In addition to the Animal By-Products Disposal Act (TierNebG) of 25 January 2004, which is uniform throughout Germany, there are regulations of the Land and local authorities. The federal law essentially only determines who is responsible for the proper disposal of carcasses. The designation already shows that it is more about animals for slaughter than beloved pets.

The regulations do not apply to small animals such as hamsters, mice, budgies and the like. They may be disposed of with household waste and, of course, buried with dignity. If your cat or dog dies, the federal or respective state regulations apply. The latter are a little more sensitive to the feelings of pet owners, as the regulations of the state of Berlin prove.

The Ministry of Justice, Consumer Protection and Anti-Discrimination clarifies the following on its homepage:

• Burying dead pets on public green spaces can be punished with a fine of up to 50,000 euros.
• A deceased pet may be buried in one's own garden, provided the property is not located in a water protection area.
• The body of the animal must be buried at least 50 centimetres deep.

In other federal states, the fine can be up to 250,000 euros. Some Länder allow burial on private land that does not belong to the animal owner or require that the plot is not close to public paths and squares.

You are usually allowed to bury a dog or cat exclusively in your own garden. Fortunately, there are alternatives for pet owners who do not have a plot of land. You can bury your pet in a pet cemetery or have it cremated or prepared.

About 120 cities and municipalities in Germany offer this alternative. You have the choice between burial in a single grave or in a communal grave. The burial costs between 100 and 300 euros. A grave for a cat or dog up to the size of a cocker spaniel costs about 50 to 80 euros per year. In most cases, a minimum burial period of 3 to 5 years is obligatory. If you want a gravestone, there are further costs.

As painful as the loss of the animal is, ask yourself if you want to take on years of grave maintenance. As there are relatively few pet cemeteries, this means further costs for a gardener or often long journeys to the pet's grave.

Since 1 March 2020, the cemetery regulations of the Hanseatic City of Hamburg allow the ashes of a pet to be buried in a human grave. Most municipalities have no regulations in this regard. Legally, the ashes of an animal are a burial gift and as such are usually unproblematic, provided the animal predeceases the owner. Anyone may keep the ashes of an animal as they wish. You can therefore keep them with you and decide that they should go with you to your grave. However, to be on the safe side, ask the cemetery administration whether they allow this special burial.

Burial is more difficult if the animal dies after you. It is questionable whether the cemetery administration will allow your grave to be dug up in order to add something later. In addition, a corresponding provision in your will is necessary so that your surviving dependants can or must comply with your wishes. Without cremation of the quadruped, burial in cemeteries for humans is not possible, whether at the same time as the burial of the owner or later.

The incineration of the animal body takes place in a special animal crematorium. You have the choice between communal or individual cremation. If you choose communal cremation, your animal will be cremated together with other animals of the same species. The ashes are buried anonymously in a communal grave. This solution is cheap. For an animal weighing about five kilograms, you pay between 80 and 100 euros. The burial is included in the price, but you don't know where the animal is buried.

Individual cremation costs between 150 and 180 euros for an animal of this size. Usually, a numbered fireclay stone is included with each animal when it is cremated, which makes it possible to clearly identify the ashes later. You get the ashes either in a small bag or in an urn. Some institutions also offer to process the ashes into a piece of jewellery. You can dispose of the ashes as you wish, i.e. scatter them anywhere you like.

Some pet owners do not want to part with their pet even after death. Legislation allows animals to be stuffed. But even an excellently prepared animal is very different from the living creature that lived with you. The disappointment is therefore often very great. In addition, the apparent presence of the animal hinders your work of mourning. You still have it and yet it is no longer with you. This is the worst possible situation to say a final goodbye to your little darling. Taxidermy costs between 400 and 600 euros for an animal the size of a cat.

When you lose a living being that was close to you, there is a hole in your heart. Understandably, you don't want to dispose of it in a rendering plant. But plan a dignified farewell instead of continuing to surround yourself with the animal. Burial in a pet cemetery in your garden or scattering the ashes in a place the animal loved will help you say goodbye. Afterwards, you may open your heart to a new animal to whom you can give your love.