I need to ask a really rather strange question....

[Saluki]

...and I wasn't sure where to put this.

The HA have just informed us that in the next few weeks they are 'taking' about 2/3s of our garden. A bit of a bummer as we've just fenced the bloody thing at our own expense. They are going to build some more flats and our 50' x 24' garden will be reduced to the size of a parking space.

They will be digging up the trees we planted and they will also dig up the body of our Saluki which is very upsetting to us. What we could do with knowing is how long does it take for a grave to become just bones and not just decomposing flesh? We buried him just before Christmas and Hubster is wondering if we dug him up to move him further up the garden if it would be a seriously gruesome task or if he would be mostly bones by now.

Sorry for grim topic but Hubster - who is quite depressed at the moment - is now upset as well at the thought of the HA digging up and dumping the dog who was a huge part of our lives for well over a decade.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Bones by now I would think. However - why not talk to the HA. They may be quite a sensitive bunch and come up with a suitable solution to your plight re pet and out of pocket expenses.

 

[Saluki]

Bones by now I would think. However - why not talk to the HA. They may be quite a sensitive bunch and come up with a suitable solution to your plight re pet and out of pocket expenses.

Sadly not a sensitive bunch. They have been pegging out the neighbour's place ready to fence in over the next couple of days as there are a couple of empty flats now and the empty flat's have pegged out gardens ready for the new fencing.
Apparently we are having a rent decrease when we lose our gardens but there has been planning permission in place since before we moved in, we just didn't know about it. One of the other neighbours has been told that we will be getting a couple of hundred pounds compensation, paid directly to our rent account.
I've to go into the city tomorrow, I'll have a chat with the CAB.

 

[welsh dragon]

There is no easy answer Saluki. There are a lot of factors. the size of the dog, the weather conditions, how deep the dog was buried, is the ground wet or dry. It will be hard to tell. But best answer is your pet may not be decomposed completely. Sorry @Saluki.

 

[Donger]

Don't know the answer, Saluki, but I sympathise. Our first two cats are buried together in a corner of our garden that is now a bit overgrown - but I don't like the idea of digging around in that area in case I see something I don't want to.

 

[Saluki]

There is no easy answer Saluki. There are a lot of factors. the size of the dog, the weather conditions, how deep the dog was buried, is the ground wet or dry. It will be hard to tell. But best answer is your pet may not be decomposed completely. Sorry @Saluki.

Thanks. We just don't like the thought of him being dug up by a JCB and chucked on to landfill. We've a couple of weeks before any decisions need to be made.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Could you not ask a friend with less attachment to do the digging? Have the new grave ready and work from there?

 

[stephec]

Could you not ask a friend with less attachment to do the digging? Have the new grave ready and work from there?

This sounds like a good idea.

 

[classic33]

Was it buried in any sort of protection? Plastic sheeting that sort of thing.

 

[Saluki]

Was it buried in any sort of protection? Plastic sheeting that sort of thing.

Cardboard box & tissue paper

 

[ufkacbln]

How do you get on with your Vet?

I should imagine that he would know someone who could advise or help.

 

[Saluki]

How do you get on with your Vet?

I should imagine that he would know someone who could advise or help.

Oooh that's a good idea. I'd not thought of that. I'll pop and see Ray tomorrow or Wednesday.

Could you not ask a friend with less attachment to do the digging? Have the new grave ready and work from there?

I'll give our Mark a bell.

Hubster is thinking about just digging Gabe up and having whatever is left cremated and then we don't need to worry about moving house etc. We can just take his ashes and scatter them.

 

[ufkacbln]

Oooh that's a good idea. I'd not thought of that. I'll pop and see Ray tomorrow or Wednesday.

I'll give our Mark a bell.

Hubster is thinking about just digging Gabe up and having whatever is left cremated and then we don't need to worry about moving house etc. We can just take his ashes and scatter them.

To be quite honest, whatever state the remains are in , it will be traumatic for a youngster

It may be better if you are planning a cremation to see if the company will dig up the remains, and seal in a casket, depending on size these will be about £50 - £100

Then you can have a dignified "service" without the trauma

 

[classic33]

Could you not ask a friend with less attachment to do the digging? Have the new grave ready and work from there?

This would seem to be your best option. With you having nothing to do with it at all. Go out for the day.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

We've always had the cats cremated by the vet. Seemed best. We have the ashes of Biggles (a cat, not the fictional fighter ace) but didn't get any of the others. I'm not sure why we kept the ashes, he doesn't live in our memories any differently to any of the other cats...