Dead Guinea Pig - What to do?

One of my little girls guinea pigs (Tom) has just died, we were expecting it as it hasn't been well for a few weeks and the vet told us he was not in any pain but there was nothing she could do.

She was upset but we made sure she understands that it is probably better off now, tricky to explain to an eight year old, but I think she gets it and we told her to make a fuss of Jerry, the other one as he has just lost his brother.

Now the tricky bit is my wife discussed burying it with her, while I was at work due to the issues.

I'm not really into burying humans let alone pets, but that is just my beliefs.

She wants to bury him in the garden and I really don't want that as we have a small garden which we use every inch of in the summer and I would hate it to be found dug up either.

Next suggestion was the woods - well IMO this is just wrong and possibly illegal.

Final suggestion, in a little part of the allotment - again just wrong as everyone up there is attempting to grow things.

I would've preferred to have it incinerated, it sounds harsh, but as it has already been discussed this isn't an option.

So I have 3 questions:

1. What is the proper way of getting rid of the body?
2. Would it be wrong to do what is suggested in number 1 and tell her we are burying it, then just bury the box it is in?
3. Is there another way of getting her to agree to having him 'cremated'?

Wooden box + Deep hole = sorted.

Place a bit of wood over the "Coffin" so you know where it is should you be digging.


A deep hole will not get unearthed.

[fizzwheel]

Why dont you ask your vet what you can and can't do.

I'd be inclined to bury it or bury the box as your daughter wil be expecting that now and if you have a little service it'll help her deal with being upset.

[Lissa]

Why not bury it?

And why would it be illegal to bury it in the woods? Creatures die in the woods all the time, decompose, and fertilise the soil. It's natures way of recycling.

you can pay for them to be cremated at a vets or just hand it over to a vets and they will 'dispose' of it,

+1 for the pie aswell,

Deep hole and put bricks over it to stop foxes digging it up.

wheelie bin?

Originally Posted by hovis

wheelie bin?

stop being so mean

Hovis - that was my first thought mate - or drop kicking it over the fence when nobody wss looking.

thats not mean, originally i was going to suggest sellotape and fireworks