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How Deep Should a Pet Grave Be?

| Updated August 11, 2017

Burying your pet is a relatively common and low cost way to handle the disposal of your pet's remains. It is generally recommended that pet owners bury pets in graves which are 2 feet to 3 feet deep, depending on the quality of soil in your area.

Home Burial

A home burial, which may also be referred to as a backyard burial, is the standard pet burial option for those who want to handle disposing of their pet on their own . This is an inexpensive type of pet burial because it occurs on your own property and does not require outside assistance.

You need to check local laws and verify that there is no law against burying animals in your location. Some areas may have specific rules for how deep you have to bury your pet and what type of burial materials are acceptable. Generally speaking, you should use a biodegradable shroud to wrap your deceased pet in for burial. Biodegradable materials will not harm the environment.

If you are going to perform a home burial, it is best that you own the property you will be using to bury your pet. If you are on a rented property or want to bury your pet on a property that you do not own, then you need to check with the owner and get permission.

When you dig your pet's grave, it should be approximately 2 feet deep in heavy soil and 3 feet deep if your soil is light or sandy. This will be deep enough to avoid attracting predators that will try to disturb the grave and still shallow enough to avoid interfering with buried utility lines. If you have any doubts about whether there are buried utility lines near where you want to dig your pet's grave, call the utility company and check before you dig.