What is the correct method of disposing of a deceased pet?
Auntie’s answer: This is such a sad question, though I suppose it is a necessary one that most pet owners may not think about or don’t want to think about. An official with the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) was able to help.
The information you requested may be a bit disturbing to hear since it is so clinical but if you need to know this, there is no other way.
According to the DEH, the animal owner should contact the department (949–6696) to request the collection and disposal of the deceased pet. For smaller animals (up to 75lbs), there is no charge for the service. The animal needs to be put in a strong plastic bag or box and placed by the kerb or “a convenient location for collection by the DEH Infectious Waste Collection Crew”.
For larger animals, like a horse or cow, which perhaps are not pets but in the interest of being thorough, I will include, there is a $75 fee for this collection. In this instance, the owner has to pay the fee at the DEH office (Cayman Islands Environmental Centre, 580 North Sound Road) and fill out a service removal form before the animal will be collected.
One last point: the department official stressed that “DEH staff do not go under building floors to remove deceased animals”; the owner needs to ensure access to the unfortunate creature.
Who ever suggested putting a beloved pet in the trash by the side of the road is not a pet lover.
Info@caymanpetparadise.com: I wish auntie would have researched this a bit more. As someone wrote above, there is another option. Cayman Pet Paradise in Savannah has a pet crematorium. For the most part we work with the local vet clinics to coordinate, but we also will come and collect your pet from your house or you can deliver your pet here and save the pick up fee. We treat your pet with the dignity and respect it deserves. Unfortunately, ourcrematorium is not big enough for large farm animals (over 200lbs)
If you own a property/home, burry your pet in your back yard. After couple of months plant a tree on it as a remembrance. That’s what we did with our two dogs. If you’re renting the place, ask your landlord if you can do it there. If not, then maybe DEH is the option. But as previous question, what does the DEH do with the animals body? Do they dig somewhere to burry it?
DEH disposes of them on the dump. Arrange with a local vet service to have them cremated.
If you would like the ashes of your pet returned, you can get the pet cremated through Pet Paradise in Savannah. There is a fee, but they package the ashes in a lovely wooden box and provide a certificate of authenticity. My vet arranged this for me when our family dog passed away earlier this year and it was a really lovely gesture after going through something so difficult.
Cremation at Cayman Pet Paradise.
There is not one pet owner that would ever consider putting their pet in a bag or box and leaving it by the curb, while it bakes in the sun waiting for DEH to come collect it. LMAO!! Funny but not funny. Seriously??? Even if they were by the curb waiting for it I wouldn’t hand my dead pet to them.
Who is going to prevent someone from digging a hole and placing the deceased pet in it for burial?
I brought mine home from the vet in a purpose made heavy ziplock bag. My gardener helped me dig a hole and that is where my dog rests in South Sound. My kitty was laid to rest in the backyard of the place I lived in Prospect 20 years ago.
Side of the curb my a$$…
After DEH collects dead animal, what do they do with them?
Throw it in the general purpose bin with all the other garbage. Duh!
They take them to a reserved place at the dump and let the flies and maggots do the rest. My dog is buried in my back yard, after the love and loyalty he gave to my family it is the least we could do, a proper burial. The DEH is not going to treat your pet with dignity.
When my dog died while i was away on a assignment my wife call DEH, they pick up my dog and I wanted to know what happen to my dog so i investigated. My dog like many other dead animals were used by Saint Matthew students so they can become vets. If i was home this would not have happen.
If it the neighbor’s yapping mutt that had an unfortunate accident in your backyard then the answer is quickly and quietly.