When a beloved animal dies, time can feel strange. Days blur together, but one question may stand out sharply: what to do with ashes. If you chose or are considering cremation, you might be holding a temporary container from the vet or a small box from a pet cremation provider and wondering whether scattering pet ashes is the right next step, or whether you should keep some ashes close in pet urns for ashes, keepsake urns, or cremation jewelry.
This guide is meant to slow that decision down. It will walk through how families think about location, what legal and environmental guidelines might apply, and simple ways to shape a scattering into a gentle, realistic ceremony. Along the way, it will connect you to options on Funeral.com—such as pet cremation urns, small cremation urns, and cremation necklaces—so that you can combine symbolism with practicality in a way that fits your life.
Why cremation and scattering are so common for pets now
In the United States, cremation has become the most common choice for human aftercare, and that wider trend often shapes how we think about pets as well. The National Funeral Directors Association reports that the U.S. cremation rate is projected to be about 63.4% in 2025, while burial continues to decline; by 2045, cremation is expected to account for more than 80% of dispositions nationwide. The Cremation Association of North America similarly notes that the U.S. cremation rate reached 61.8% in 2024 and is expected to keep rising over the next decade.
On the pet side, the picture is similar. Pet ownership is widespread—about two-thirds of U.S. households share life with at least one animal. Within the pet funeral space, cremation is by far the dominant service; industry reports estimate that cremation accounts for a large majority of pet funeral services in North America. That means many families, like yours, end up with the same practical and emotional question: once we receive the ashes back, what happens next?
Some people feel immediately drawn to keeping ashes at home, building a small shelf or corner of a bookcase with a framed photo and one of Funeral.com’s pet cremation urns for ashes or small pet cremation urns for ashes. These collections offer designs ranging from simple wood boxes to figurine urns that resemble your dog or cat. Others feel strongly that the ashes should return to a place that feels free, natural, or symbolic—an open field, a favorite beach, the backyard under a favorite tree. For many, scattering pet ashes is less about “letting go” and more about placing that love back into a landscape where their companion felt most alive.
Legal and environmental guidelines to consider first
Before you decide where to scatter, it helps to understand the basic rules. These are not meant to scare you; they simply give you a framework, so that whatever you choose feels both emotionally right and legally respectful.
For most private backyards that you own, scattering ashes is generally permitted, though it is still wise to think about future moves and how you will feel if you someday live elsewhere. Public land, such as city parks or state and national parks, often has specific rules. Many parks allow scattering of cremated remains only with a permit, in certain areas, or with restrictions on group size and markers. A quick call or a look at the park’s website can clarify what is allowed in your area.
If you are considering water burial or scattering in the ocean, there may be additional rules. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency regulates burial at sea and requires that cremated remains be placed at least three nautical miles from shore for ocean scatterings, with a brief report filed afterward. These federal rules were written with human remains in mind, and local authorities may treat pet ashes differently—some coastal areas specifically restrict scattering pet remains in the ocean, while others apply the same standards to both. Because the details vary, the safest path is to check both federal guidance and your state’s or municipality’s rules before planning a sea scattering.
Rivers, lakes, and other inland waterways are often regulated at the state or local level. Some jurisdictions allow scattering as long as you use biodegradable containers and avoid bridges, docks, or heavily trafficked public areas; others require written permission for any scattering in or near water. In general, it is wise to:
- Ask explicitly whether pet ashes are included in local scattering rules.
- Confirm whether a permit or written permission is needed for the specific site.
- Use biodegradable materials if you will be near water or sensitive ecosystems.
If all of this feels like a lot, you do not have to figure it out alone. Funeral homes, pet cremation providers, and even your veterinarian may know local practices. Funeral.com’s broader pieces—like Cremation FAQs: Honest Answers to the Questions Families Ask Most and How Much Does Cremation Cost? Average Prices and Budget-Friendly Options—can help you understand the regulatory and cost landscape as part of your larger funeral planning decisions.
Choosing a meaningful place to scatter your pet’s ashes
Once you know what is allowed, the more tender question emerges: where should this happen?
Some families choose everyday places that hold specific memories: a corner of the backyard where a dog always napped in the sun, the patch of garden a cat loved to patrol, or the window-side planter where a rabbit perched to watch the world. These sites are private, easy to visit, and woven into your daily routines.
Others lean toward natural spaces: wooded trails, meadows, quiet beaches, or overlooks where they used to walk together. If the rules allow scattering, these locations can feel spacious and peaceful, especially if your pet loved being outdoors. Funeral.com’s article Understanding What Happens During a Water Burial Ceremony offers a helpful look at how water-based rituals work and how families adapt them, even when the ceremony is for a pet rather than a person.
You might also choose a place connected with your own support network rather than the pet’s habits—for example, a parent’s garden where the whole family gathers, or a friend’s rural property where pets are always welcome. In that case, the meaning is partly about your pet and partly about who will be around you in years to come when you want to remember.
If several people are involved, it can help to talk openly about what each person needs. One person might crave a sense of “release” in nature, while another might want to keep some ashes nearby in a visible urn. Remember that this does not have to be an all-or-nothing choice; you can scatter part of the ashes and keep a portion in small cremation urns, pet keepsake cremation urns for ashes, or cremation jewelry that stays with a particular family member.
