As with human beings, the law defines what it is possible to do or not do when your pet dies. For example, you cannot dispose of his body anywhere, whether in nature, on the public highway, in a trash can or any other place, under penalty of a fine which can reach up to 4,000 euros. . So what are the solutions to bury your pet with dignity?
The veterinarian is often the person to whom owners of cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, etc. turn. when they die. This animal welfare professional knows all the steps to take when this tragedy happens.
The veterinarian contacts an animal crematorium, which then incinerates the deceased animal. The cremation of your pet is then collective, that is to say that his body is burned at the same time as other animal remains. The ashes are then scattered or buried in a dedicated place, and you cannot collect them.
The service of the veterinarian and the cremation are invoiced between 50 and 160 euros depending in particular on the size of your pet.
To find the veterinarian closest to you, the National Order of Veterinarians provides a directory by city and department on its website.
When your pet dies, you must quickly take steps to find out what to do with his remains. If you don't want to go to a veterinarian, you have the option of going to an animal crematorium yourself.
You are then offered either a collective cremation or an individual cremation. The latter, which takes place in the animal cremation center, allows you in certain cases to attend the departure of your pet and, if you wish, to recover its ashes in an urn which you can decide to bring back to your home or to deposit in a dedicated vault in an animal cemetery.
An individual cremation costs between 70 and 300 euros depending on the size of your pet, to which must be added the price of the chosen urn.
To find out which animal crematorium near your home to contact, you can contact your town hall or the Directorate for the Protection of Populations (DDPP) and the Directorate for Social Cohesion and Protection of Populations (DDCSPP) of your department whose contact details are available on the website of the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF).
There are around thirty animal cemeteries in France where it is possible to bury your pet. As with human beings, you must use a funeral home to organize his funeral. The latter is responsible for grooming his body, preparing his grave, placing the coffin, offering you a coffin, a funeral plaque, etc.
The funeral company charges between 900 and 2,000 euros for its services depending on the size of the animal and the type of services chosen. It should be added to this price that of the concession which costs around 100 euros per year.
In France, it is possible to bury your pet in your garden, but under certain conditions, except if your companion weighs more than 40 kilos where, there, you must contact your veterinarian, a crematorium or an animal cemetery. .
For other pets, the law authorizes their burial in the garden of your home provided that they are placed more than 35 meters from a dwelling, a water point or a river; to place your animal's body in a cloth, blanket, cardboard or wooden box; to dig a hole of at least 1.20 meters and cover the body with quicklime.
In all cases, if your pet (dog, cat or ferret) was identified, you must declare its death to the National Identification File for Domestic Carnivores (I-CAD), either by post by returning its identity card. identification with I-CAD, 112 - 114 avenue Gabriel Péri 94246 L'Haÿ-les-Roses Cedex, or by carrying out this process online on the I-CAD website under "Holder".
