Memorial stones for dogs test

Grief work after losing a dog: extremely important

Dogs have a limited life expectancy, which varies from breed to breed: many small four-legged friends can live to be 15 years or older, while larger dogs generally die a little earlier.

In extreme cases, dogs can accompany you even longer: there are some breeds, such as Chihuahuas, where some individuals live to be 20 years old. Other four-legged friends, however, leave us earlier, for example after a serious illness or as a result of an accident.

But no matter how old a dog has become: Saying goodbye is always difficult. After sharing a life for several years, it seems inconceivable to many to suddenly be on their own again.

Death of a four-legged friend hits many people particularly hard

In some cases, dog owners seem to mourn their four-legged friends more than people who have died. This sounds strange to many people, but when you think about it, it is quite understandable.

Dogs are truly loyal souls, which the grieving owners have cared for practically 24 hours a day for years. They went through thick and thin together, and there were actually no arguments like we see between people.

In short, many people have had a closer relationship with their dog than with other people.

Quite normal reaction

Mourning for pets is still a taboo in many places in our society: “It’s just a dog,” is what we often hear. However, that doesn't mean that you should be ashamed of it, on the contrary. Studies have shown that dealing with loss is a completely normal process for dog owners.

A study published in 1977 came to the conclusion that many pet owners reach a state of mind after the death of their dog that otherwise only occurs after the death of close relatives. In some cases, psychiatric treatment is even necessary.

A US study published in 2003 goes even further and gives a good overview of how widespread the problem is: of 174 participants, over 85 percent showed symptoms of serious grief. After 6 months, over 35 percent of the test subjects were still affected, and a year after losing their pet, more than 22 percent said they had not yet digested it properly.

Coping as an individual process

If you are afraid of losing your four-legged friend or have still not come to terms with the fact that your dog has left this world, you are not alone. On the contrary, Grief over the death of a pet is completely normal and nothing to be ashamed of.

As with the loss of human friends or family members, grieving after the death of a dog is a very individual matter. In general, you should do what helps you to process the process properly.

If necessary, you shouldn’t be afraid to professional help to take advantage of. Many psychotherapists now also treat problems that arise in connection with the death of a beloved four-legged friend. Veterinarians have also recognized this and the number of practices that offer bereavement support is constantly increasing.

The four-legged friend died: What happens to the body?

If the dog dies, the first question to ask yourself is what should happen to the body afterwards. You usually have to decide quickly, which is why it is advisable to think early on about what should happen if the animal is no longer in this world one day.

The burial or disposal of pets does not depend on the burial, but on the Animal By-Products Disposal Act. This gives you more freedom when it comes to paying your last respects to your four-legged friend, but this also has its limits.

In general, the following options are available to you.

Animal carcass disposal at the vet

It is still very common to leave the dog at the vet after death. This is the easiest solution, especially after euthanasia. The carcass then becomes the Animal carcass disposal supplied. The grieving dog owner must pay a small fee for this.

If the dog dies somewhere else, for example in your own home, it is possible to have the body picked up by the local authority or handed over to a small animal collection point. Disposing of it in the trash is not permitted and can be punished with a fine.

cremation

More and more dog owners are also choosing to have their deceased pet cremated. For this a Animal crematorium commissioned, the four-legged friend is burned. Many companies offer you the opportunity to watch the combustion on video.

The ashes will then be given to you. You can then either bury them, scatter them, or keep them at home. There are also urns for pets for this purpose, but they are not mandatory.

Burial in the ground: Design a dog grave in your own garden

It may also be possible to bury your four-legged friend on your own property. The burial law does not apply here, but many municipalities require approval from the veterinary office. The costs are also minimal.

However, there is also one Burial in the ground is subject to certain rules. These can vary from municipality to municipality or from country to country, but the following generally applies:

• You must be the owner of the property; in rented or leased gardens you must request the owner's written consent.
• The property may not be located in any water protection area.
• The dog must not have died of an epidemic disease or otherwise been contaminated.
• A minimum distance to neighboring properties must be maintained.
• The dog must be buried so deep that it cannot be dug up again (e.g. by wild animals).

Pet cemetery

For several years now, special ones have also been enjoyed Pet cemeteries growing popularity. They offer the opportunity to bury your four-legged friend “properly”, and you also have a permanent place to remember your dog.

A pet cemetery is run professionally, so all legal requirements are met. However, this solution is also associated with costs, In addition to the funeral, you also have to pay an annual usage fee. You also have to take care of the grave maintenance or hire a third-party provider.

Human-animal cemetery

are comparatively new Human-animal cemeteries. They are a very long-term solution and also a very comforting solution for many dog ​​owners. It is possible to be united with them even after death.

This means: A grave is not just for the four-legged friend, but also for the holder provided. When you die, you can arrange to be buried with your best friend.

You have to decide for yourself whether this is necessary. A human-animal grave also involves ongoing costs, so if, as I hope, you still have a long life ahead of you, it may happen that you have to pay for the site for many years.

Professional preparation of the pet

It is rather rare and quite expensive to have one professional taxidermist to instruct the deceased dog to be preserved for posterity. The four-legged friend is then stuffed and at first glance looks as if he is still with you.

For many animal lovers, this is a bit too much. But there are also dog owners for whom preparation seems to be the best solution. If you decide to do this, you have to act quickly, because for optimal stuffing it is necessary to hand the dog over to the taxidermist immediately.