How important is burial?

Years ago my best friend had to be put down by a vet. She had a serious condition and was suffering. It was a relief to stop my dog's suffering, even though I didn't want to say goodbye.

I always buried my pets in the back yard since I was a kid. There's really nothing else to do with them, at least they can be recycled into the earth by burying them. But the memories of one's pets are more important than where they are buried.

I meet a lady who kept her dog's ashes in a little urn. She places importance on the remains, it's personal some people do some people don't. I don't want to carry ashes with me just the memories.

As for me, ashes thrown upon the sea sounds good. But it really doesn't matter to me whatever my loved ones want to do with my remains is fine.

Additional post: Wow the freeze dry taxidermy is something else they look like they are still alive. Too creepy for me though. Also that lifegem thing is amazing, I wouldn't mind being turned into a diamond.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Hydra

So... I've had this awesome dog for eleven years, and he started having terrible seizures last week. My siblings and I have spent every last penny we've got on vet visits, bloodwork and medications just to find out they can't save him. He's gotten to be quite wretched, and they say it will only get worse, so we've decided to have him euthanised.

The vet would charge us $120 to have him euthanised there, and they'd give us the body back to bury him. The rescue society would charge us $50, but wouldn't release the body because the chemicals they use are so toxic. We're going to have to borrow the money anyway.

Thing is, I really want to bury him here on our land. It's another $70 that we don't have, but I have to have that sense that his remains weren't thrown away. Usually I give sentimental people a hard time... but this is just... weird. And its even weirder to be trying to decide with the dog still alive and looking at me. This all just sucks.

How important is burial to you? Or are there other rituals or customs that it just feels wrong to not carry out?

Keep this in mind. One's decision for burial alone can tell you everything about them. For instance, the different traditions of burials from different cultures and different timeperiods will tell you alot about that particular culture. It's a psychology thing.


Some say that cremation describes ones desire to be freed, that being cremated will release your essence from it's bound mortal coil. Whereas being buried could be described as ones desire to bound themselves to the life they lived (memory).


The different decisions one makes after death also describes their outlook on life. For example, tombs could signify enclosure, significance, importance. In life perhaps they looked at themselves as somewhat narcissistic in nature.

Being cremated and having your ashes in an urn could also signify your wanting to stay whereas having your ashes spread could be your longing to leave.



It's all in interpretation. The Egyptians were the closest to realizing that.

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Originally Posted by Hydra

So... I've had this awesome dog for eleven years, and he started having terrible seizures last week. My siblings and I have spent every last penny we've got on vet visits, bloodwork and medications just to find out they can't save him. He's gotten to be quite wretched, and they say it will only get worse, so we've decided to have him euthanised.

The vet would charge us $120 to have him euthanised there, and they'd give us the body back to bury him. The rescue society would charge us $50, but wouldn't release the body because the chemicals they use are so toxic. We're going to have to borrow the money anyway.

Thing is, I really want to bury him here on our land. It's another $70 that we don't have, but I have to have that sense that his remains weren't thrown away. Usually I give sentimental people a hard time... but this is just... weird. And its even weirder to be trying to decide with the dog still alive and looking at me. This all just sucks.

How important is burial to you? Or are there other rituals or customs that it just feels wrong to not carry out?

Ask if there is a way he can be cremated after they put him to sleep. I know we charge any where from 75.00 to 150.00 for cremations ( for animals ).

If this love of your animal is strong and you want a place to remember him or her than by all means pay the extra ammount of money and bury your beloved pet on your property. Erect a structure where you can go to remember them. I know to god my little girl is not going to go with out being remembered. ( cat )

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?