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Original poster

Oh fuck. Just dug up someone's deceased pet.

50 replies

LudoBear · 04/04/2021 10:17

My mum moved into her new house in October. I came to stay with her Thursday to Monday to help her sort the garden as its a bit of a jungle as previous people were elderly and couldn't keep on top of it. My mum wanted to pull out everything and make a blank canvas, to do as she wishes with. So I've been helping her this weekend. Just gone to start on an area under a bush and discovered the remains of what I hope is an animal. I'm guessing cat or small dog by the size. The are where it is my mum wants patio slabs but needs levelling which means digging further down and disturbing the animal. Do we... dig up the animal and move to another area or dig up and then replace in same area but deeper down and put the slabs on top??

OP posts:
redcandlelight · 04/04/2021 10:21

I would remove it completely.
much easier to level the area and less risk of collapse once the remains disintegrate.

CustardyCreams · 04/04/2021 10:23

“What you hope is an animal”... !!! What else could it be? You’re not suggesting it could be human remains??

Original poster
LudoBear · 04/04/2021 10:25

No not human remains!

I kind of want to remove altogether (out of garden) but don't know what to do with it??

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2021 10:26

What makes you think it's someone's pet? Just bury it a bit deeper. No drama.

Chocolateismakingmefat · 04/04/2021 10:26

If it was under a patio I would have said an miner's dh!!
Grin
Rebury it elsewhere op.

NotYourHolidayDick · 04/04/2021 10:28

Id just lob it in a bin bag and bin it. Its dead. It has no idea whats happening to its remains Confused

ColourfulElmerElephant · 04/04/2021 10:30

As it was under a bush, I’m assuming that was planted in memory of it. I’d relocate and put the bush back on top. Of course the animal won’t know but I’m sure many people whose loved pet (or relative) dies would like to think others would be kind to those memories.

Wearywithteens · 04/04/2021 10:33

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2021 10:35

Lobbing it in a bin bag is way more effort than just burying it again but a bit deeper. How much is actually left after 6 months? (and that's if the 'pet' died the day the previous owner moved out.

LonginesPrime · 04/04/2021 10:43

Perhaps it was an animal that got ill and hid under the bush for shelter and died.

I'd just dispose of it and move on (but not before making a bit of a fuss as I hate hate hate handling dead things...).

WestendVBroadway · 04/04/2021 10:45

OMG, this has just reminded me that when my elderly parents had to sell up and move into sheltered housing I never informed the buyers that the bodies of two cats were buried in the garden. Should I have mentioned it?

Hovverry · 04/04/2021 10:50

When we had building work done I told the workmen that several pets were buried there. I had no idea what would be left after several years. I said that if they found remains I did not want to know.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 04/04/2021 10:51

It has no sentimental value to you and no need of any tlc. So throw it in the bin and carry on.

Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2021 10:52

@WestendVBroadway

OMG, this has just reminded me that when my elderly parents had to sell up and move into sheltered housing I never informed the buyers that the bodies of two cats were buried in the garden. Should I have mentioned it?
No, unless it was really recent before the sale. Then it might be nice to say something.
TurquoiseDragon · 04/04/2021 11:59

@CuriousaboutSamphire

It has no sentimental value to you and no need of any tlc. So throw it in the bin and carry on.
This is what I would do.
Wowcherarestalkingme · 04/04/2021 12:07

We had this when we redid our garden. The person who owned the house before us was pet mad and had had loads throughout his years. We found so many remains at the bottom of the garden. We just got rid. The previous owner had sadly died but to be honest even if he hadn’t I would have done the same thing.

exLtEveDallas · 04/04/2021 12:08

I’ve told this story on here before, but when my parents back garden flooded in 2008 I wasn’t allowed to go home to help them until my dad had reburied the remains of one dog, a rabbit and two cats!

(Now I’m wondering if they were actually reburied, or just binned..)

CricketClub · 04/04/2021 12:12

Dispose of the bones in the bin.

Apocalyptichorsewoman · 04/04/2021 12:13

Tell the police that you think it's human remains, and you'll get the whole garden dug for free...

ThrowingAShellstrop · 04/04/2021 12:17

Oh this always seems to happen to me. Always digging up bloody animal bones. They go in the green bin.

ThrowingAShellstrop · 04/04/2021 12:18

Unless it’s a particular interesting bone in spectacular condition, I should add. Sometimes we keep those...for science.

OrangeBananaFish · 04/04/2021 12:38

We had a cat and a couple of hamsters buried in our last house. Never thought to mention it when we left. Now I'm wondering.

Salt and burn them like Sam and Dean do in Supernatural. Just in case Grin

Original poster
LudoBear · 04/04/2021 16:07

They have gone in the bin. Ended up coming across a second much larger body.. definitely a dog that one.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2021 16:09

@LudoBear

They have gone in the bin. Ended up coming across a second much larger body.. definitely a dog that one.
Blimey, quite the pet cemetery. Good that it's all sorted.
Original poster
LudoBear · 04/04/2021 16:13

My friend has at least 3 dogs, 2 rabbits and countless chickens in her garden. Dogs are in their plastic beds with blankets and favourite toy!

OP posts: