Key Takeaways
|
A new law was enacted in 2025 in Victoria that permits the bodies of pets to be buried together in government-approved cemeteries. This transition would suggest that society is beginning to regard pets as beloved family members. Over 70% of pet owners consider their pets part of the family, according to surveys by the RSPCA.
There is also strong public support for joint human-pet burials and memorial options, highlighted by the efforts of groups like Oscar’s Law. Additionally, interest in eco-friendly burial practices is rising. Services like Mornington Green’s living memorial tree program offer a meaningful and environmentally friendly way to honor both pets and people.
From Restriction to Recognition
Traditionally, pet burials with humans were prohibited in Victorian cemeteries as part of religious laws and legislation. Despite this, many pet owners discreetly buried their pets alongside family members or placed pet urns in coffins. Advocacy groups such as Oscar’s Law and MPs like Georgie Purcell championed legislation to align laws with public sentiments. Victoria followed New South Wales’ May 2025 reforms, both now explicitly legalizing human-pet joint burials.
| Aspect | Victoria (2025) | New South Wales (2025) |
| Legalization Year | 2025 | 2025 |
| Allowed Cemeteries | Government-approved cemeteries | Government-approved cemeteries |
| Burial Documentation | Required permits and interment records | Required permits and interment records |
| Private/Religious Restrictions | Possible additional restrictions | Possible additional restrictions |
| Public Burial Records | Mandatory cemetery burial registers | Mandatory cemetery burial registers |
This change heralds a return to ancient practices, where joint human-pet burials were common before religious doctrines forbade them. The reforms provide safe, regulated options for families wishing to remain united with their pets.
Legal Joint Burials in Victoria
The Domestic Animals Amendment (Rehoming Cats and Dogs and Other Matters) Bill 2025 (Vic) and amendments to the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003, supported by the Cemeteries and Crematoria Regulations 2025 (Vic), now permit joint human-pet burials in designated cemeteries.
Families must complete a funeral permit application including detailed interment details to cemetery managers. In terms of Cemetery Trust, these include accurate record keeping of position on plot, burial depth, and individual identity of all remains, allowing for respectful and legal management of graves. Any additional cemetery-specific or religious site regulations must be followed, some private cemeteries will have additional restrictions. Documentation and recording are critical to address the previous problem of improper or unrecorded pet interments that threaten disruption.
Read more: How To Bury A Dog In Australia: A Comprehensive Guide
Why Joint Burials Matter to Families?
Losing a pet can feel like losing a part of the family. They are companions who’ve been there through thick and thin, and saying goodbye is painful. Having a joint burial offers a special way for families to keep that connection alive. It’s not just about a final resting place; it’s about honouring a bond that shaped everyday life.
Consider these benefits:
- Emotional Comfort: Being buried together provides families with a tangible sense that their pet remains by their side, offering comfort during a difficult time.
- Recognition of Bond: Joint burial acknowledges pets as true family members, validating the grief and love shared.
- Shared Memories: It fosters opportunities for families to come together, share stories, and celebrate the life they shared with their pet.
- Eco-Friendly Legacy: Alternatives like memorial trees nourish the earth, symbolizing life’s ongoing cycle, a peaceful, sustainable way to remember.
This mix of heartfelt closeness and meaningful remembrance creates a lasting legacy, turning loss into an enduring tribute that grows with time. Joint burials give families a comforting place to visit, reflect, and heal a place where love truly lives on.
How Is Pet Burial Priced?
Pet burial and cremation costs vary widely depending on location and the type of service chosen. For example, communal pet cremation can cost from $40 to $200, while private cremation ranges from $100 to $450. Pet burial plots in dedicated cemeteries can cost between $300 and $1,500 or more, excluding additional fees like headstones or ceremonies. Overall, pet burial costs can range approximately from $1,500 up to $10,000 depending on services and location.
For those planning to be buried or memorialized alongside their pets, Mornington Green Living Legacy Garden offers a unique and meaningful memorial option called a Living Legacy Tree. When a pet’s ashes are interred in a Living Legacy Tree at the same time as their owner’s ashes, the pet’s interment is free. This makes it a special and cost-saving way to honor both pets and owners together in a beautiful, living memorial.
If You Do Not Want a Traditional Burial, You Can Plant a Living Legacy Tree with Your Pet
Not everyone feels comfortable with a traditional burial, and some families prefer their pets to have their own space. Mornington Green offers gentle, flexible options that allow you to honour your pet in a way that feels personal and meaningful.
You can plant a separate Living Legacy Tree for yourself and another for your pet, giving each life its own place within the landscape. If you prefer, you can share a single tree, where both sets of ashes rest together as one memorial. Some people choose a tree solely for their pet, even if they plan a different memorial for themselves. You can also add your pet’s ashes to your chosen tree at any time, which allows families to make decisions in their own time and when it feels right.
Each option reflects a different expression of love, offering families the freedom to shape a tribute that suits their bond. Whether you choose a shared memorial or individual trees, the experience becomes a heartfelt way to honour the connection you shared throughout life.
Read more: Put Your Cremated Pet With You In The Same Tree
How Mornington Green’s Living Memorial Tree Service Works
Mornington Green offers a thoughtful and science-backed approach to creating memorial trees. Their service combines a patented treatment with careful planting practices to ensure each memorial grows strong and healthy.
At the centre of the process is a liquid treatment that converts cremation ashes into plant-friendly nutrients. This step protects the tree and prepares the ashes so they can support new life. Once the ashes are ready, families begin the memorial by selecting a meaningful tree from a range of native and flowering species, each carrying its own symbolism and character.
- Choose a meaningful tree
Families select a species that resonates with them, whether it represents strength, renewal or a cherished memory. - Safe conversion of ashes
The patented treatment gently balances the ashes, transforming them into nutrients that encourage healthy tree growth. - Planting and connection
The treated ashes are placed at the roots of the tree, creating a natural link between the memorial and the life it represents. - A place to return to
As the tree matures in Mornington Green’s protected gardens, it becomes a gentle place for families to visit, honour milestones or simply spend time in reflection. - Inclusive and flexible memorials
Multiple family members and pets may be included in the same tree, or kept separate but close. This allows families to design their memorial in a way that feels right for them.
Mornington Green also provides a personalised plaque, a thoughtful planting ceremony and lifelong care for the tree, ensuring it continues to thrive. The result is a living tribute that grows with the seasons and offers a lasting sense of connection.
