Has anyone brought a buried pet back to the UK?

[woollyjumperseason]

Hi bit of a sensitive subject. Our cat died last year and we buried her at our home in France. Unknown to us at the time we have had to move back to the UK. We are now looking at how to bring her to be buried in our new home. Has anyone done this before. It might be easier to cremate her but not sure if that's possible as she has been buried for a year or so.
Thanks in advance

I’m sorry for your loss. I don’t think you’re going to find the answers you’re hoping for here. I’m amazed it’s possible to travel with a partially decomposed deceased animal. I would have thought having the remains cremated first in France would be a much better bet.

But I agree with everyone else that I would leave her there.

When we bought our house, the seller let us know that her much loved pet dog’s remains had been buried under the apple tree in the garden. She said ‘I know it’s not my decision, but if you would consider not cutting the tree down, that would make me happy’. We were happy to agree to this as we had no real need or want to cut down the tree anyway.

I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry for the complete lack of empathy that you have received on this post. The lack of humanity and compassion shown on this subject has really shocked me and I can't fathom how people think it is okay to react to someone's grief like this.

I see from your update that you have had information on how to get your beloved pet home and I hope everything goes well for you in the future, however you decide to proceed💐

She is wrapped in cloth and in a cardboard box

I doubt the cardboard box is still intact after that long underground. Nor the cat for that matter.

@nothingpunny I think a lot of us feel that doing this might actually contribute to the OP’s distress. I don’t want to be indelicate but just thinking about the state of the remains at this point in time- surely you get what I’m saying?

Also lots of us feel morally that interfering with a body in this way- whether human or animal- isn’t right. They should be allowed to be at rest.

Not anymore she's not 😬

I'm aware how decomposition works

I don’t think it’s a good idea. Remember your beloved cat with affection and respect. But let her rest in peace.

Sorry for your loss - but you would not be able to bring that into the UK - it’s a faff with a live animal - imagine a dead half decomposed dead one. I have a dog and would not think about digging him up after he’s passed.

This
that’s a barbaric idea!!
unless all sealed up in a wooden coffin ⚰️

Plant something for her in memory in your garden, maybe a name plaque too.

I was devastated when I lost my house in a divoece and had to leave my 5 precious cats buried in my garden.
I decided that they are now a part of nature in a place they loved and decided that their essence or soul will always be with me wherever I go.
I kept my 6th cats ashes in the house for a long time until I had a dream one night that she came back and said she'd like to be buried outside near the pond she loved in life so that's what I did.

Everyone grieves differently but not every expression of grief is healthy and it is clear a lot of people think digging up a dead cat after more than a year and transporting the corpse to a different country is possibly an unhealthy expression of grief - I know I do. From a purely practical point of view even if you get permits and pay for special containers (and I doubt you will to be honest) and go through the truama of exhuming your dead cat (who would actually do the digging and picking up of the cat? - That's not a job I'd want to do or give to someone else) and get it to the UK what happens then? Do you cremate? Do you bury again? where? What if you have to leave that house too?

I wonder if there is other stuff going on here - especially about the move which must be hard for you - that it might be helpful to explore before going down the route of applying for permits and special boxes etc.

I’d dig up , cremate then bring the ashes back ( after asking a local vet for the logistics )

Agree with this. The money would be better spent on grief counselling than exhuming dead pets.

I completely understand where you are coming from, but this is a grown adult who has no doubt considered all of these factors in trying to fathom what to do.

Whilst to some of us, it wouldn't be the right choice or something we would do, not everyone feels the same way about death and grief or handles it in the same way.

I just think that a lot of the answers have been unnecessarily harsh in tone and if truly trying to help, then they could have been worded a lot nicer and kinder.

This is a stranger on the Internet clearly reaching out for help and support and some of the comments on here, without knowing this person's background have been truly astounding.

It costs nothing to be kind and nothing to think about what we are saying before we say it. That's all.

https://www.dignitypetcrem.co.uk/never-leave-them-behind-with-our-pet-exhumation-service/

This company is in the UK but the fact that they offer this service proves that OP's request is not unheard of.

We buried our girl in a coffin with non biodegradable straps under it to enable easy exhumation. Because it was such a traumatic time we weren't really thinking straight, but when I told a friend what we had done she approved wholeheartedly. Her pets are buried at various places she no longer has access to, which she is really sad about.

Non bio-degradable straps aren't exactly good for the environment are they?

Oh do shut up

Please let her rest where she used to roam.

Faced with a similar dilemma, we planted a small shrub on her grave and surrounded it with rocks. We told the people buying our house about the grave and they promised to leave her undisturbed.

I realise they may move at some point and the new owners may be less considerate. But such is life, and death. Even royal graves have been disturbed - and one king ended up beneath a car park…

That is grim, please don’t dig up a dead cat that’s been buried for a year 🤢

If you loved your cat you would let them rest in peace.

Yes we do move human remains for those saying imagine if it were her husband

OP if it makes you happier not leaving her behind go for the cremation option just in case your forced to move again until you are comfortable leaving her behind

Sorry for your loss
Have you tried digging down a little way to see if the carboard box or cloth are even still there?

I'm so sorry for the loss and grief that has led to this conversation. I hope you find the information you need and wish you and the memory of your cat well x

You must’ve loved your cat very deeply.

I have not-so-recently lost my soul dog and it’s incredibly painful even months after.

Im afraid I have no experience… I’m sorry for your loss though