A number of years ago, one of our homeowners had a new wood fence installed on their property around their home. The work started by digging post holes in the yard. Near the side of the house, the construction workers came across the remains of a dog while digging one of the post holes. The deceased dog just happened to be the deceased pet from their previous family (at an unmarked location).
Georgia is among a handful of states where it is legal to bury your pets in your backyard. Georgia laws on animal burial can be found under Chapter 40-13-5. Here is the gist of the law.
- Deceased animals must be at least three feet below the surface with at least two feet of dirt on top
- Your pet can’t be buried deeper than eight feet
- The burial should be within 24 – 48 hours after death
- Choose a biodegradable container (like wood or an eco-friendly pod)
Georgia also specifies where animals can be buried. The law states that “dead animals that are buried must be located more than 100 horizontal feet away from any existing or proposed wells and water supply lines, 15 horizontal feet away from the edge of any embankment, and 100 horizontal feet away from the seasonal high water level of any pond, lake, tributary, stream, or other body of water including wetlands. Burial sites must be in soil with moderate or slow permeability and must be at least one foot above the seasonal high groundwater elevation. Burial sites must not be located in areas with gullies, ravines, dry stream beds, natural and/or man made drainage ways, sink holes, and/or similar conditions, including the 100-year flood plain as determined by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.”
If you discover an animal grave in your yard, it is probably best to leave it as is. If it is absolutely necessary to relocate the deceased animal, be sure to follow proper procedures. Wear protective gear like gloves and a mask, and re-bury the remains at a suitable depth (usually 3-5 feet) to prevent disturbance by other animals.
If you plan on selling your home, you might want to consult with your real estate agent about disclosing to the buyer that your deceased pets are buried in your yard. Until next time, take care.