10 Things to do with your Pet's Ashes

Losing a pet is losing a member of the family, and deciding what to do with their ashes is a personal choice with no wrong answer. Whether you want to keep them close, return them to a favorite place, or create something lasting, here are ten meaningful things you can do with your pet's ashes.

Quick answer: The most popular things to do with a pet's ashes are keeping them at home in a pet urn, scattering them at a favorite spot, burying them in a biodegradable urn, growing a memorial tree, or keeping a little in ashes jewellery or a paw-print keepsake. More creative options include turning ashes into a diamond, a tattoo, or even fireworks. You can also divide the ashes and combine more than one idea.

1. Keep them at home in a pet urn

The most common choice. A pet urn keeps your companion close, in a design that suits your home, from simple and discreet to a piece shaped for a dog or cat. Many can sit indoors or out in the garden.

2. Scatter them at a favorite place

A park you walked every day, a beach they loved, or your own garden. Scattering returns a pet to a place that meant something. On private land you need the owner's permission, and a scatter tube makes it cleaner. See our guide on how to scatter ashes.

3. Bury them in a biodegradable urn

For a permanent resting place in the garden, a biodegradable urn breaks down naturally and returns the ashes to the soil. A gentle, eco-friendly choice.

4. Grow a memorial tree

A tree-planting urn lets you grow a living memorial from your pet's ashes, indoors in a pot or out in the garden. Every season of growth becomes a reminder of them. Read more in our guide on growing a tree from ashes.

5. Keep a little in ashes jewellery

A pendant, bracelet or charm with a small sealed chamber keeps a pet with you wherever you go. Our ashes jewellery includes simple self-fill designs you can fill at home.

6. Keep a paw-print or keepsake

A keepsake urn holds a small portion, ideal if more than one family member wants to keep a part of a beloved pet. Many crematoriums can also take a paw-print impression as a separate memento.

7. Scatter them at sea

For a water-loving dog, a water burial is a beautiful send-off. A biodegradable water urn floats briefly, then sinks and dissolves, releasing the ashes gently into the sea, a lake or a river.

8. Turn the ashes into a diamond or glass

Specialist companies can turn a small portion of ashes into a memorial diamond or fuse them into glass jewellery, creating a lasting treasure you can wear or display.

9. A memorial tattoo

Some tattoo artists offer memorial tattoos that include a tiny, treated amount of a pet's ashes mixed into the ink. Always choose an experienced, hygienic studio that prepares the ashes safely.

10. A celebration send-off

For a pet who brought joy and adventure, some families mark the goodbye with a small amount of ashes placed into fireworks or sent skyward, turning the farewell into a celebration of their life.

You do not have to choose just one. Many families keep a portion at home and scatter or bury the rest. For all the options in one place, see our hub on what to do with ashes after cremation.

Frequently asked questions

What can I do with my pet's ashes?

You can keep them at home in a pet urn, scatter them at a favorite place, bury them in a biodegradable urn, grow a memorial tree, or keep a small portion in ashes jewellery or a keepsake. More creative options include memorial diamonds, glass, tattoos and fireworks.

Can I bury my pet's ashes in the garden?

Yes. On your own land you can bury a pet's ashes freely, and a biodegradable urn lets them return to the soil naturally. Remember you may not always live at the same address.

Can I scatter my pet's ashes anywhere?

On your own land, yes. For public parks, beaches or private land you should have the owner's or council's permission, and keep away from water sources. A scatter tube makes it easier and more dignified.

Can I keep some of my pet's ashes in jewellery?

Yes. Ashes jewellery and keepsake urns hold a small sealed portion, so you can keep a pet close while scattering or burying the rest.