What comes after euthanizing a beloved pet?
About letting go, mourning and beautiful memories
After saying goodbye to our pet, it is up to us to decide what to do with its remains after it has been put to sleep. This is a very personal decision. There are now many options available.
At the same time, for most owners, the loss of a beloved pet is a major turning point in their lives. A beloved family member is suddenly no longer there. It leaves a big gap. Dealing with this is neither easy nor a matter of course. As with the loss of someone close to us, it is now important that we allow our feelings and grief for our pet to take hold. "Time heals all wounds" only applies if the grief is lived through and not suppressed. In the end, there should be joy and gratitude that our animals will always be with us in our memories.
Frequently asked questions
What comes after Euthanasia?
This depends primarily on your wishes. Under certain conditions you can bury your animal in your garden.
In the meantime, Switzerland also has animal cemeteries for the burial of pets, for example the animal cemetery at Wisenberg and the animal cemetery Emmenbrücke. Both animal cemeteries offer the possibility of burying your pet individually or in a collective grave. You can have the name of your animal engraved on a memorial plaque. Wishes, for example with regard to the location of the grave, will be taken into account as far as possible.
Another nice option are animal forests, which exist in Hosenruck and other locations. Here you can bury the ashes of your animal at a tree you choose yourself or at a community tree. This burial place in the forest can be visited at any time. The trees are preserved for at least 20 years.
You can have your animal cremated. You can find more information about the pet crematoria in Switzerland here. The crematoria offer a collective cremation or a single cremation. In the case of a collective cremation, the ashes of your pet will be buried with dignity together with those of other animals on the grounds of the pet crematorium. With single cre mation, this burial option is also available to you. Alternatively, however, you may choose to have your pet's ashes returned to you in an urn of your choice, a wooden box, or a cloth bag. Meanwhile, crematoriums also offer special keepsakes, such as the creation of a gemstone.
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Yes, this can be arranged directly with the crematorium. You bring your animal to the crematorium yourself at the agreed time and be present at the cremation.
If allowed, you can bury your animal on your property. You can take it to your vet and tell him your further wishes, he will arrange it for you. You can contact an animal crematorium of your choice directly. You can call me and tell me your wishes for the crematorium and I will take care of it for you.
There are also a few more points to consider:
Animals must not be buried near springs or reservoirs with drinking water. Places for burying animal carcasses may not be located in groundwater protection zones (zones S 1, S 2, S 3) or in groundwater protection areas. They may not be located in areas with wet soil or in areas prone to flooding, rockfall, landslides or particular risk of erosion. The buried carcases must be at least 2 m above the water table and covered by a layer of earth at least 1.2 m thick. (Ordinance on the disposal of animal by-products (VTNP), Article 25, Annex 7)
No, that's not allowed. Anyone who buries his four-legged friend on public ground is liable to prosecution.
A professional pet photographer can capture your connection in beautiful pictures for both of you during the last weeks together.
You can create a photo book with the most beautiful pictures from the life of your four-legged friend and remember again all the beautiful moments your pet has given you. The book can be completed with notes, thoughts, messages.
Light a candle for your pet together and send him your good wishes.
Write a farewell letter to your pet. You can write down everything that is important to you: Your thoughts, feelings, the joy, the fears, the good times and the bad times you've lived through together. You can keep this letter, e.g. in a reminder box, you can give it alongside with your animal to cremation, or you may burn it separately and let the ashes rise.
A memory box with paw prints, personal items of the animal, photos is also a nice way to remember.
Another idea would be a memory glass. You can fill this glass with pieces of paper or collected stones on which you can write the characteristics or preferences of your pet. Or small messages that you would like to give your pet on the way. You can keep the glass as a keepsake. Alternatively, you could place the stones on the animal's grave or on your animal's favorite place.
Meanwhile, there is also a variety of very personal pieces of jewelry, from pendants to gemstones. These can be filled with some ashes or animal hair on the one hand or can be made of it.
You can make a memorial service in honour of your animal and invite dear people who knew your animal. Tell yourself little stories from the life of the animal.
You can think of a farewell ceremony and, for example, scatter the ashes of your pet in its favourite place or plant a tree that you can continue to visit. In this way, the circle of life closes.
It is very important to me that you are fully aware of the gift you are giving your pet by in-home euthanasia. Nobody wants euthanize his animal to sleep too soon, nobody wants to make his animal suffer unnecessarily long. Recognize your courage and selflessness.
A family member, a longtime friend and faithful companion is no longer there and leaves a big gap in your life. Embrace your grief.. It is okay to be sad, strong emotions are allowed. Our tears help to heal our wounds. A farewell letter, a farewell ritual on your own or with your family, conversations with friends, other pet owners... there is a lot.
The animal crematoirum Seon offers a virtual space for mourning animal owners. With an entry you can express your love for your animal in this community.
Do not remain alone with your grief. Grieving for deceased animals may be met with a lack of understanding, especially among non-pet owners, but more and more is being done in our society on the subject of animal grief.
The Paulus Academy has already held two funeral services for animals in Zurich. Such an event can be healing. You are not alone! If you feel you need more support, don't be afraid to seek it. There are many psychologists, psychotherapists and grief counsellors in Switzerland who specialize in coping with grief and can help you. Grief is grief, whether you are grieving for a person or an animal.
A healthy mourning is a prerequisite, in order to think sometime again with joy of the beautiful time you had with your faithful furry friend.
