Need ideas on unburying, transporting, and reburying a pet dog. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Undercover_Man · 02-20-2005, 01:25 PM

Hello all. Got a tough one here. We're moving to a smaller house. We don't want to leave our dog. She was very special to us. She lived all the way to 20 years old. She was always in perfect health except for her going blind. ............

*sniff* *sniff* DAMNIT I MISS MY K.C.!!!!!!! Damn memories of us having to put her down came back just now

Well we don't want to leave her behind. we buried her about 6 years ago so nothing but bones should be there now. We don't want to spend any big kind of money. My mom and I and MAYBE my bro-in-law and/or my sister will help out. We don't want my dad to know cause he'll think it'll cost us some money and we don't wanna take the chance until its too late for us to reverse the process.

SO....we need a way to unbury, transport, and rebury my pet dog. We don't want to spend too much money on it either. *I* would like to keep the bones in the same position they are but my mom suggested taking the bones and putting them in a bag and doing it that way. *I* would like some way to take a big chunk of dirt and try to keep it from not moving around too much to keep my dogs bones from being disturbed too much.

Any ideas on how to unbury, transport, and rebury my pet dog?

- Undercover_Man

Bryndian_Dhai · 02-20-2005, 02:49 PM

I don't know how big the dog is, but based on what you've said about it being just bones, here's what I would do.....

I'd hit Office Depot and get a document box, the kind that folds into a box with a lid, with string on each end to close it with. Either that, or go to Walmart and get one of those cardboard "under the bed" boxes (they are longer, but shallower, probably easier to work with). If you buy a document box, buy one slightly bigger than you need. Line the bottom of the box with dirt. Then dig up the bones. You'll have to be careful... I buried my Dachshund in a cardboard box, wrapped in his blanket, so I'd know before I actually hit the bones that I'd reached him.... Anyway, carefully uncover the bones. Then you'll have to move them. I don't think you'll be able to do it with absolutely no disturbance, but you'll have a pretty decent chance of moving him fairly unscathed. Put him in the box on top of the dirt, then cover him lightly with more, a couple of inches should do. Then you can move him. I recommend that you rebury him in the box, don't try to take him out again. If you have to move him, the wonderful, the box will be there. If not, eventually the box will disintegrate and recycle into the earth.

james t kirk · 02-20-2005, 05:24 PM

It's interesting the affection people have for their pets.

I have a couple of cats and one is very near and dear to my heart. I have often wondered what I would do when she dies (hopefully a long time from now) because I once read on the internet that often times dogs and cats that are given to vets to be cremated end up going to rendering plants and made into pet food or whatever.

I don't want that for my cat, so I thought I would just bury her in the back yard, or seek out a pet crematorium myself.

I once went to a vet's in the west end of Toronto to look at their building. (Work related.) The place was a horror show inside. Animals stacked on top of animals in cages, unkept, unsanitary, I would never ever take my animal there.

Sorry I can't offer much advice other than to say I understand where you are coming from.

virgin · 02-20-2005, 07:42 PM

Hi

I too am a dog lover and over the last thirty years, have buried more than my share.
2 in my parents back yard and 1 in my own. I don't know why, but I just have the tradition of taking the top blanket, ( usually the best) and wrapping my friend in it. I guess the idea of throwing dirt directly on my dog was upsetting.
My dogs were always buried at their homes, where they lived, and died. In a way , I think that burying them there, made them permanently apart of their home.
No offense, but your dog is home, and moving her is not for K.C. it's a macabre self indulgence, and sorry but the obvious cliche, really applies "let sleeping dogs lie"
One more thing, I buried my favourite dog "Midnight" 25 years ago, and I still miss him.

Jeff

Lebell · 02-20-2005, 07:51 PM

If you are serious and willing to spend some money, I believe you could probably hire a plant nursery to use a tree mover (and assuming the plot is accessable).

That would keep the chunk of ground intact.

Other than that, only some sort of machine that can take out a big chunk of ground in one scoop will work and not disturb the bones.

On a personal note, I know such a loss is very hard, but maybe you could think about the fact that your friend is in the last home she knew, with all the memories of you all being there.

Anyway, the best of luck.

iamnormal · 02-21-2005, 05:37 PM

A shovel would be the cheapest. Or rent a small excavator from a tool/equipment rental place. Use it to dig a trench around the spot. Make one trench side wider that the spot. Try to remove extra dirt around the dog. To keep it whole use plaster bandages to cover the area. From the wider dug side get something under the block. Take out the block then cover the bottom with more plaster bandages.
Don't dig untill under ground pipes and wires are marked.

Slavakion · 02-21-2005, 06:01 PM

If none of this works out (I hope it does!) you could try clearly marking the grave. Outline it with similarly-colored stones. Find two sticks, tie them together and bury it in the ground. Create a cairn. Get a common (read: free) large rock and have it engraved. Drop it on the gravesite. Mix and match as your beliefs allow. Hopefully K.C. will come with you!

IowaEric · 02-21-2005, 06:08 PM

Not to sound like a dick, but you did mention the cheapest way. Why not just dig with a shovel and transfer it intact as you can to a cardboard box. Take it wherever you're headed. Dig new hole w/ shovel. If you own a shovel, all of this is free. If not, it would be about $30 for a decent shovel.

Just looking at it practically, I suppose I am.

squirrelyburt · 02-21-2005, 09:29 PM

You never get over missing a dog. They are the truest friends you can ask for. I'm with you on trying to disturb as little as possible, but realistically, finding as many bones and boxing them up is practical.

