How would you discard of a special pet who passed away?

My butter pinstripe ball just died and he was very special to me. Fought a nasty RI for quite some time - two rounds of antibiotics, several vet visits, cultures ... The whole bit. Fought for him hard and really sad to see him go. He was one of my original male breeders and for some reason discarding him in the garbage just doesn't feel right...he was much more than just a breeder and so trusting. He endured me poking him with needles, visits to the vet, even shedding his skin for him near the end and never once got pissy with me so I'm quite sad.
What are some ways you would discard of a special pet who's passed away?

Here's my special boy:

http://pbckt.com/pJ.NDmRus

I have yet to have a snake die but if the snake was special to you, you could always bury him. That's what I did when one of my cats died when I was younger.

I'm sorry for your loss

This has me thinking of a time in my youth where having a small burial in the back yard was ok. I am not sure of the laws on this now if any. I would check with your town or city and see what they think. There are other options like cremation and taxidermy. Losing a pet is never easy and my thoughts are with your recovery.

How sad. :( He was a beautiful boy. When a pet dies I bury it and plant a flower or little tree on top so I can think of them as it grows.

Bury, burn or garbage seems to be the only options, unless you take him to a vet to have him cremated or disposed of.

If you choose to bury, make certain you bury deep and cover the surface against animals digging at the site. If you try burning the body(Viking style), it will smell terrible and I'm not sure what the laws are in your area for open fires, since you wouldn't want to burn a python body IN anything you ever wanted to use again. Garbage, like you said, doesn't seem respectful, but also can be frowned upon by the garbagemen and/or local ordinances about animal disposal.

If you take him to a vet for disposal, you can choose to get his ashes back and scatter them or keep them. Or you can let them just dispose of the ashes.

taxidermy!!!!

Sorry for your loss. :(

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Originally Posted by Royal Morphz

There are other options like cremation and taxidermy.

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This. :gj:

I'm really sorry for your loss and appreciate you bringing this up; started me thinking, to say the least, as to what I'd do when this happens to me.

Depending on where you live and what the laws/regulations are in your area, you have a few options as have been mentioned. If you elect to bury him, bury him deep and add some agricultural lime on him before you cover him. This will aid in him becoming earth, to put it nicely. Also be aware of any water supplies if you elect to bury him, especially if you use/have well water.

If you burn him, that takes a LOT of heat to properly cremate an animal, even one as small as a snake. I can't remember the exact temperature requirement but it's pretty high and it takes a long while to accomplish it...add to that the odor and that might not be the best option.

Cremation via a vet might be your best option if you want it tidy and respectful of him as a far as how they would handle his remains. Taxidermy can be expensive but it might allow you to remember him as he was, depending on how skilled the taxidermist is that you chose, if you go that route.

Not sure I really added anything to this, just throwing it out there. I'm really sorry for your loss and hope you find some peace with things and a way to remember him that works for you. Take care!

Thanks for your replies. I'm considering burying him (although live in a townhouse so I'm not sure), cremation or taxidermy. I appreciate the responses :-)

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Originally Posted by Otolith

How sad. :( He was a beautiful boy. When a pet dies I bury it and plant a flower or little tree on top so I can think of them as it grows.

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Really like this idea and Im sorry for your loss