[cjshrader]

I know this topic might be a little sad, but I've always been curious what exactly is the best thing to do with your pet rat after it has passed away.

I've always buried mine, but I wonder if that's the best way. I do know it's always the saddest hole digging I ever have.

 

[lilspaz68]

Everyone does their own thing. There's no best way, because its your preference. Some people do not have places to bury their wee ones so they let the vet dispose of the body (after its pts), if the animal dies at home I don't know what they'd do. Others might have their rat cremated and keep the ashes.

My ritual is to lay my friend down on their side on a piece of fleece, I put lab blocks behind their back and cereal mix/yogies/their special treat in front of them. Then I put pennies and small change there too. This is to pay the Ferryman Charon at the River Styx. I always give extra so if there's a little one who doesn't have any money, my guy can share. I then wrap up the body in the fleece, wrap that in a plastic bag, put it in a cereal box, tape up the ends with the rat's name and put them in the freezer until I can get up to my Mother's property to bury them.

Then I do an online memorial with pictures on my fav ratforums and cry and let the healing begin.

I have a feeling I will be doing this soon enough, my lovely old rescue girl is giving up. :'(

 

[cjshrader]

I'm sorry to hear that, but you really go the extra mile for your little friends.

 

[chrisstrikeagain]

personally, i'd bury it in my backyard or in a animal graveyard(not sure how much it is).

I AM NOY trying to upset anyone with this tidbit of info and i dont believe all places do this but...I wouldnt give my passed any animal to the vets because if you dont order cremations, they ussualy get picked up by a service that picks up deceased animals and as sick as it is, many times these animals are brought to rendering plants where they are rendered and put in dog foods....so i would not recomend that.

if your all out in love and have alot of money, you can get rat cremations put in a jewel and have a necklace/ring to wear with your baby.

 

[lilspaz68]

personally, i'd bury it in my backyard or in a animal graveyard(not sure how much it is).

I AM NOY trying to upset anyone with this tidbit of info and i dont believe all places do this but...I wouldnt give my passed any animal to the vets because if you dont order cremations, they ussualy get picked up by a service that picks up deceased animals and as sick as it is, many times these animals are brought to rendering plants where they are rendered and put in dog foods....so i would not recomend that.

if your all out in love and have alot of money, you can get rat cremations put in a jewel and have a necklace/ring to wear with your baby.

I think that the rendering thing is most likely a very uncommon thing. Usually vets do mass cremation with all the animals they have together. That is the "disposal fee".

 

[IceLore]

personally, i'd bury it in my backyard or in a animal graveyard(not sure how much it is).

I AM NOY trying to upset anyone with this tidbit of info and i dont believe all places do this but...I wouldnt give my passed any animal to the vets because if you dont order cremations, they ussualy get picked up by a service that picks up deceased animals and as sick as it is, many times these animals are brought to rendering plants where they are rendered and put in dog foods....so i would not recomend that.

if your all out in love and have alot of money, you can get rat cremations put in a jewel and have a necklace/ring to wear with your baby.

Animals that are sick or that have been euthanized cannot be used as meat. I don't know where you got that information from, but it is wrong. I wouldn't take any animal of mine to any vet that did that anyway.

 

[Kimmiekins]

The best thing is what feels right for you. I can tell you what we do.

The rat gets wrapped in a blanket from our "collection" (of blankets we use for the rats, that is). Often times, if they are sick, it's one we kept in with them; if we rushed them to the vet, it's one we wrapped them in; if it's a sudden death, it's one they seemed to enjoy or one that fits their personality.

We then place them in a plastic bag (zip lock) and, odd though it sounds, keep them in the freezer and do mass burials (if needed).

However, we are probably going to start cremating them through the vet. That said, I think we'll still use the same methods at home.

I wouldnt give my passed any animal to the vets because if you dont order cremations, they ussualy get picked up by a service that picks up deceased animals and as sick as it is, many times these animals are brought to rendering plants where they are rendered and put in dog foods....so i would not recomend that.

I believe that would be illegal, immoral and something that wouldn't go on for long if anyone caught wind of it. Nor would most (hopefully any) vets willingly allow it. Where did you hear this?

 

[mink]

My ritual is to get a nice box, like a dress shoe box or something and pad it with tissues or fabric, making a little bed. I often even make a little pillow for their head. I put the pet in the box and often make them a little blanket.
Sometimes we will put flowers or something in the box with them. Often I will lable the box on the outside with the pets name.

We have buried many pets in my yard, and I'm afraid I do not remeber where some are exactly. So to avoid disturbing and old beloved hamster or anything, my most recent pets who have passed have been buried in the woods behind my fiance's parents place with piles of stones on top to properly mark their grave and discourage any disturbances.
When I was little I sometimes wrote a little something about my hamster and put it in their box.

I like the pennies / change idea... we did that once when my fiance's rat passed, I think we will continue to do it.

Also I do totally agree that everyone has their own ways that are right for them. My fiance and I have sort of blended our ways. He already did things similar to way I do when he could. Growing up, sometimes his father would just put his pets in the trash since they lived in a trailer.

 

[chrisstrikeagain]

Animals that are sick or that have been euthanized cannot be used as meat. I don't know where you got that information from, but it is wrong. I wouldn't take any animal of mine to any vet that did that anyway.

I hate to say it is true. Not all places do this, but some do. ot purposely...but when dead stock companies pick up from vets. rendering plants buy them along with other dead animals(roadkill and such). then rendered and bought by pet foods.
not alll foods, not all vets.
Read Ann Martin's book, "Foods Pets Die For'. i got it from that as well as other research.

anyway, thats besides hte point. my personal fav way it backyard burial with the things the rat loved or keeping the cremations.

 

[2manyrats]

My roommate has decided to get her rats taxidermied, if they don't look awful when they die.

Otherwise, they get buried in a shoebox or given a Viking funeral on the lake/river.