The key facts
- The fine for burying a pet without authorization is 4,000 to 5,000 rubles under Part 3 of Article 10.8 of the Administrative Offenses Code
- Animal remains are classified as biological waste under the law 'On Veterinary Medicine', and a Ministry of Agriculture decree prohibits burying them in the ground
- The legal option is cremation through a veterinary clinic; Moscow and St. Petersburg have official pet cemeteries
Burying a pet in the yard is a violation, not a private matter for the owner
Burying a deceased pet on a dacha plot, in the yard, in a park or in the forest is a violation punishable by a fine of 4,000 to 5,000 rubles. Lawyer Yaroslav Ostapenko told the outlet Abzats.
Why the law prohibits burying animals
According to the lawyer, animal remains are classified as biological waste under the law 'On Veterinary Medicine', and a decree of the Ministry of Agriculture directly prohibits burying pets in the ground. Liability is established by Part 3 of Article 10.8 of the Administrative Offenses Code, which penalizes violations of veterinary and sanitary rules for the collection, disposal and destruction of biological waste; the mere fact of the violation is enough for a fine. Another 'simple' option is also prohibited — throwing the pet's body into a garbage container near a residential building: this is also a violation.
What can be done legally
After a pet's death, the lawyer recommends that owners contact the State Veterinary Service: the animal can be sent for cremation through a veterinary clinic or a specialized organization. In Moscow and St. Petersburg there are official pet cemeteries whose services allow the procedure to be carried out in full compliance with all regulations.
Context: the market for pet funeral services is growing
Life.ru previously reported that Russians have begun spending up to 3.8 million rubles on cryogenic freezing of deceased pets. The cost of the service is calculated based on the animal's weight, so it can be used by owners of all kinds of pets — from dogs to pigeons and fish. It was also proposed in Russia to increase fines for abandoned pets to 30,000 rubles.
