(Warning: Might be sensitive) Buried dog in the back yard removal?

How long does it take for a dog's body to become non-toxic (smelly, gross etc) or just bones, if buried in the backyard?

I don't know if she put it in a bag, box, bare, I know nothing.

Honestly I'm not 100% its a dog but I have my suspicions.

There's a medium size mound with large pepples (not huge stones) covering it. At first when we moved in, I remember she had a windmill on it so I thought it was decorative.

I've lived here two years and I'm slowly cleaning up the yard to our tastes and I was going to just toss out the rocks when I noticed there was a dirt mound VERY close to the surface of those rocks so it wasn't a pile of rocks but rocks on a mound.

Then other facts. I have a doggie door but she had no doggie when we moved in. Dog stains on the carpet we removed. No doggie smell when we moved in but photos here and there of her and her dog.

Can I/Should I dig up the mound? Is it safe?

Should I call her son (I know he's a home inspector - she left his advertisement on our fridge) and ask politely.. we have no way of getting a hold of her.

I am sorry. I don't mean to be rude but I don't want a dead dog in my back yard.

Message edited 4/5/2012 11:02:23 AM.

Re: (Warning: Might be sensitive) Buried dog in the back yard removal?

Yes call the son and find out. I think it's illegal to bury anything in the yard.

Re: (Warning: Might be sensitive) Buried dog in the back yard removal?

uummm you can try and call him but I think there is only one way of really knowing
sorry

it is illegal to bury an animal in the yard but I think more people do it then not and if they did they should have gone much deeper!

Message edited 4/5/2012 11:28:59 AM.

Re: (Warning: Might be sensitive) Buried dog in the back yard removal?

We live on a rock haha Its called Limestone. I am literally next to a quarry. When I moved from San Antonio years ago no one lived out here. Now it’s a booming area of new communities and homes.

She could NOT dig any further down even if she wanted to. She actually picked the WORST spot in a way. It is good because its at the back of the yard in a sectioned off area but its bad as I know from our plot details that she put it right over the electrical line passage. I can see it clearly drawn on my info .. no digging. Shallow tree root systems only. Which may explain why she didn’t dig deeper (fear). The mound is about 6inch high at its peak.

I feel bad in away because I’m stupid and keep thinking… “Aw, but that was his back yard, he played, jumped and was happy and she memorialized him with leaving him in his happy place. What kind of person am I to dig him up and disturb his peace?”

Then I see the mound and think ‘yuck’

Re: (Warning: Might be sensitive) Buried dog in the back yard removal?

So what did you end up doing? Curious!