Grief and the law: what to do with your dog's body

Q: Can you bury your dog in your garden?

No, you can't bury your dog at home: it isn't allowed. For every dog, the options are cremation (individual, with the ashes returned, or communal) and a pet cemetery. Your vet can arrange everything.

Q: What should I do when my dog has just died?

Your very first step: call your vet . They reassure you, support you and arrange what comes next, so you never have to carry anything alone. If your dog was identified, you'll also report their death to I-CAD, whenever you feel up to it.

Q: How do you grieve for your dog?

There's no right method and no right timescale: your pain is real grief, legitimate, with no set calendar. Talk about it with those around you, keep a keepsake that does you good (a photo, an object), and if the grief settles heavily, a helpline dedicated to pet bereavement or a psychologist can really help.

Q: How do you bury your dog?

Since burial at home isn't allowed, you go through cremation or a pet cemetery. The simplest thing: talk to your vet, who will arrange whichever option you choose, at your own pace.

Q: How do you tell a child the dog has died?

With true, simple words: 'they have died', rather than 'they've gone to sleep', which can make a child fear sleep. Show them your own grief, welcome their questions, and come up with a small ritual together, like a drawing or a memory box.

Q: My other dog has been sad since, what can I do?

It's common: nearly 9 owners in 10 notice changes in the dog left behind (Uccheddu et al., 2022). Keep their bearings in place, times, walks, your presence, and gently bring play back in. If low spirits or a refusal to eat lasts, a check-in with the vet is in order.

7 min read

In hours like these, you may feel completely lost, and that is normal. Your vet knows your dog: he knows what to do and walks you through every step. You have no decision to rush into, and you can take the time to say goodbye, alone or with the people close to you, if you feel the need.

At the slightest doubt, he is the one you call: that is what he is there for, never to judge. Even if it turns out to be nothing, it is always the right reflex.

What to do with your dog's body

There is one simple rule: burying your dog in your garden is not allowed. For every dog, there are two options, and neither one is "the right one": you choose the one that suits you. And you do not have to handle it alone: your vet can arrange everything for you.

Cremation, individual or communal. Individual: your dog is cremated on his own, and his ashes are returned to you, often in an urn, if you want to keep them close. Communal: dogs are cremated together, with no ashes returned, and it is every bit as respectful.
A pet cemetery: a place to come back to and sit with him, if the idea of somewhere to visit speaks to you. There are several in France.

If your dog was identified by microchip or tattoo, you must report his death to I-CAD, the national register of identified dogs in France. It is free, there is no deadline, and you can do it online from your account or through the Filalapat app. Nothing is urgent: do it when you feel up to it.

Your grief is legitimate

Losing a dog is not "losing an animal". It is losing an everyday presence, a set of habits, a companion. What you feel is real grief, and it has no "normal" length: nobody can tell you how long it "should" take to feel better. This grief has a name, disenfranchised grief, the kind other people play down ("it was only a dog"): let no one make what you feel smaller than it is.

Telling the children

For a child, this is often their very first bereavement, and the way you tell them matters a great deal. You cannot spare them the sadness, but you can be there for them: simple words, time, and the right to grieve in front of you.

Tell them the truth in simple words: "he died", rather than "he went to sleep" or "he has left us", images that can make them afraid of sleep or of people leaving.
Do not hide your own sadness: if your child sees you grieving, they will feel allowed to grieve too.
Welcome their questions, even the repeated ones, without forcing yourself to explain everything at once.
Offer a small ritual to do together, a drawing, a memory box. Some children need one, others do not: follow your child's lead.

The other animals in the house

Another dog, a cat, can change too once their companion is gone: searching everywhere, sleeping or eating differently, seeming more fearful. In a 2022 study, nearly 9 owners out of 10 noticed a change in behaviour in the dog left behind. Is it really grief? Science cannot say for sure. Do not draw grand conclusions, but take it seriously: keep his landmarks, the routine, the walks, your presence. If your dog stays down or stops eating, talk to your vet.

Remembering, and getting support

Nothing erases a dog, and that is a good thing. Many families keep something that does them good: a framed photo, a collar tucked away in a box, a tree planted, a few written words. There is no "right" way to remember, only yours.

What to do when your pet has died (factsheet F33426), service-public.gouv.fr
Reporting the death of an identified animal, I-CAD
Uccheddu et al. — Domestic dogs grieve over the loss of a conspecific (Scientific Reports) (2022)
Doka — Disenfranchised grief (1989)

Going further

guideMaking the decision to euthanise your dogBefore it comes to that: how this painful decision is made, gently and without guilt.Read the guide guideBurying your dog in your garden: what the law saysExactly what the law says about burial in a garden, and the options that exist instead.Read the guide guideAssessing your dog's quality of lifeConcrete markers to weigh up your dog's comfort, before you have to make that choice.Read the guide guideVet check-ups for your senior dogThe regular veterinary follow-up that helps you walk calmly through the final years.Read the guide guideAdapting daily life for an ageing dogSimple everyday adjustments for the comfort of your dog as he gets older.Read the guide guideCognitive decline (senility) in the senior dogSpotting the signs of senility to better understand what your older dog is going through.Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

Can you bury your dog in your garden?

No: burying your dog in your garden is not allowed. For every dog, the available options are cremation (individual, with the ashes returned to you, or communal) and a pet cemetery. Your vet can arrange it all.

What should I do when my dog has just died?

Your very first step: call your vet. He reassures you, stays with you and organises what comes next, so you have nothing to carry alone. If your dog was identified, you must also report his death to I-CAD. It is free, and there is no deadline.

How do you grieve for your dog?

There is no right method and no right timeline: your pain is real grief, it is legitimate, and it moves at your pace. Talk about it with those around you, keep something that does you good (a photo, an object), and if the grief settles in heavily, a pet bereavement helpline or a psychologist can genuinely help.

How do you bury your dog?

Burying your dog at home is not permitted: you go through cremation or a pet cemetery. The simplest thing is to talk to your vet: he will arrange whichever option you choose, at your pace.

How do you tell a child the dog has died?

Tell them the truth in simple words: "he died", rather than "he went to sleep", which can make them afraid of sleep. Show them your own sadness and welcome their questions. You can offer a small ritual, a drawing, a memory box, if they want one.

My other dog has been sad since, what can I do?

It is common. In a 2022 study, nearly 9 owners out of 10 noticed a change in behaviour in the dog left behind. Is it grief? Science cannot say for sure. Keep his landmarks, the routine, the walks, your presence. If your dog stays down or stops eating, talk to your vet.

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