In case of death of the pet

These steps aren't easy, but they should be taken or initiated promptly. Perhaps there's a family member or friend who can do this for you while you're still overwhelmed by grief.

Any existing pet health insurance policy for your pet should be canceled promptly. This may result in the insurance for any remaining pets becoming more expensive because an existing discount has changed. However, many pet insurance companies have goodwill policies in place and will maintain the current premiums.

If your dog is covered by your personal liability insurance, you should notify the insurance company. If you have separate dog owner liability insurance, you must also notify the insurance company. If you don't have any other insured animals, you should cancel the insurance.

If you have registered your animal with Tasso or another registration service, you should notify them.

You also need to deregister your dog tax with the local authority. This registration usually takes effect at the end of the respective month. If you have other dogs, check the certificate to see if another dog receives "first dog" status, which means it will be subject to the lower tax rate.

You should notify the animal shelter or breeder if your pet came from there. They are very interested in the status of their former charges. They can sometimes also provide you with contacts for funeral directors or local bereavement groups.

You should put away the bed, toys, and water/food bowls unless other pets are using them. It's important for the grief process to remove these items from sight. You don't want to be constantly reminded of your loss when you see these things, at least initially. Try to fill any empty spaces that may appear. A plant or a rearranged piece of furniture can be helpful.

Ideally, you have already decided on your final resting place in advance, otherwise the decision about your final resting place must be made now at the latest:

• For small animals , burial in your own garden is possible. Check with your local municipality for the requirements, as there are local differences in handling. Generally, this type of burial is permitted for small animals (dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, etc.) as long as the garden is not located in a water or nature reserve. Only in Bremen is there a general ban on this type of burial. If you choose this type, you must ensure that the grave is covered with at least 50 cm of soil. Furthermore, you must be the owner of the property or obtain permission from the owner.
  
  
• There are a growing number of pet cemeteries that offer a dignified burial. Unlike in a home garden, however, there are regular fees involved. You can choose between cremation or burial. If you choose cremation, there is often the option of placing the urn in a columbarium instead of a burial.
  
  
• At the end of the service, a pet crematorium will give you a small urn containing the ashes. The pet undertaker often offers the option of creating special keepsakes using parts of the ashes. You can choose the urn yourself and take it home with you.
  
  
• For the sake of completeness, there is also the option of having the animal disposed of by a veterinarian. Please consider whether this is appropriate for your relationship with your pet.
  
  

A pet undertaker will pick up your pet from the veterinarian or your home and arrange everything necessary, depending on your decision. You must, of course, inform them of the appointment so they can take care of it. You should also inform the veterinarian that the pet will be picked up and who will be picking it up.

Be sure to ask the pet undertaker to make a paw print in plaster, or at least with an ink pad and paper. They should also clip any fur and give it to you later. Many pet undertakers offer this service, but if not, ask. These can be a great help as keepsakes during the grieving process later on.