Author Topic: Pet Funeral (Read 642 times)

Peter15and1 · « **on:** September 14, 2015, 08:05:47 AM »

Is it acceptable to have a funeral/burial for a pet? I'm not talking about having a Mass or burying the beast on consecrated ground, but some kind of gathering where the owners/family take the body out back and bury it in the yard with dignity. Mostly to give the children closure.

Does this blur the lines too much between man and animal?

Paul FHC · « **Reply #1 on:** September 14, 2015, 12:51:32 PM »

It would appear to be reasonable as long as the manner in which it is done would not cause any confusion on the part of the children as to whether the pets are living in eternity.

Stubborn · « **Reply #2 on:** September 14, 2015, 01:14:20 PM »

Quote from: Peter15and1

Is it acceptable to have a funeral/burial for a pet? I'm not talking about having a Mass or burying the beast on consecrated ground, but some kind of gathering where the owners/family take the body out back and bury it in the yard with dignity. Mostly to give the children closure.

Does this blur the lines too much between man and animal?

Yes, it can blur the lines too much.

Explain to the children that we love our pets and we feed and take care of them and love them for pets, but not like humans. But bury the pet without any gathering or ceremony. The less of a big deal you make it the less of a big deal it will be to them.

I must have gone through 20 different dogs - always had one since as far back as I can remember and hated like heck to see any one of them go - but that's the way it is. Keep it the way it is.

If you think it will be to hard on everyone, then your better off taking it to the vet and let the vet put it to sleep. As a child I said good by and petted and hugged the dog before my dad took it to the vet - it doesn't make a kid a psychological wreck. An hour later we were out playing, a few days later we were hinting for a new dog.

Marlelar · « **Reply #3 on:** September 21, 2015, 07:06:00 PM »

I think it depends on the child and on what you mean by "funeral". When I was a kid my folks took the animals to be put down and it was hard for me to "never" see them again, I didn't have closure, didn't see the full cycle of life, a "funeral" would have helped me get over their loss sooner I think.

With my kids we had a "funeral", or rather a ceremony, (even if the vet did the deed) where the kids dug the hole, buried the animal, thanked it for being a good pet, covered it up and made a little marker. They seemed to need the ritual to help them let go of the pet, not mope, and move on to a new animal.

Do what is best for your kids, just don't let them make a big deal of it regardless of what you decide to do.

Miseremini · « **Reply #4 on:** September 21, 2015, 08:22:51 PM »

Kids need closure. Some kind of ceremony , digging the hole burying etc helps.
My parents did this over 60 years ago with us and we did it with our children.
It helps children understand death so when grandparents die later there is not so much trauma.