02-20-2005, 01:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Undercover_Man Insane	Need ideas on unburying, transporting, and reburying a pet dog. Hello all. Got a tough one here. We're moving to a smaller house. We don't want to leave our dog. She was very special to us. She lived all the way to 20 years old. She was always in perfect health except for her going blind. ............ sniff sniff DAMNIT I MISS MY K.C.!!!!!!! Damn memories of us having to put her down came back just now Well we don't want to leave her behind. we buried her about 6 years ago so nothing but bones should be there now. We don't want to spend any big kind of money. My mom and I and MAYBE my bro-in-law and/or my sister will help out. We don't want my dad to know cause he'll think it'll cost us some money and we don't wanna take the chance until its too late for us to reverse the process. SO....we need a way to unbury, transport, and rebury my pet dog. We don't want to spend too much money on it either. I would like to keep the bones in the same position they are but my mom suggested taking the bones and putting them in a bag and doing it that way. I would like some way to take a big chunk of dirt and try to keep it from not moving around too much to keep my dogs bones from being disturbed too much. Any ideas on how to unbury, transport, and rebury my pet dog? - Undercover_Man

02-20-2005, 02:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bryndian_Dhai Insane Location: Louisiana	I don't know how big the dog is, but based on what you've said about it being just bones, here's what I would do..... I'd hit Office Depot and get a document box, the kind that folds into a box with a lid, with string on each end to close it with. Either that, or go to Walmart and get one of those cardboard "under the bed" boxes (they are longer, but shallower, probably easier to work with). If you buy a document box, buy one slightly bigger than you need. Line the bottom of the box with dirt. Then dig up the bones. You'll have to be careful... I buried my Dachshund in a cardboard box, wrapped in his blanket, so I'd know before I actually hit the bones that I'd reached him.... Anyway, carefully uncover the bones. Then you'll have to move them. I don't think you'll be able to do it with absolutely no disturbance, but you'll have a pretty decent chance of moving him fairly unscathed. Put him in the box on top of the dirt, then cover him lightly with more, a couple of inches should do. Then you can move him. I recommend that you rebury him in the box, don't try to take him out again. If you have to move him, the wonderful, the box will be there. If not, eventually the box will disintegrate and recycle into the earth. __________________ “When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” ~Sinclair Lewis

02-20-2005, 07:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
virgin Upright	Hi I too am a dog lover and over the last thirty years, have buried more than my share. 2 in my parents back yard and 1 in my own. I don't know why, but I just have the tradition of taking the top blanket, ( usually the best) and wrapping my friend in it. I guess the idea of throwing dirt directly on my dog was upsetting. My dogs were always buried at their homes, where they lived, and died. In a way , I think that burying them there, made them permanently apart of their home. No offense, but your dog is home, and moving her is not for K.C. it's a macabre self indulgence, and sorry but the obvious cliche, really applies "let sleeping dogs lie" One more thing, I buried my favourite dog "Midnight" 25 years ago, and I still miss him. Jeff __________________ Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

02-20-2005, 07:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lebell Cracking the Whip Location: Sexymama's arms...	If you are serious and willing to spend some money, I believe you could probably hire a plant nursery to use a tree mover (and assuming the plot is accessable). That would keep the chunk of ground intact. Other than that, only some sort of machine that can take out a big chunk of ground in one scoop will work and not disturb the bones. On a personal note, I know such a loss is very hard, but maybe you could think about the fact that your friend is in the last home she knew, with all the memories of you all being there. Anyway, the best of luck. __________________ "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate!

02-21-2005, 09:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
squirrelyburt Crazy Location: Central Wisconsin	You never get over missing a dog. They are the truest friends you can ask for. I'm with you on trying to disturb as little as possible, but realistically, finding as many bones and boxing them up is practical. __________________ If you've ever felt there was a reason to be afraid of the dark, you were right.

02-20-2005, 05:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
james t kirk Junkie Location: Toronto	It's interesting the affection people have for their pets. I have a couple of cats and one is very near and dear to my heart. I have often wondered what I would do when she dies (hopefully a long time from now) because I once read on the internet that often times dogs and cats that are given to vets to be cremated end up going to rendering plants and made into pet food or whatever. I don't want that for my cat, so I thought I would just bury her in the back yard, or seek out a pet crematorium myself. I once went to a vet's in the west end of Toronto to look at their building. (Work related.) The place was a horror show inside. Animals stacked on top of animals in cages, unkept, unsanitary, I would never ever take my animal there. Sorry I can't offer much advice other than to say I understand where you are coming from.

02-21-2005, 05:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
iamnormal Addict Location: In the id	A shovel would be the cheapest. Or rent a small excavator from a tool/equipment rental place. Use it to dig a trench around the spot. Make one trench side wider that the spot. Try to remove extra dirt around the dog. To keep it whole use plaster bandages to cover the area. From the wider dug side get something under the block. Take out the block then cover the bottom with more plaster bandages. Don't dig untill under ground pipes and wires are marked.

02-21-2005, 06:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Slavakion Mjollnir Incarnate Location: Lost in thought	If none of this works out (I hope it does!) you could try clearly marking the grave. Outline it with similarly-colored stones. Find two sticks, tie them together and bury it in the ground. Create a cairn. Get a common (read: free) large rock and have it engraved. Drop it on the gravesite. Mix and match as your beliefs allow. Hopefully K.C. will come with you!

02-21-2005, 06:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
IowaEric Tilted Location: You'd never guess..	Not to sound like a dick, but you did mention the cheapest way. Why not just dig with a shovel and transfer it intact as you can to a cardboard box. Take it wherever you're headed. Dig new hole w/ shovel. If you own a shovel, all of this is free. If not, it would be about $30 for a decent shovel. Just looking at it practically, I suppose I am.