Including a Pet in a Funeral: Rules, Etiquette and Other Options

Whether a pet can go to a funeral depends on the venue. A funeral home, church or cemetery sets its own policy, so ask before you bring an animal. The one exception is a trained service dog, which funeral homes must admit under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you do bring an animal, ask early, agree a plan and keep the animal calm.

Who decides if a pet can attend a funeral?

It depends on where each part of the service happens. Nobody has a general duty to allow pets, so the answer is the owner of each space.

Some families choose a venue partly because it is pet-friendly. If you are still deciding on a place, our funeral planning timeline tool can help you fit a venue call into the first few days.

What does the law say about service animals at funerals?

Funeral parlors are listed as public accommodations in the ADA, so they must follow its service animal rules. The Department of Justice defines a service animal as a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Key points:

• Staff may ask only two questions: whether the dog is required because of a disability, and what task it has been trained to perform. They cannot ask for documentation or a demonstration.
• Fear of dogs and allergies are not valid reasons to refuse a service dog, according to the DOJ.
• The dog must be under control. It must be harnessed, leashed or tethered unless the person's disability prevents it. It can be asked to leave only if it is out of control and the handler does not take action, or if it is not housebroken.
• Emotional support animals are not covered. They are not trained to perform a specific task, so the ADA does not require a funeral home to admit them. The venue can still say yes.
• Religious institutions are exempt from the ADA, so a church or mosque is not required to admit a service dog, although many do.

If you rely on a service dog and are going to a service, it is kind to tell the family or the funeral director in advance. Other guests may have allergies, and a quick call lets staff plan seating.

How do you plan to bring a pet to a funeral?

Think of it as a small event inside the main one. These steps keep the animal safe and the service undisturbed.

1. Ask the family first. The people arranging the service have the final say, even if the venue allows animals.
2. Get the venue's answer in writing. A text or email avoids a confusing moment at the door.
3. Choose a handler. Pick a trusted friend or pet sitter who is not a close mourner, so the family can focus on the service.
4. Pack a quiet kit. Bring water, waste bags, a blanket and a chew that makes no noise. Skip squeaky toys.
5. Keep the animal on a leash or in a carrier at all times, even if the pet is well trained. A funeral has crowds, strong emotions and unfamiliar sounds.
6. Sit near an exit. If the pet whines or gets restless, the handler can step outside without drawing attention.
7. Tell guests in advance in the invitation or at the door, so people with allergies or a fear of animals can choose where to sit.
8. Plan the exit. Decide who takes the pet home afterward and where they will wait during the burial or reception.

Think about the pet as well as the crowd. A long service, heat, loud music or incense can be hard on a dog or cat. If the animal is anxious in crowds, a photo of the two of them may be kinder than a place in the room.

What are other ways to include a pet?

If the pet cannot attend, or has already died, there are many ways to bring them into the service:

• A memorial table with a photo, the collar, a favorite toy or the pet's ashes in a small urn next to the person's photo.
• A mention in the eulogy. A sentence about the walks, the lap or the welcome at the door often tells the room more about the person than a long list of achievements.
• A slideshow with pet photos alongside family pictures.
• A graveside keepsake. Ask the funeral home whether a photo, collar or small keepsake can be placed in the casket.
• A donation in the pet's name to a rescue or shelter, listed in the obituary.
• A quiet moment at home for the pet after the service, if the animal is staying behind.

For ideas on personal tributes, see our guide to a funeral for a pet owner.

Can a pet be buried or cremated with its owner?

Often not. Many cemeteries do not accept animal remains in a human plot, and human and pet cremation are usually handled separately, with rules that vary by state and provider. Some families place a small urn of pet ashes with the family's own ashes at a cemetery that allows it. Rules vary by state and cemetery, so get the answer in writing before you pay for anything. Our guides to pet ashes with human ashes and pet cemetery burial explain what to ask.

How do you hold a funeral for a pet?

A pet's goodbye is usually simpler to arrange than a person's funeral, but it is still a real one. A few common options:

• Cremation or burial first. Decide what will happen to the body. Our pet cremation guide explains the choices, and home pet burial laws covers burying a pet on your own land.
• A small gathering. Invite the people who loved the animal. Share stories, read a short poem and display photos or the collar.
• A memorial that lasts. An urn, garden stone, tree or piece of jewelry can mark the pet. Our guide to pet memorial products compares them.
• Support for children. Let children take part if they want to, and answer questions plainly.

If the grief feels heavy, the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement runs chat rooms and support groups for people who have lost an animal.

What to do next

1. Ask the funeral director, clergy or cemetery whether the pet can attend, and get the answer in writing.
2. Agree who will handle the animal, and what the plan is if the pet becomes unsettled.
3. Tell guests in the invitation or at the door, and pick seating near an exit.
4. If the pet cannot come, choose a photo, collar or other keepsake for the memorial table.