Speaking of pets being buried in the back yard

17 years ago

The people we bought our 'new' house from had a LOT of dogs (8, I think). I presume that they may have had others over the 2 decades they lived here. We've found some piles of rocks, carefully positioned here and there in the back yard. The old owners now live next door.

I'm curious--but more than that, I don't want to be gardening and dig up any unpleasant surprises.

Would you ask them if they'd buried any of their pets in the yard? I'm okay with it if they have, but would just like to know what areas to avoid digging. So is that a gross or inappropriate question? or do you think they'd understand that I'm asking because I'd respect their pet's final resting place(s)?

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Comments (19)

susie53_gw
17 years ago
Reminds me of a neighbor that bought a house close to us. When the people moved they dug up their dog and took him with them. They had buried him in a metal box.

Susie
janie_ga
17 years ago
I would ask. We always put all the animals in a specific spot, usually one that didn't grow grass well (this was GA with the red clay). That way we were never tempter to dig in the area.

Good luck!
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mcmann
17 years ago
I think I'd ask them. You could just ask if those little mounds of stones mark anything significant and that you wouldn't want to disturb a final resting spot. I can't imagine any other reason for a little rock pile. We've only buried snakes, birds and hamsters in our yard and they've probably decomposed by now.
pawsitive_gw
17 years ago
I'd ask them. I had several dogs buried in my backyard, close to the fences and when we moved, I told the new owners. No way was I going to dig up 10 year old bones, but I wanted them to be aware.
barbara3
17 years ago
My dog, Remy, B.H. (before Henry) is buried in my backyard, in among the rose trees that came from my grandmother's garden in Harbour Grace. We had her cremated and we buried the box , with a laminated picture of her and her name, taped to the top. I planted a small hosta, Remember Me, on top of the spot where she is buried. OK, now I'm going to cry!
caroline94535
17 years ago
Our BeeGee's earthly cremains are waiting in a little urn on the back shelf of the bedroom armoire for the rest of us to join her.

As we each make our journey, our urns be added to the shelf. The last person standing makes the arrangements.

My gracious...typing it out sounds so "morbid," LOL. But I'm not going without Harry with me.
caflowerluver
17 years ago
We are on 2.5 acres and have our two previous dogs buried in a far corner with markers. It is far away from the house so don't think anyone would want to plant anything there. But just in case we made the markers.
Clare
azzalea
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the responses. Think one of these days, I'll ask, being very careful to let her know I'm okay with it if there are a few graves back there.
FlamingO in AR
17 years ago
I would ask, why not?

Our first dog Mariah Valentine is buried outside our bedroom window. No one will ever wonder, though, because her grave is marked with an engraved stone that weighs about 90 pounds and has a small heart shaped stone on top of that. It has her name, the years she was born and died and it says "The Bestest Dog" (in the whole wide world- there wasn't room for all that) on it. We had some people over once that assumed that that stone was there before we moved here because they were just sure that we knew "bestest" wasn't a real word. Well, we did know that but she WAS the bestest dog in the whole, wide world and we told her so every single day of her life. :) I guess we're perpetuating the myth of Arkansans forever. lololol

2 cats are buried next to Mariah and there is a cat statuary marking that spot. I need to get engraved stones for Tess and Roughy.
lilliepad
17 years ago
I would ask.I wouldn't want to accidentally dig up any bones.
I have 5 dogs buried outside my back fence.They are all little dogs and have markers on their graves and if I ever leave here will probably stay buried.
DD buried her little Chi at the house where they were renting when she died.When she moved she dug her up (her DH had made a nice wood box for her) and moved her to a spot down by the pond.Last year it rained a lot and the pond level got dangerously close to the grave so she moved her to higher ground.LOL They are renting and plan to buy a house within the next couple of years and she will move her again at that time.
hounds_x_two
17 years ago
Sure, ask them. I would appreciate your sensitivity. You are being thoughtful.
OklaMoni
17 years ago
Uh, Oh, I always wonder what the people on North Union in Ponca City will do, when they find a human leg. Yup, leg. When my father in law (as a young man) lost his leg, it got buried in the back yard.

Should be quite interesting...

Moni
talley_sue_nyc
17 years ago
A friend of mine used to bury her cats near the fence of her garden. One year when we visited, there was a skull on her mantle. "I think that was Killer," she said.

they were just sure that we knew "bestest" wasn't a real word.

Ummm, it is TOO a word--for beloved dogs. (and beloved other things)
Tally
17 years ago
We would never bury our cats in the backyard. First, it's illegal here and second, I couldn't bear to leave them behind. We have had them all cremated and I can take them with me wherever we go.

Yes, ask the previous owners.
chisue
17 years ago
I wonder if anyone ever puzzled over a purple plush perfume box found under a small rock at our old house -- that would be the one with the remains of 'Flash', our DS's goldfish.
trinitytx
17 years ago
When my DS was working for a pool company, they came accross human remains while digging. All work had to be stopped until the police were through with their investigations.
I still know people that have family buried on their property.
I would want to be asked if my animals were buried nearby. So yes, I would ask them.

Trin
jel48
17 years ago
I'd ask too. I think that if the previous owners buried pets there, they would appreciate the fact that you didn't want to disturb their resting place.
liz
17 years ago
I think it's so sweet that you're being so sensitive and caring...and I think your previous owners will to...

Like Tally...that's why we have our animals cremated now...We had to leave our first doggies behind when we moved...and it really bothered me but I wasn't digging up bones...now I have two in pretty boxes with their pictures on them...
jeaninwa
17 years ago
maybe they are piles of rocks they pickedraked up from their gardening, and never got around to picking up? It really could be something as innocent as that. Go ahead and ask, or......find out the hard way! LoL

Speaking of pets being buried in the back yard

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