Our pets are family members to us and when one of them dies, it’s natural to want to keep them close to us. Backyard burial is a great option and there are many ways to memorialize your pet. You don’t need to spend a fortune because I’m sharing great ideas to decorate your dog’s grave. I’ve got you covered on headstone inscriptions too!
Backyard Pet Grave Ideas
Creating a backyard memorial is a great way to celebrate the life of your beloved pet. In most states, burying your dog or cat in your backyard is legal, so it’s also a great way to keep your furry friend close. Read on to discover how to decorate a dog’s grave, how deep to bury a pet, and some do-it-yourself memorial ideas.
How Do You Bury A Dog At Home?
While it is legal to bury your pet at home in most states, checking your local statutes is still a good idea. Some cities may have rules that supersede state law, so a quick phone call provides peace of mind.
I’ve lost two dogs in my life. Two small furry friends who I loved dearly. I buried Corey in my backyard and then decorated his grave with flowers and plants. Buddy was cremated and I sprinkled some of his ashes in special places.
Select a place in your yard for the burial site. Some people want the grave close to the patio, while others may choose a site on the yard’s perimeter. There’s not a right or wrong place to bury your pet, just what feels right.
To bury a dog at home, place the animal in a biodegradable box or wrap them in a favorite blanket. Burying your pet as soon as possible after death is best, usually within 24 hours.
How Deep Do You Dig A Dog’s Grave?
I chose to dig Corey’s grave the day before a veterinarian came to our house to put him to sleep. But sometimes things happen quickly so you may not have the luxury of time to plan.
Corey was an 18-year-old toy poodle, who didn’t need a large grave. He actually came outside as I dug the hole. He sniffed it, urinated beside it, and then wandered away. I like to think he was giving the gravesite his blessing.
How deep you bury your pet depends upon their size. Most states require a hole 3 to 5 feet from the top of the animal. So a little dog like Corey or your small cat would not need as deep a hole as a larger pet.
Do Dogs and Cats Have Funerals?
Dogs, cats, and other pets can certainly have funerals. It can be a simple event where your family gathers around the gravesite for a few words of remembrance. Or it can be a large event, like a backyard BBQ where friends and family grieve with you while celebrating your pet.
When my Bichon Friese, Buddy, turned 10, I threw him a huge party. My young adult children felt a little put out by the size of Buddy’s birthday party, compared to some of their own. So if we celebrate the birthdays of our furry companions, then why not also honor their lives with another backyard party?
A pet funeral can look and feel any way you want it to. A cat-themed party or a family gathering around the grave. Both are appropriate and both are great ways to honor your beloved pet.
15 Ideas to Decorate a Pet’s Grave
Decorate a pet’s grave as a reflection of your pet’s personality. Here are some backyard pet grave ideas to memorialize your cat or dog’s life.
1. Paint a memorial rock
Flat river rocks are easy to paint and you can either get them in nature or purchase rocks from a hobby store. Add your pet’s name. Paint a rainbow, a heart, or paw prints. Each of your family members can paint their own memorial rock to leave at your backyard pet grave. Get instructions.
2. Create a headstone from tile
Using tile to make a headstone for your pet is similar to rock painting. You can etch the tile with a hand tool like a Dremel. Or you can simply paint it. Tile comes in many sizes and is readily available at stores like Lowes.
3. Choose a memorial stone
If you aren’t feeling crafty, simply purchase a personalized memorial stone for your cat or dog. These stones come in a burlap bag and also make a great gift for someone who lost a pet.
4. Hang a bird feeder
A backyard pet grave idea for a cat is to hang a bird feeder in your beloved’s honor. It’s a little sassy and a bit sarcastic, which is perfect for remembering cats. Buy a birdfeeder or make your own. Just know that your cat would have enjoyed watching the birds as much as you. And that’s a wonderful way to honor them.
5. Choose a personalized wooden bottle opener
This next idea fits in perfectly with celebrating your pet by hosting a BBQ. Purchase a personalized wooden bottle opener inscribed “Raise a Glass in Memory of (Pet’s Name)” as a wonderful way to remember your pup running around the backyard.
6. Plant a garden of forget-me-nots over your pet’s grave
These tiny flowers symbolize true love and respect. They make a promise that you will always remember your furry friend and that you will keep them in your thoughts. Another idea is to plant flowers that represent your dog’s name, like Daisy or Lily.
7. Create a mosaic stone to remember your pet
Buy kits from a local craft store or even from Amazon. Fashion it to look like your cat or make a flower mosaic print. Placing the mosaic near your backyard pet grave will make you happy each time you see it.
8. Hang wind chimes
Hang wind chimes in your backyard so that with every gentle breeze, you’ll remember your dog or cat. This selection has a touching verse inscribed, “Listen to the Wind and Think of Me, For in your Heart I’ll Always Be”. Personalize it with your pet’s name to make it even more special.
9. Have a picnic
Have a picnic near your backyard pet grave on the anniversary of your furry friend’s death. Or on any special day for your family. Gathering to remember your pal is a great way to honor them.
10. Plant a tree
Plant a tree at your pet’s gravesite as a way of commemorating them. This is a time-honored way of celebrating life while honoring death. If your yard is small, then plant a flowering bush. Each spring the blooms will bring a smile to your face.
11. Make a memorial flower pot
This simple project requires purchasing a clay pot from a garden store. Then paint it in bright colors. Add your pet’s name and spray a coat of sealer over it. Plant bright flowers and there you have it. This is an easy project for kids too.
12. Place a statue of your pet’s likeness at the center of your memorial
Find them on Etsy or Amazon or even at a local statuary business. Each time you see that little face, it’ll give you a brief bit of love from your dog or cat.
13. Plant a small garden at your pet’s grave
Nurturing a simple garden box can be a way to spend time near your furry friend. Choose plants that remind you of your dog. For example, my Buddy always stole cherry tomatoes from our garden. So a large tomato plant near his grave makes me happy.
14. Place a personalized garden stake near your backyard pet grave
This sign has the touching words, “You left paw prints on our hearts” along with your pet’s name and dates.
15. Place a bench
My final suggestion for celebrating the life of your beloved furry friend is to place a bench or swing near your pet’s grave. Even add a memorial plaque. But having a place to sit quietly may give you peace.
Cat and Dog Tombstone Inscription Ideas
If you’re looking for inscriptions for your pet’s headstone, here are a few to start with.
- Grief is the price we pay for love. – Queen Elizabeth II
- How lucky we are to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. – Winnie The Pooh
- Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. – Roger Caras
- Don’t cry because it’s over, Smile because it happened. – Dr. Suess
- His ears were often the first thing to catch my tears. – Elizabeth Barrett Browning
- We know you’d be with us today if heaven wasn’t so far away. – Anonymous
- What greater gift than the love of a cat. – Charles Dickens
Conclusion
There are many ways to celebrate the life of your beloved pet and which ways you choose are the right ones for you. In the grief of missing our small friends, a backyard pet grave and memorial provides peace and comfort. Select from one of these ideas to memorialize your furry friend and remember them fondly.
- Host a funeral or BBQ Celebration of Life
- Paint a memorial rock
- Plant a garden
- Place a statue resembling your dog or cat
