When Your Pet Passes at Home: Step-by-Step for Families in Alabama
When a pet dies at home, there’s no handbook on the counter. It can feel disorienting — especially if it’s unexpected, after hours, or you’ve never been through this before.
This guide is here to walk you through what comes next. It’s written for Alabama families, with clear steps to help you care for your pet gently and legally, and to make space for grief without added confusion.
Quick Jump Navigation
Step 1: Take a moment
Step 2: Prepare the body
Step 3: Call public health if needed
Step 4: Arrange aftercare
Step 5: Understand home burial laws
Step 6: Keepsakes and memorials
Step 7: Ask for support
Step 8: Make your calls
Step 1: Take a moment
There’s no need to act immediately. If you're unsure whether your pet has passed, look for stillness in the chest, a softened jaw, and pupils that no longer respond to light.
If you’re not certain, call your veterinarian or a local emergency clinic. Many are comfortable confirming passing over the phone.
Find emergency vet clinics in Alabama →
Step 2: Prepare the body until aftercare arrives
If pickup won’t happen right away:
Place your pet on a towel, blanket, or waterproof pad.
Move them to the coolest room in your home.
Gently wrap ice packs and place them around the abdomen and hindquarters (not under the head). Refresh as needed.
Keep lights low and the room quiet.
This will help preserve your pet’s body respectfully until aftercare is arranged.
Step 3: If there was a recent bite or scratch, call public health
In Alabama, if your dog, cat, or ferret bit or scratched a person within the last 10 days, you are legally required to notify the county health department. They may require testing for rabies before cremation or burial.
Find your Alabama county health department →
Step 4: Arrange aftercare
You can either make arrangements through your veterinarian or work directly with a local provider. Your options may include:
Private or communal cremation
Water cremation (aquamation)
Home burial (see next section)
If you’re in Mobile or Baldwin County, Reverent Coast℠ Pet Aquatorium offers gentle home or clinic pickup, followed by aquamation at their local facility. Water cremation is flame-free and often chosen for its eco-conscious and gentle nature.
Step 5: Understand Alabama’s home burial rules
In Alabama, state law requires that animal remains be buried, cremated, or otherwise lawfully disposed of within 24 hours. If you plan to bury your pet at home:
Bury at least two feet deep from the surface.
Choose high, well-drained ground, far from wells or bodies of water.
Avoid plastic liners.
Confirm city or HOA rules before proceeding.
Step 6: Gather keepsakes, if that’s part of your goodbye
Some families find comfort in saving a small lock of fur, making a clay paw print, or setting aside a favorite tag or toy. There’s no right or wrong way to remember.
Auburn University Pet Loss Hotline →
Step 7: Ask someone to be with you
Grief is heavy. If there’s someone who can sit with you, answer the door when pickup arrives, or simply be present—that support matters.
Step 8: When you're ready, make your calls
To your vet — to confirm passing and ask about aftercare options.
To an aftercare provider — to schedule pickup and cremation.
To your local health department — if a bite or scratch occurred in the last 10 days.
You’re not expected to have all the answers. These professionals do.
What is Water Cremation (Aquamation)?
Water cremation (also called aquamation) is an alternative to flame cremation. It uses warm water and gentle alkalinity to return your pet to their natural elements, leaving behind soft, ash-like remains for you to keep or scatter.
Families often describe it as a more peaceful, environmentally gentle experience — especially for pets who lived soft, quiet lives.
If you’re in south Alabama, Reverent Coast℠ Pet Aquatorium offers this option with pickup from either your home or your veterinarian’s office.
⚖️ Disclaimer
The information shared in this article reflects our experience supporting families across Mobile and Baldwin Counties and is intended to offer guidance — not legal advice. Regulations surrounding pet aftercare can vary by location and may change over time. If you have questions about local ordinances, burial rules, or health department requirements, we encourage you to check with your city or county directly.
At Reverent Coast℠, we do our best to stay informed and walk families through what comes next. We believe no one should have to navigate this alone.
