The Pet Scattering Ground

The Pet Scattering Ground is available to anyone for scattering the cremains of pets. Ashes may be scattered at any time. A special liturgy is said during the annual Blessing of the Animals in October.

Headstones are not allowed in the Pet Scattering Ground, but some people have written their pet's name on a stone and placed it in the Scattering Ground. There is also a Pet Book of Remembrance with a separate page for each pet whose ashes have been placed in the Scattering Ground.

Liturgy for the Scattering of Pet Cremains

Officiant         Let us sing to the Lord a new song;
People             a song for all the creatures of the earth.
Officiant         Let us rejoice in the goodness of God
People             shown in the beauty of all things.

A Reading from the Revelation to John                                                                           

I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. And he shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold I make all things new. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  (21:1, 4-5a, 6)

The Officiant continues

Let us pray:
 
Lord God, you have made all living things, and you are even more wonderful than the things you have made. We thank you for giving us our pets who are our friends and who give us so much joy in life. We cherish the pets we have now, and we remember the pets we have loved and lost. May we always be reminded of the joy they have given to us. May we likewise realize that as our pets trust us to take care of them, so we should trust you to take care of us, and in our taking care of them we share in your love for all your creatures. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Lord God, create within us a spirit of gratitude for the life of [each person offers the name(s) of their pets who have died] who lived among us and gave us freely of their love. Amen.

                                                              - taken from
The Book of Common Prayer and
                                          Animal Rites: Liturgies of Animal Care, by Andrew Linzey.