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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:
Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2021 16:19

I have never gone in for that. I leave them at the vets, too many foxes around here.

jessstan2 · 04/04/2021 16:28

Foxes have done that around here.

Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2021 16:32

@jessstan2

Foxes have done that around here.
They do like to dig. Sad
FitYeDaeinYeMadRadge · 04/04/2021 17:38

Reckon I’m more sentimental than some of you. I would have reburied them in a quiet spot in the garden. Somebody once loved them enough to give them a resting place.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 04/04/2021 17:41

I wouldn't worry, I dug up what looked like a great dane wrapped in a carpet roll in my last house which was very old and loads of cats.
I dug up and reburied them all with prayers and flowers.
I'm sure they didn't mind.
I've moved now and left 5 of my own behind, I dug down 4 feet though into the flower beds so it's unlikely they will dig them up.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 04/04/2021 17:41

Whoever ends up with my childhood home will have a field day. My parents are still there so it'll be a while yet but there are numerous cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils and so on. Fair few fish too but I doubt they leave much to dig up!

soolazy · 04/04/2021 17:44

I'm always threatening to put DP in the backyard when he's annoying. Guess that will have to be a really deep hole or I'll never be able to move out.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 04/04/2021 17:57

Heaven help whoever gets my mother's house when she's gone. She's lived there since 1963.

There's a sodding pet cemetery running along the entire side of the house.

TimeIhadaNameChange · 04/04/2021 18:42

I hate the thought of someone binning one of my pets. Luckily none have been buried for 30 years (more recent ones are cremated and will be buried with me) so I presume there'll be nothing left to dig up.

Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2021 18:52

@TimeIhadaNameChange

I hate the thought of someone binning one of my pets. Luckily none have been buried for 30 years (more recent ones are cremated and will be buried with me) so I presume there'll be nothing left to dig up.
I agree. Reburying it just deeper would have been the most sensible option, not sure why they had to be exhumed and put into landfill TBH. This is why I think cremation at the vets and keeping the ashes is the way to go.
TDogsInHats · 04/04/2021 18:59

@FitYeDaeinYeMadRadge

Reckon I’m more sentimental than some of you. I would have reburied them in a quiet spot in the garden. Somebody once loved them enough to give them a resting place.
Same here, it seems callous throwing them in a bin.Sad
Bramblebutter · 04/04/2021 19:32

@LudoBear

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!
Thus makes me want to cry. Their favourite toys. Awww

I would not have put them in a bin

ThrowingAShellstrop · 04/04/2021 20:41

To all those being sentimental about your pets bones being binned, if you care that much, why don’t you dig them up when you move and take them with you? I don’t have to care for the remains of your pets after you’re long gone. I wouldn’t expect anybody to care for mine either. And they are being reburied - somewhere else.

GertiMJN · 04/04/2021 20:51

if you care that much, why don’t you dig them up when you move and take them with you?
I know a lovely couple who did this. I was quite horrified by it ....

I loved all our animals and there are 2 adored cats buried in my garden but it wouldn't worry me to think their bones might be removed in years to come.

Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2021 20:59

To all those being sentimental about your pets bones being binned

All those? It's never happened to me but I think exhuming and putting in a binbag in with your landfill rubbish is way more effort than just reburying. Not sure why anyone would do it TBH.

ColourfulElmerElephant · 04/04/2021 21:01

@ThrowingAShellstrop

To all those being sentimental about your pets bones being binned, if you care that much, why don’t you dig them up when you move and take them with you? I don’t have to care for the remains of your pets after you’re long gone. I wouldn’t expect anybody to care for mine either. And they are being reburied - somewhere else.
I have my cremated and the ashes buried in a plant pot with something planted to remember them by. I do take the pots with me when I move.
AliceAliceWhoTheFook · 04/04/2021 21:18

@Apocalyptichorsewoman

Tell the police that you think it's human remains, and you'll get the whole garden dug for free...
Grin
WhatWouldChristineCagneyDo · 04/04/2021 21:29

I dug up one of my childhood pet rabbits whilst helping my mum in her garden. It was only the skull, which now resides in a pot of succulents on the patio like some kind of Wild West scene in miniature. Odd that we didn't find any of the other bones, but she's a keen gardener so we assume they have moved around or decomposed.

I usually stop for a chat with him when I visit, I've even been known to stroke the top of his skull while I do it. We are a bunch of weirdos though.

Cookerhood · 04/04/2021 21:34

I think it's illegal to bury pets these days? We have rabbits & hamsters buried in our garden).

Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2021 21:38

It's not illegal to bury pets in your back garden, there's just some rules to obey.

Frownette · 04/04/2021 21:41

This is why I want to be cremated when I die, I'm not leaving my bones rattling around the planet.

OP do as you see fit

Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2021 21:45

OP do as you see fit

It's done. The deceased pets are in the bin.

ThrowingAShellstrop · 04/04/2021 21:53

@Sparklingbrook

To all those being sentimental about your pets bones being binned

All those? It's never happened to me but I think exhuming and putting in a binbag in with your landfill rubbish is way more effort than just reburying. Not sure why anyone would do it TBH.

Not really. You’ve got to dig a new hole deep enough for your own pets/foxes/other scavenging animals not to get at them and dig up your garden in the process, in the most convenient to place (assuming there is one) and then actually bury them. OR you could wrap them in something biodegradable and put them in the recycling. I have also found bones we’ve found along the way in the compost bin.
Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2021 21:56

Our recycling bin 'allowed' list does not include animal remains.

warmandtoasty2day · 04/04/2021 22:09

new owners to our house are going to be in for a treat, i had a guinea pig rescue in the garden for 20 odd years, the garden is like a pet cemetery ! about 50 animals interred including piggies, rabbits a dog and three cats .

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