Our old black labrador is now 15 years old and fading fast. We've taken her to the vet who has said she is not in pain, just old. We are now faced with the fact that she is not going to be with us much longer, and we are just making her last days as comfortable as possible. My query is where can we lay her to rest when the inevitable happens? I've been told it's illegal to bury pets in your gardens in Halifax (we are in Bedford). We can't bear the thought of her just being dumped in a rubbish bag and carted off. She's been part of the family so long, travelling all around the world with us. I'm sure if we go back to the vet, the same thing will happen. Anyone had experience of this in NS, or suggestions on what to do?

I brought my 15 year old collie over with me. She died the following year. She was cremated and her ashes buried below a memorial tree in our garden....

That should work for you I am sure. The vet who looks after your dog for you in Halifax will be able to arrange the cremation etc for you.

Hi val50, so sorry to hear about your impending decisions. I too lost my best friend at almost 16 years old, broke my heart.

I have had a quick look around on 'tinternet' and it seems there are pet cemetries and/or cremation services throughout NS. I think it was petloss.com that had an assortment of 'memory keepers' and plaques etc.

Enjoy your time and your hugs!!!! My heart goes out to you

Sorry to hear that Val. It tears me to pieces loosing a pet and in some strange way always seems worse than loosing a relative!

We have had our pets cremated locally, your vet will be able to provide details for a crematorium.

Best wishes

SAW 04




QUOTE=val50;6651232]Our old black labrador is now 15 years old and fading fast. We've taken her to the vet who has said she is not in pain, just old. We are now faced with the fact that she is not going to be with us much longer, and we are just making her last days as comfortable as possible. My query is where can we lay her to rest when the inevitable happens? I've been told it's illegal to bury pets in your gardens in Halifax (we are in Bedford). We can't bear the thought of her just being dumped in a rubbish bag and carted off. She's been part of the family so long, travelling all around the world with us. I'm sure if we go back to the vet, the same thing will happen. Anyone had experience of this in NS, or suggestions on what to do?[/QUOTE]

Many vets do a bulk cremation of animals they put down but most will also have details of a service where your pet can be individually cremated and you can have the ashes in an urn or to bury under a tree or whatever suits. We did this with Mrs AX's beloved GSP a year or two ago. In our case there was not law I know of preventing digging a great big hole in the yard, rather it was the practicalies of doing it by hand in very rocky ground!

The plan was to bury Baron's ashes in a tree. He's still sitting in the box under the TV at the moment. The Mrs finds this strangely reassuring!

Thank you all for your help and advice. Really appreciate it. I just wanted to make sure we knew what to do when the end comes so we are prepared. Not thinking straight at the moment, have a double whammy emotionally at the moment as eldest daughter is just getting ready to leave and work in Vietnam end of the month.
Agree with you Saw04 about it seeming worse than loosing a relative. Middy has always been my dog, got her when we lived in Johannesburg and she's travelled all over the world with us, never given us a days trouble and always there with lots of love when needed.

Your doing the right thing by keeping her comfortable and giving her loads of love. Im sure she realises your affection for her.

our thoughts are with you at the moment, we recently went through the same awful experience and our beloved dog died on Easter Day this year. We took her to the emergency animal hospital in Burnside who took her and cremated her. They did it all very respectfully and gave us an engraved wooden box with her ashes and a certificate of memorial. They also do burials as they did offer us the choice. PM me if you need any further advice.

I've been through this a few times and it's heart-wrenching. Cremation is the best way. My vet arranged a private cremation for my dog, and I got a beautiful urn and card a few days later, and the vet made a donation in my dog's name to the companion animals veterinary programme at Sask U. I keep meaning to scatter the ashes around the rose bushes, but I till have the urn sitting on the fireplace, a year later. But I really will do it soon. Anyway, thoughts and cyber hugs to you.