As of: March 10, 2024, 8:35 a.m
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Many dog owners want to keep their four-legged friend close to them even after death and decide to bury them in their own garden.
This is what you need to know about it.
As loyal companions, dogs are man's best friends.
In times of crisis, we can always count on the unconditional love and support of our four-legged friend.
It is all the more traumatic for owners when they have to say goodbye to their furry darling forever.
Unfortunately, dogs rarely live to be more than 15 years old.
To better cope with the sad loss, many owners find it helpful to bury their pet in their own garden.
Children in particular find comfort when they can visit the grave of their deceased furry friend every day.
However, a number of things must be taken into account.
Burying a dog: what is allowed?
According to the Disposal Act for Animal By-Products, Paragraph 7 Paragraph 6, it is generally permitted in Germany to bury your own dog in the garden.
Only in the federal state of Bremen is the burial of pets on one's own property prohibited for environmental reasons.
In all other federal states, specific guidelines must be followed.
The grave should be at least half a meter deep - a depth of one meter is better - and covered with plenty of earth.
This makes it more difficult for other animals to discover and dig up the carcass while digging around.
In addition, a distance of one to two meters from public paths must be maintained.
If you want to avoid heated discussions, keep this distance from the adjacent property.
Especially if you don't have a particularly good relationship with your neighbors, you are on the safe side.
Many owners decorate the grave of their deceased dog with flowers © IMAGO
In addition, it should be noted that the grave must not be located on a water or nature reserve.
The corpse poisons could pollute waterways or soil.
Even if you own the property, you must comply with this rule.
Violations are punished with a fine of up to 50,000 euros.
When garden burials are prohibited
If your dog suffered from a reportable illness before his death, he should not be buried.
Otherwise the pathogens could spread further and become dangerous to other animals.
The reportable diseases include tuberculosis, rabies and SARS-CoV-2 infections.
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture lists a complete list of diseases on its website.
The bodies of sick animals must be disposed of professionally to reduce the risk of the disease.
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The size of the dog also plays a crucial role.
If the deceased four-legged friend is larger than a Great Dane, garden burial is often not permitted.
In this case, you should ask the responsible public order or veterinary office to be on the safe side.
Depending on the federal state, the rules are a little different, which is why it is best to find out more individually on site.
Dog burial: What rights do tenants have?
If you only live in rent, you must contact your landlord and ask for permission.
After all, as the owner, the landlord is responsible for the property and has in mind that you will move out at some point.
You want to leave as little baggage as possible for potential new tenants, which is why you will probably have to remove the grave when you move.
Anyone who lives in an apartment building should inform the other tenants.
One solution that most people agree with is to cremate the animal and then bury it in an urn in the garden.
Special organic containers are made from biodegradable materials that decompose quickly.
You can find even more exciting animal topics in the free newsletter from Landtiere.de, which you can subscribe to right here.
Burying a dog: Here's how to proceed
Even if it sounds heartless, it's best to plan your four-legged friend's funeral before he dies.
During the acute phase of grief, it can be overwhelming to choose a suitable spot in the garden.
The animal's corpse should be wrapped in an easily decomposed material such as towels, blankets or sheets.
A cardboard box is also suitable.
Make sure the grave is deep enough and pile enough soil over it.
A small hill may be created as the earth will sink later.
You can then cover the grave with a large stone to mark the spot.