Can My Pet Be Buried With Me?

Do most cemeteries allow a pet to be buried with a person?

Generally, no - most conventional human cemeteries specifically prohibit burying pet remains together with human remains, due to a combination of cemetery-specific regulations and, in many states, laws that treat human and animal burial separately, sometimes requiring different types of licensed facilities entirely.

Why is this restricted, if a family wants it?

This varies by state and specific regulation, but generally reflects a longstanding legal and regulatory separation between human burial (governed by cemetery and public health law) and animal burial or disposal (governed by separate regulations, sometimes at the local or state level). This isn’t usually about sentiment or a specific cemetery’s preference; it more often reflects the broader regulatory framework a cemetery operates within.

Are there cemeteries that do allow this?

Yes - a small but growing number of cemeteries specifically permit combined human-and-pet burial, and some dedicated cemeteries exist specifically for this purpose. This is genuinely uncommon compared to conventional cemeteries, so finding one generally requires specific research into cemeteries in a given area that explicitly offer this option.

What alternatives exist if a conventional cemetery doesn’t allow this?

• Cremation for both, kept together - since cremated remains face far fewer regulatory restrictions than burial, keeping a pet’s and a person’s cremated remains together (in the same urn, or nearby) is a much more commonly available option
• Burial on private property, where legally permitted, which may offer more flexibility than a regulated cemetery, subject to local law - see our guide on how cemeteries work for the broader context this fits into
• A specifically dedicated combined human-pet cemetery, in areas where one exists

Does cremation avoid these restrictions entirely?

Largely, yes - cremated remains are subject to far fewer legal restrictions than burial for both humans and pets, which is part of why combining cremated remains is a much more commonly available and straightforward option than combined burial. See our guide on can human and pet ashes be mixed for more specifically on this option.

Should I check with a specific cemetery before assuming either way?

Yes - regulations and specific cemetery policies vary enough that assuming either a blanket “no” or “yes” isn’t reliable. Contacting a specific cemetery directly, and asking about their policy along with relevant state and local regulations, is the only way to know what’s actually possible for a specific situation.

Is this something worth documenting in advance if it matters to me?

Yes - if being buried with a pet matters to you, researching cemeteries that allow this in advance, and documenting your preference clearly, gives your family a much better chance of actually honoring this wish rather than discovering the restriction only after your death.

Cemetery regulations and specific policies vary considerably by state, locality, and individual cemetery - the specific cemetery is the most reliable source for what’s actually permitted.