsake pendant, and a small portion can go in a keepsake urn at home. Our guides explain how to keep your pet's fur and how to fill a keepsake pendant.
Looking after yourself
Grief for a pet is real grief. If you would like to talk to someone, the Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support Service is free and confidential: call 0800 096 6606 (8.30am to 8.30pm, every day) or use the webchat on the Blue Cross website.