Preparing the ashes, urn, and container
Most families receive pet ashes in a basic container from their vet or cremation provider. Before the ceremony, you can decide whether to use that container, transfer the ashes into a more decorative scattering urn, or move a portion into a permanent pet urn or keepsake urn for home display.
If you plan to scatter only part of the ashes, it can be helpful to first transfer the amount you want to keep into a dedicated urn from Funeral.com’s collections—such as Pet Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes or Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes—and then use the remaining portion for scattering. This simple step often reassures people that they will not accidentally scatter more than they intended in the moment.
For the scattering itself, some families prefer a simple approach: opening the container and letting ashes fall directly from it. Others choose a purpose-built scattering urn that is designed to pour more gently and reduce windback. Collections like Small Cremation Urns for Ashes can sometimes serve both roles—holding a symbolic amount long-term while still being easy to open in a meaningful place.
Whatever you choose, consider the practical details: clothing that you do not mind if a little dust lands on, tissues or a small towel, and perhaps a discreet container or bag in case you decide not to scatter everything at once. If traveling with ashes, keep them in your hand luggage rather than checked bags and, if flying, check airline and TSA guidelines in advance.
Simple words, gestures, and ways to involve others
Many people feel pressure to make a scattering ceremony “perfect,” as if they must deliver a polished eulogy or choreograph every moment. In reality, simple words and gestures are often the most comforting.
You might begin with a brief memory—“You always ran ahead on this trail, then turned back to make sure we were still coming”—or a line that names what your pet meant: “You were our first baby,” “You got us through the hardest year,” “You made this house feel like home.” If faith or spirituality matters to you, a short prayer or blessing can be included, but it is not required for the moment to be meaningful.
If children or friends are present, you can invite them to share one sentence each, or to place a flower, small stone, or paw-print token in the scattering spot. Funeral.com’s article Pet Cremation: A Practical & Emotional Guide for Families includes gentle ideas for involving different family members in decisions around ashes, including kids who may not have the words to express their grief but still want to “do something” for their pet.
It can also help to name what is happening in simple language: “We are scattering your ashes in this place because you loved it,” or “We are letting this part of you return to the earth, but we will always carry you with us.” If emotions run high—tears, silence, even laughter at a funny memory—that is not a failure of the ceremony. It is the ceremony.
When you only want to scatter some of the ashes
For many families, the most comfortable option is “both/and” rather than “either/or.” You might scatter a portion of the ashes in a meaningful outdoor place and keep the rest close through cremation urns, small cremation urns, or wearable cremation jewelry.
Some people like the idea of a visible home memorial, perhaps a photo of your pet beside one of Funeral.com’s Pet Figurine Cremation Urns for Ashes or a simple wooden box from the Cremation Urns for Ashes collection. Others prefer something more discreet, such as cremation necklaces or bracelets from Cremation Necklaces for Ashes and Cremation Bracelets, which hold a symbolic pinch of remains out of sight but close to the body. Funeral.com’s guide Cremation Jewelry 101: What It Is, How It’s Made, and Who It’s Right For goes deeper into how these tiny wearable urns work.
If you are unsure how much to scatter, you can start small. Keep most of the ashes in a secure container and take only a small amount to your chosen location. If, in the moment, you feel ready to scatter more, you can. If you do not, you can return another day, or decide that the remaining ashes will stay at home or be placed in one of Funeral.com’s keepsake urns. The Journal article A Piece of Them, Always With You: Why Families Choose Keepsake Urns explores how dividing ashes into multiple small vessels can help relatives grieve in ways that suit their own personalities and comfort levels.
There is also no rule that says scattering must happen quickly. If you need months or even years before you feel ready, it is completely acceptable to keep ashes at home in a temporary box or a permanent urn while you think. Funeral.com’s resource Keeping Ashes at Home: How to Do It Safely, Respectfully, and Legally offers practical advice on placement, safety, and family conversations if that is where you are right now.
Fitting scattering into the bigger picture of funeral planning
Even when the death involves a pet rather than a person, you are still making a series of decisions that feel very similar to human funeral planning: choosing between burial and cremation, asking how much does cremation cost, deciding whether to have a ceremony, and figuring out what to do with the ashes afterward. Pieces like Cremation Urns, Pet Urns, and Cremation Jewelry: A Gentle Guide to Keeping Ashes Close can help you see scattering as one part of a continuum of options rather than the only moment that matters.
Some families discover that planning a pet’s scattering gives them practice and confidence for future human arrangements. Others realize the opposite—that going through a human loss helps them approach a pet’s scattering with clarity about their values. Wherever you are on that path, you are allowed to design something small, simple, and deeply personal. You do not have to “perform” grief for anyone, online or off; you only have to choose steps that feel manageable for you and respectful toward the animal you loved.
Moving forward
If you are holding a container of ashes right now, you are already doing something brave: you are staying with a practical task in the middle of heartbreak. Whether you ultimately choose scattering pet ashes in a favorite place, keeping ashes at home in one of Funeral.com’s pet urns for ashes, or dividing remains between keepsake urns, cremation jewelry, and a single scattering ceremony, there is room for both symbolism and practicality in your decisions.
When you are ready to keep reading or planning, you can explore Funeral.com’s collections of cremation urns for ashes, pet cremation urns, small cremation urns, and cremation necklaces, or browse The Journal’s guides to scattering, water burial, and cremation costs. Each resource is there to quietly support you while you decide what comes next.
