
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, April 4, 1994                   TAG: 9404050007
SECTION: NEWSFUN                    PAGE: NF-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DEALING WITH THE DEATH OF A PET

If your pet dies, decide with your family what you want to do. Some people bury their pets in their back yards. Vets sometimes have burial containers or you can use a box. Some people bury a pet's favorite toy or blanket with it. Animals should be buried at least three feet deep. You might plant a tree or flowers at the grave or buy a grave marker .

Pet Haven Memorial Garden in Roanoke has more than 2,000 animals buried in it, including a monkey. One 5-year-old boy even buried his guppy there. Some families have funeral services there. Others bury the pets by themselves. This pet cemetery has caskets in five sizes.

If a pet is cremated (changed to ashes by burning), scatter the ashes in a place that has special meaning for you and your pet.

Veterinarians usually bury animals in a mass grave or in private cemeteries on land they own.

by CNB