What to Do When Your Dog Dies at Home

Nobody plans for this part. If your dog has just died at home, you are probably reading this on your phone with one hand and shaking. That's okay. Take this one piece at a time — none of it has to be done in a hurry except the paw print, and even that can wait a couple of hours.

First: there is nothing you need to fix

You don't have to move them immediately. You don't have to call anyone in the next ten minutes. Sit with them if you can. Many people say later that the quiet half hour after was the part they're glad they had.

When you're ready, note the time. You'll be asked for it by almost everyone you call, and it's easier than trying to remember later.

Handling their body

• Lay them on a towel or sheet on a cool, flat surface — a bathroom floor or garage is fine. Avoid direct sun and heating vents.
• Don't wrap them tightly. A light sheet over them is enough.
• Their eyes may stay open and their body may stiffen within 2–4 hours. Both are normal and not a sign anything went wrong.
• Fluids may come from the mouth or nose. Wipe gently; it's not something you did.
• If it's hot out and you can't get a pickup for several hours, a cool room or a towel-wrapped ice pack near (not on) the body helps.

If you want a paw print, do it in the next few hours

This is the only genuinely time-sensitive thing on this page. After about 2–4 hours the paw starts to stiffen and it becomes much harder to get a clean print. You don't need special equipment — an ink pad and a card work, and a clean-touch kit avoids ink on fur entirely.

• Wipe the paw first and dry it — wet fur smears the ink.
• Press firmly but evenly, hold for 3 seconds, and lift straight up. Don't roll.
• Do two or three. The first is rarely the best.
• Print a second card for a family member. People almost always wish they'd made one more.

What to do with the body

Three real options, and there's no wrong one:

• Your vet. Most clinics will hold your dog for you and arrange cremation. Call ahead — they'll tell you their cutoff time and what they need.
• A pet cremation service. They pick up from your home, usually within a few hours, 7 days a week. Ask whether they cremate on-site or transport out.
• Home burial. Check your county or city rules first — many require at least 3 feet of depth and a set distance from water lines and property boundaries. Renters and apartment dwellers usually can't.

If you're unsure which, call your vet first. They do this every week and will not think you're being dramatic.

Collect these before anything leaves the house

• The collar and the tag. Sound trivial. It isn't.
• A lock of fur from the chest or behind the ear, tied with a thread or kept in a small bag.
• Their blanket or bed — the one with their smell still in it. Don't wash it yet.
• Any photos from the last few months on your phone. Move them into one album now, while you remember which ones matter.

If you have other pets

Let them see and sniff their friend's body for a few minutes before it's taken away. Animals don't need a funeral, but they do seem to settle faster when they've had a chance to understand what changed. Don't force it if they back away.

The paperwork, honestly

For cremation through a vet or service, there is none for you — you'll get a certificate and the ashes back. For home burial, some municipalities ask you to register the burial; most don't. A five-minute call to your local animal control answers it.

Tonight

Eat something, even badly. Tell one person who will not try to fix it. Put their bowl away only when you're ready — some people leave it down for weeks, and that's allowed.

If you're deciding between cremation and burial right now, here's what each actually costs and what you get back.