In the moments following the loss of a pet, the decisions about their final resting place can be emotional. Many pet owners opt for home burial as a way to honor their companions, but there are important considerations to keep in mind, particularly when it comes to the use of pentobarbital, a drug used in euthanasia.
Pentobarbital, a barbiturate anesthetic, poses risks beyond its primary function of humane euthanasia. When a pet is laid to rest after being euthanized with pentobarbital, there are two significant concerns: environmental contamination & scavenger risk. 
Pentobarbital is extremely dangerous in soil and water, posing environmental risks. When a pentobarbital-laden body is buried, there is a risk of runoff during rainfall events. This runoff can carry pentobarbital into nearby waterways, contaminating streams, rivers, and groundwater. Pentobarbital can persist in aquatic environments, where it can be ingested by aquatic organisms. Through bioaccumulation, the concentration of pentobarbital can increase as it moves up the food chain, posing risks to fish, amphibians, wildlife and even other pets.
The drug remains largely unmetabolized in the tissues of the deceased animal, maintaining its chemical structure. If scavenger animals consume the remains, they could inadvertently overdose, leading to severe consequences, including fatalities. This risk extends beyond wildlife to include endangered or threatened species, raising ethical and legal concerns.
At Paws into Grace, we believe in not only providing compassionate euthanasia services but also in educating pet owners about responsible burial practices. Here are some key considerations to bear in mind:
- Burial Property: Ensure you own the property or have explicit permission to use it for burial.
- Depth: Bury the pet between 3 to 5 feet deep to allow microbial decomposition and to deter wildlife.
- Utility and Tree Roots: Avoid buried utility lines and damaging tree roots by researching the burial site beforehand.
- Flood Plains: Choose a burial spot that is level or slightly elevated to prevent water pooling and potential contamination.
Our responsibility as pet caregivers extends beyond their lifetime, and by making informed decisions about burial, we can honor their memory while safeguarding the environment and wildlife around us.
Sources:
caetainternation.org; Doing More to Inform on Pet Burial and Body Handling Following Pentobarbital Use
Krueger B., Krueger K.A. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Fact Sheet: Secondary Pentobarbital Poisoning of Wildlife. [(accessed on 28 February 2018)];2002 Available online: https://www.fws.gov/initiative/protecting-wildlife
