What to do when your pet dies?

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
Not that any of mine have died recently, but I'll be moving to Basel in two days with my old man - a 15 year old cat. He's pretty mellow these days, but I wish I could explain to him how cool this upcoming trip is for him

Anyway, the time will eventually come when he passes on and I'd like to know what the Swiss response is to this? Cremation? Something else? If he dies at home, do I have to take him somewhere specific?

Having always lived in a house with a big yard when something like this occurred, I just buried previous pets in the back yard and left it at that. I doubt that Switzerland will be the same...

2
You cannot bury him. * You can have him cremated individually and you can select an urn, or you can take his remains somewhere locally where animal remains are dealt with. (also cremation). The location will depend on where you live. If he were not to die a natural death at home but at the veterinarian office, I think they would advise you of your options.

Good luck with your move and I wish you and your "old man" safe travels.

*sorry, that is the case where we live, not sure about other cantons.

3
Hi,

I have heard from people who had a similar experience that the best is to visit your regional commune(Stadt) and ask them. You will end with an (or few) address probably.

Hope that it ages long as possible.

Cheers,

Payam

4
In a few canton and Gemeinden it is allowed to bury a pet of less than 10kg in one's own garden - but this is not allowed everywhere, you must check with both your canton's and Gemeinde's regulations. And of course one must be the property owner. There may be further restrictions (if the property is in a bio or green zone, etc.) Larger animals must be cremated.

Most pet owners opt for cremation. One can choose an individual cremation if one wishes - in which case one can opt to either have the ashes back or for the crematorium to scatter them in a 'Tierfriedhof', a memorial garden. If one does not choose an indidual cremation, scattering in the Tierfreidhof garden is the norm.

Most Gemeinden also have a depository for animal cadavers... but many pet owners prefer a more personal method.

One can make the arrangements with the Tierkrematorium ones' self, or the veterinarian will do so for you.

Some vets will offer euthanasia at home.

It's good that you are thinking of these things. I would suggest that all owners of elderly or terminally ill pets make your wishes known to your veterinarian ahead of time - while you are clear-headed - rather than try to make decisions at an emotionally difficult time.

DantesDame, I hope your old friend has many years left to share with you, that his trip is an easy one, and that he settles in quickly to enjoy life in Switzerland.

5
Are you freaking kidding me? You can't bury a pet in the back yard here? I've now seen the pinnacle of unnecessary government oversight.

Just out of curiosity, how would anybody possibly know if you planted fluffy in the flower bed? Would they triangulate the position of the microchip using satellites of what?

6
DR, the list of things I can't do in my own back yard is far, far longer than the list of things I can. And even those I can do usually require written permission from my neighbors.

Nothing escapes the ever watchful eye of the curtain-twitching brigade.

7
Curtain twitching brigade call fire brigade Firefighters, flashing lights..

8
two main options: communal cremation or private one. I have two urns from private cremations......not yet wanted to part with any ashes yet.

9
oh man, the kid had a pup die a couple of years ago and I just put it in the dumpster....yes, I know, I'm a bad,bad Dad.

10
Cremation and/or burial.

Cat cremated, ashes in box at home.

Rabbits killed by marten, taken to animal disposal.

Friends' cats/dogs, burial in the garden.

Whatever works for you.

Tom

11
actually option 3 might exist - your local recycling centre may take cadavers.

sample - in Zurich: http://www.awel.zh.ch/internet/baudi..._abfaelle.html

12
Page 76 of this booklet gives the options - including the address of the pet cemetary depending on what you decide.

http://www.tiefbauamt.bs.ch/entsorgungshandbuch.pdf

Cheers,

Nick

13
Thanks everyone for the replies!

Yes, I hope that it is a long time in coming before I have to deal with this, but it is always nice to gather information beforehand. I'm sure that once I'm settled in I'll be able to research this more locally as well.

Long live our furry ones!