Certification

The Green Pet-Burial Society supports the certification program of the Green Burial Council (GBC).  The GBC previously only certified human cemeteries, but with the advent of the Green Pet-Burial Society, will certify pet cemeteries and providers (e.g., caskets, monuments, crematoria) on established ecological standards:

The Green Burial Council is an independent … nonprofit organization working to encourage environmentally sustainable deathcare and the use of burial as a new means of protecting natural areas … [and] has become the standard-bearer in this nascent field and the conduit for conservation.

Green Burial Options

The Pet Cemeteries listed below correspond to the four categories of  green burials (see the bottom of our About page). We also provide a list of green Whole-Family Cemeteries that allow a pet’s remains to be buried in family plots. Cemeteries are listed alphabetically.

Note: The vision, philosophy and policies of each cemetery are unique. Being listed here is not an endorsement by the Green Pet-Burial Society. If a cemetery does not reflect your sensibilities, try another; it is best to shop around.

Providers: Contact us if your facility is not listed below. To be certified for providing green burials, contact the Green Burial Council directly.*

PET CEMETERIES

Hybrid Pet Cemeteries

Pet cemeteries with designated green burial sections, i.e., pets are interred in biodegradable caskets (e.g., all wood, paper, or wicker – no metal nails or toxic glues) and/or biodegradable shrouds.

• Deceased Pet Care – Atlanta, GA
• Pet Memorial Acres – Town of Brookfield, NY

Low-Impact Pet Cemeteries

Burial only using eco-friendly containers or shrouds in a park-like setting. A program of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been adopted for the grounds. Above the surface, these cemeteries may appear to like traditional cemeteries or memorial parks. 

• Angels Rest, Kanab UT – a project of Best Friends Animal Society; caskets are not used.

Natural Pet-Burial Grounds

Pet cemeteries that inter pets in biodegradable caskets and/or shrouds, follow Integrated Pest Management (IPM) standards, but which have not set policies to maintain their grounds as a nature preserve.

(none listed at this time)

Conservation Pet Burial Ground/Wildlife Sanctuary

Pet cemeteries that include the above and also have developed policies and procedures to maintain their land as a nature preserve/wildlife sanctuary.

•  *Greenhaven Preserve, Eastover, SC – in addition to family plots, they have a separate pet-burial section.

WHOLE-FAMILY CEMETERIES

Green cemeteries that allow pets’ remains to be buried in family plots.

• *Cedar Brook Burial Ground, Limington, ME - they operate a tree farm. A tree is planted on each grave, to be harvested in 30-40 years.
• Dust to Dust, Swansea, SC
• *Greenhaven Preserve, Eastover, SC
• *Glendale Memorial Nature Preserve, Glendale, FL
• *Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery, Gainesville, FL
• *Ramsey Creek Preserve, Westminster, SC
• *Steelmantown Cemetery, Woodbine, NJ

* Only cemeteries with an asterisk (*) have been certified by the Green Burial Council.

For International Providers, click here.

updated January 23, 2013