Can I bury my dog in a Catholic graveyard?

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Harry123

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Hi,

Our dog just died. We’re all upset here as she was like a member of the family.

My brother suggested burying the dog in our local Catholic graveyard where we have a family plot. He was thinking of burying the dog in a small coffin, or having the dog cremated and burying the container of ashes.

I always thought doing such a thing was against church teaching but then I found this EWTN article online (http://www.ewtn.com/v/experts/showmessage_print.asp?number=642711&language=en ) which suggested it might not be. We dont plan on holding a funeral or anything like that, just bury the remains in our family plot without making much of a fuss.

Can we do it do you think? Don’t want to have to ask our local priest if possible.

We live in Ireland.
 
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I would check local law, as this article suggests.

Human remains and animal remains are treated VERY differently. You could prevent a human from being buried on a plot if the cremated remains are discovered and unknown. They may also think in years beyond that a small coffin is that of an infant and would not disturb it. No one is going to open it and double check.

The cemetery is under the jurisdiction of the parish or another organization. You need to get their permission even if it’s not outright illegal.

Also, this speaks of placing an urn of pet ashes IN a casket with a deceased human–nothing about burying them by themselves.
 
Harry123 said:
I’m more concerned with Catholic law, not local civil laws.
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Catholics don’t break just civil laws. Period.

The burying of the dead falls into those just civil laws.

IF there is no civil law to prevent it, you STILL must ensure that there are not cemetery regulations. You can’t just go digging around in a graveyard because you’ve purchased a plot.
 
So there is nothing in the catechism of the Catholic church that says i can’t bury my pet dog in a coffin in my family plot?
 
The cemetery is owned by a parish or the Diocese. They have rules. I would be flabbergasted if those rules allow a dog to be buried in a family plot.

Best to call your veterinarian. They will arrange proper disposal of your dog’s body. If you want to, they will have it cremated and return the ashes to you.
 
The Catechism covers faith and morals. Disposal of a dead dog is not a matter of faith nor morals.

Call the vet.
 
OP, you need to read the link again carefully.

"That said, I see no reason why a priest cannot bless your dog’s ashes with holy water. I once knew a priest who did just that with the remains of a deceased pet. As for burial in a Catholic cemetery though, it is illegal in many municipalities for animal remains to be buried in human cemeteries. You would have to check local laws in your area. If it is legal in your area, the Church has no objection to placing an urn of animal remains in a casket with human remains.

Michelle Arnold
Catholic Answers

COPYRIGHT 2002"

It says a priest can bless the dog’s ashes. It then goes on to say that if it is legal in your area, that the urn can be placed in a casket with human remains.

It does not say it is okay to bury the remains in a Catholic cemetery.
 
Yes. I know. But it does not specifically prohibit that it cannot be done. So i almost feel its ok to at least bury a small urn containing the ashes in the family plot.

I had just always assumed that it was specifically forbidden somewhere in canon law or somewhere that it could not be done. This appears not to be the case.

Unless i’m mistaken however.
 
Cannon law demands that we follow just civil laws. Plain and simple. If civil laws prohibit it, then you are bound by them.
 
If you have a backyard you could bury it there,
Also you can Get Pet Cremations ,
Have a cute Urn Somewhere,
There are a few options available
 
Update: Dog buried in the garden. Homemade coffin and all. No need to call the police! 🙂
 
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