Can I Bury My Pet in My Garden? (UK rules & risks)

Many families want to keep their pet close. Garden burial is sometimes an option in the UK—but there are legal and practical points to understand.

Is it legal?

• You own the property (not a shared garden/flat).
• Your pet isn’t suspected of a notifiable disease.
• The burial site doesn’t risk water contamination.

Practical risks

• Wildlife—foxes or other animals may disturb burial sites.
• Soil/flooding—some gardens are unsuitable (shallow soil, high water table).
• Moving home—you may later leave your pet’s resting place behind.

A dignified alternative: individual cremation

Individual cremation ensures your pet is treated with dignity, and lets you keep or scatter ashes wherever feels right—now or in the future.