Should I exhume the body?

Originally Posted by lunasmom

If you do exhume the body, would you consider what is left to cremate? Then you don't have to worry about possibly digging up another body in a few years...we did it to our family dog.

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Originally Posted by MargeCat

Perhaps, if you can salvage her remains, you could her her cremated? Then you could have her ashes in a permanent container, and always be able to have to go with you.

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I was thinking the same thing. If you have the remains cremated, she will always be with you - whatever home you are in.

We moved in April and had to do a lot of soul searching about leaving the babies behind (3 dogs and 3 cats). We had planted catnip over the cats which had naturalized and trees over the dogs. We opted to remember them as they were and simply took pictures of their final resting place. We have had 2 of our soul mate cats cremated and do have their urns with us. I like the suggestion that if you do exhume the remains, that you cremate so that you don't need to make this decision in the future.

It is clearly a personal choice. I personally don't regret leaving them behind as their spirit lives on in us.

I would do whatever my heart led me to do, everyone here has given wonderful opinions too.

I would let someone else dig up her remains too, that would be a bad memory to hafta remember.

Originally Posted by theimp98

As much you you love that kitty. i would let Wilde RIP. Its her spirit that matter now not the body.

But really like others have said, it is up to you in what you feel good with

take care
bruce

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There are ferns around her grave, and some kind of oleander-type bush has sprung up, and a little holly plant has started growing there, too. Maybe I'll take three plants when we move!

Everyone's thoughts are really helping me work through this.

I know it would be emotionally difficult, but strange as it sounds, I believe I would be glad to see her bones...

Cheers, from
SwampWitch

Go with your heart, though if you choose to leave your baby remember that your precious baby will always be in your heart, soul and mind and nobody but nobody can take that away from you ever

I had the same feelings you have. How I have resolved my problem is that I have planted a lilac bush on one grave, and a lavendar bush on another. That way there little remains will hopefully be protected. They are in the spirit world and will follow you in spirit where ever you go.

Not much to add but I hope you find peace in what ever you decide

There are two cats buried under our forsythia, Shasta and Gryphon, and when we move from here -- not tomorrow, but the day will come -- it is my intention to get urns and put some of the earth in them. Their bodies will be long since gone, certainly not recognizable, and are in a place that was special to them. As long as I can take with me some of the earth they have nourished, I will have the tangible memento I need (and they can join their brother Nibs who was cremated).

If it were me I would at least try to take her with me. However, if I was not able to dig her up or find her I would let the new people know she is there just so they don't dig her up by suprise when they are putting in a garden or pool.
I am so attached to our pet cemetary, all of our lost pets have their own marker stones and flowers planted all around them. There are no plans for my parents moving from the home and after they are gone my brother plans to live there.
These are my feelings. But if you feel like your baby is at home in her place. That is the past place she lived, she really will have no attachment to a new house you live in. Also, our pets are not bones in the ground they are the love in our hearts. They live with us always. To this day when I am sleeping somtimes I feel another couple cats on my bed. (My departed Smokey and Sam) Somtimes I turn my head fast and I swear I see my dog Storm laying on the carpet by my bedroom door.

I have lived in this house since 1971...there are several guniea pigs, goldfish, hamsters, birds, Sheba my dog for 13 1/2 years, Kacee my dog from 14 1/2 years and my darling cat Mitzee who was not even two when she died. I would have to excavate the whole yard. I remember each time we buried one of our pets and the sadness that went with it. We planted a tree or a flower over each one of them. If we ever sell our house I will have to tell the new owners just in case they start digging and they wonder about all the remains.
I dont know what to tell someone else , whether to take the remains or leave them in rest? I just know they are all in my memories, and that is where they will always be for me. I think its already been said, you must do what you feel is right. I agree.

I think that it's obviously something that means a very great deal to you (understandably!) and if I were in your shoes I would most definitely want to take her with me.

My sweet Coco is buried in Mum and Dad's backyard - but we had her cremated so she's actually in an urn with a little headstone and resting under her favourite tree. She will be easy to take anywhere should Mum and Dad ever move - and there's no way we'd leave her behind.

I think that you should take her - besides, if it's your forever home you won't need to do it again, and you can place her in a box or something more solid this time so that should anything ever come up again, you'll have an easier way to retrieve her remains.