Choosing to bury your animal at home is a deeply personal decision — and a legal one. Every state has specific rules for how, where, and when burial must happen. This guide gives you a starting point for the states we serve.
A summary of the primary state statutes governing on-property burial of deceased livestock and equines. Always confirm current requirements with the issuing agency.
Ohio Revised Code §941.14
Burial Depth
4 feet minimumbelow the natural surface of the ground
Timeframe
Within 24 hours (infectious cause) or a "reasonable time" (general)
Approved Methods
Burial, burning, rendering, composting, alkaline hydrolysis
Governing Agency
Ohio Department of Agriculture — Division of Animal Health
Kentucky Revised Statute §257.160
Burial Depth
Sufficient depthto prevent resurfacing, scavenging, and odor (guidelines are stringent and site-dependent)
Timeframe
Within 48 hours of death
Approved Methods
Burial, burning, composting (permit required), rendering
Additional Rules
Landowners with 10+ acres must comply with the Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Act (KRS 224:71-100)
Governing Agency
Kentucky Department of Agriculture — Office of the State Veterinarian
Indiana Code §15-17-11-20
Burial Depth
4 feet minimumbelow the natural surface, with at least 4 feet of earth covering the body
Timeframe
Within 24 hours of knowledge of death
Approved Methods
Approved disposal plant, on-property burial, incineration, composting
Restrictions
No burial within city/town limits if prohibited by local ordinance. Must avoid waterways.
Governing Agency
Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH)
State law is the starting point — not the goal. Following these professional recommendations helps ensure the burial is safe, respectful, and won't cause problems later.
How your animal died — or was humanely euthanized — directly affects how the body must be handled and buried. This is one of the most overlooked parts of end-of-life planning, and getting it wrong can poison pets, livestock, and wildlife for years after burial.
In 2010, two dogs died after scavenging a horse carcass that had been buried two years earlier. In another documented case, dogs were poisoned by the bones of a horse euthanized ten years prior. Pentobarbital — the most common large-animal euthanasia drug — does not break down in the soil, in compost, or in the body. It can remain lethal essentially forever.
The FDA requires euthanasia drug labels to carry this warning: "This product is toxic to wildlife. Birds and mammals feeding on treated animals may be killed."
The most common method for humane euthanasia of horses, administered by IV injection by a licensed veterinarian.
The problem:
Disposal implications: Deep burial (6+ feet of cover), rendering rejection is common, most landfills refuse, composting does not neutralize the drug.
Sometimes used in combination protocols for euthanasia, or as part of a two-stage process with sedation.
The consideration:
Disposal implications: Standard-depth burial is generally acceptable, but confirm the exact drug protocol with your veterinarian before deciding.
Physical euthanasia methods (performed by a trained professional) and natural causes leave no drug residue in the tissue.
The benefit:
Disposal implications: Standard legal burial depth is sufficient from a toxicity standpoint — though we still recommend going deeper to prevent wildlife disturbance.
Always ask your veterinarian exactly what drug or drugs were used. Get it in writing if possible. "Euthanasia solution" is not specific enough — you need the drug name.
If pentobarbital or another barbiturate was used: Bury deep (we recommend a minimum of 6 feet of earth covering the body, more if your soil and equipment allow), far from water sources, and mark the site clearly so it is never disturbed. Alternatively, consider cremation — which is the only disposal method that fully destroys barbiturate residues.
If your animal died naturally or was euthanized by captive bolt or gunshot: Standard legal burial depth is sufficient for toxicity, though wildlife deterrence still calls for going as deep as practical.
Never leave a euthanized animal exposed, even temporarily. A carcass left uncovered for even a few hours can attract scavengers and cause secondary poisoning.
Tell anyone who handles the carcass what drugs were used. This includes removal services, renderers, crematoriums, and anyone helping with burial. It changes what they're legally and ethically able to do with the body.
Many horse owners start with the intention of handling burial themselves — then realize mid-crisis how much is involved. Reading this page should make that clear. Hiring a licensed professional isn't about avoiding hard work. It's about getting it right when you're emotionally and physically unable to, and making sure you don't inherit legal or environmental problems down the road.
A licensed service knows the state statutes, local ordinances, and water-quality rules. Improper burial can result in fines, tax assessments on your land (see ORC §941.15), or cleanup orders.
Excavating a 7–9 foot grave requires heavy equipment most property owners don't own. Renting it, learning to operate it safely, and doing it within the legal timeframe is rarely realistic during a crisis.
Our specialized rescue skid and harness system moves your animal with dignity — no winching, no dragging, no property damage, no added trauma for you or your family.
Site selection, depth, and cover all affect groundwater safety. A professional assessment prevents the contamination problems that often come with well-intentioned but incorrect burials.
You shouldn't have to make these decisions or do this physical work in the hardest moments of losing a companion. Letting a professional handle it is a kindness to yourself and your family.
We provide proof of proper disposal — important for insurance claims, property records, and peace of mind.
We're happy to walk you through the process, answer questions about local rules, or handle the burial for you — with the respect and expertise your animal deserves.
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Mailing address: 8216 Princeton-Glendale Rd., #180. West Chester OH, 45069