Preparing in buddy's old age

[Buddyakabatman]

Hi I'm Keeley and I'm new here

My hamster is a beautiful golden Syrian boy called buddy and is over a year old and now he's starting to get older I want to be ready for when the worst happens.
It seems grim talking about it but I don't want to be forced to bury him somewhere inappropriate.
I think that some people don't understand that 'yeah I'm an adult' But i know it will be hard saying goodbye to little buddy.

Here's the thing, I always assumed I'd bury him but I've found out that we have a huge fox problem and a shallow garden. I live far away from my relatives so can't use their garden and cremation of hamsters is £85 which could buy him a lot of toys and treats while he is alive to enjoy it rather than something purely for my consience which seems wasteful.

If I can find a small locked wooden box and bury it deep as possible will this keep little one safe from foxes. I want him to decompose so that if the garden got dug up no one would disturb him and I worry that this will make it not possible. What about putting him into soil inside a box? I don't know how these things work.

Sorry if this has upset anyone I'm trying not to be too graphic.

Does anyone have any suggestions? On locked boxes or solutions.

Thanks
Keeley
X

[heather7542]

Although I don't have a fox problem, in the past I have put large rocks on top of where I bury my hamsters so the cats in the neighborhood don't get to them. You could also put him in a shoebox, and tape it shut if you want the extra peace of mind.

[Cinnamon Bear]

If you animal is PTS they cremate the bodies right there at the SPCA. I just had to do this so I know. If the animal dies of old age, I think I could pay a small fee and have them cremated at the SPCA as well. I worry about this if a pet passes away in the winter when the ground is frozen. Hope nothing happens this winter!

[cypher]

I can understand your concern, I get foxes & lots of other wild life & neighbours cats (even the odd dog gets in too) all of which can & do dig in my garden so I always put some kind of mesh or something with metal bars (I've used all sorts like bits cut from old play pens & shelves from old defunct mini greenhouses) over the grave & then just scatter some soil over the top so it doesn't look horrible, you can always put some stones or a memorial on top of that to be extra safe.
I've buried hamsters in wooden houses, fleece hammocks & even a hammock inside a wheel (some people think I'm mad but I like them to have some of their favourite things with them!)
None of mine have ever been disturbed so far, I have a fair size memorial plot now with the hams I've had over the years & nothing seems to bother with it when I take those precautions.

[Amber_x]

We have a fox problem too and sadly my previous hammy was dug up by one She was buried in a cardboard box covered in wrapping paper but it didn't protect her from the foxes as we found shreds of wrapping paper around the grave. One thing you could do is bury him in a plant pot - this way you can cover the top with stones, and you could also take him with you if you move. However, if you still want to bury him in the ground I think that cypher's method of using some form of mesh is probably your best bet.

[InkyPen]

We're going to have this problem too one day We have no garden and no relatives nearby, and putting a pet in the bin seems rather callous. We'll probably end up burying her in the park in the dead of night or something :S

[flowerfairy]

A plant pot with a nice flower or herb planted over them sounds lovely.