Headstones of beloved pets are set with flower arrangements.

Headstones of beloved pets are set with flower arrangements.

Credit: Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez

One of the most devastating events in a person’s life is the loss of a pet and pet owners are spending a lot of money on after life care for their animals.

The pet funeral industry was valued at “$1.6 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow 11.27% from 2023 to 2030,” according to Grand View Research Institute. This is evidence of not only the rising growth of pet ownership, but also how serious folks are about their animals.

So, if cremation isn’t your thing, but you still want to keep your fur family close, you may want to just put them in the yard. However, Georgia has some pretty specific rules and laws that you need to know before you start planning that at-home, backyard funeral service for your four-legged friend.

 

Is it legal in Georgia to bury your pet in the backyard?

Georgia is among only a handful of states that allows you to bury your pet in the backyard along with Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Texas.

There is one major consideration when it comes to putting Rover or Mr. Whiskers in the ground in your neighborhood: no health hazard or nuisance should be caused by it. While this seems fairly vague, it has some pretty serious implications.

If your pet died or was euthanized with a contagious disease, it’s probably best to cremate them instead of burying them, according to Coda Pet. This can help minimize the environmental impact it will have as time passes.

 

What do you need to know to bury them locally?

  • Animals must be at least three feet below the surface with at least two feet of dirt on top

  • Your pet can’t be buried deeper than eight feet

  • The burial should be within 24 - 48 hours after death

  • Choose a biodegradable container (like wood or an eco-friendly pod)

 

Where are the best places for your pet’s final resting place?

 

What is against the rules?

  • You are not allowed to abandon a deceased animal in wells, open pits or surface waters

  • It is disallowed to bury a pet on public land or property

  • Pet owners may not dispose of the animal on someone else’s land without permission

  • You may not dispose of them in a landfill without express permission

  • Livestock and poultry can’t be buried in your back yard and have their own set of regulations for burial and disposal

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with the Ledger-Enquirer.

Tags: Georgia  Atlanta  Animals  pet owners  burial  pets