In New York State, Is It legal To Bury A Pet On Your Property?

If like me, you have pets, you love them unconditionally. For those of us who don't have children, they are the closest thing to it in my opinion. As I've mentioned in previous articles, I've been around pets for most of my life.

Around 2000, my wife and I decided to adopt a Greyhound and immediately fell in love with this breed of dog. We've adopted several since and even fostered for about five years, placing almost 40 Greyhounds throughout the Southern Tier of New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania.

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Having a pet is good for you in so many ways. They never judge and are there for you when you're having a bad day. Plus, you are giving them a good home and life.

If there's one thing that upsets me about having pets, it's the fact that they don't live very long. But that never deterred me from adopting a pet. The average life span for a Greyhound is 10 to 14 years. Dogs can live an average of 7 to 15 years depending on breed. Cats tend to live longer - 12 to 18 years. We had a dog that lived to be 15 and a cat that lived to be 20.

So, when that inevitable day comes that your pet passes over the Rainbow Bridge, what do you do? Some may prefer to bury their pet on their private property, but is it legal in New York State? Back when I was growing up, and one of our pets passed away, they were buried on our property. I doubt anyone checked for any rules, though.

According to the Pet Farwell website, it is legal in most states, including New York State but there are rules and regulations to follow. And each municipality may have specific laws as to whether you can or cannot bury a pet on your property. Pet Farewell notes that in general, it is illegal to bury a pet on public lands and parks.

There are other options. Since my wife and I adopt Greyhounds, they are too big to bury in our small backyard, so we have our veterinarian send our dogs to be cremated. And the other option is to bury your beloved pet in a local pet cemetery.

There's no limit to how much you can love and care for your pet, and hopefully, they will live a long life.

via Farewell Pet