Juneau Animal Control and Protection urges proper disposal of pets following failed cremation in public fire pit

Three legal options include burial on private property, cremation, or going to the dump 

An Animal Control and Protection truck responds to an incident in Switzer Village on Dec. 22, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

By Jasz Garrett

Juneau Independent

A dog burned in a fire pit last week was a case of an attempted home cremation, not animal cruelty, according to Juneau Animal Control and Protection.

The Juneau Police Department received a report that the remains of a burned dog were found in a fire pit near False Outer Point on Friday evening. The investigation was handed off to Juneau Animal Control.

Jordan Bales, director of Animal Control, said in an interview Thursday the investigation is ongoing. He said upset family members of the dog’s owner came forward with information, which is how it was determined to be an attempted cremation. 

“It did not die due to the burning, and it was an attempted home cremation,” he said. “It’s much different than burning a dog alive, which would be a felony, whereas this is more of an improper disposal of remains. Technically there wouldn’t be a violation if they had attempted it and then brought the remains back home, but leaving it in a bonfire is not proper disposal.” 

Bales stressed that while no animal cruelty occurred, this approach was still illegal. Improper disposal of remains is a minor offense citation with a $75 fine and $20 court fee per city code.

He said that while it is a minor offense, as a result, Animal Control pays fees for cremating the animal themselves. With cremation being expensive and the general cost of living increasing, he said improper disposals are becoming more common.

“People try and find creative, unique, memorable ways to get rid of their pet’s remains, and we’re seeing it more and more,” Bales said. “I want the public to know that these aren’t things that you can do. It’s a mess for the ecosystem and then we have to go collect the remains, and then we have to pay these fees ourselves out-of-pocket to do this if we can’t determine who the owner is.” 

He said improper disposals have been an ongoing issue during his eight years at Animal Control. Bales said it’s usually in the form of water burials, but he’s noticed increased burial sites in public areas. 

“Last week I found remains buried at Sandy Beach. A lot of people take their boats out, and they throw the remains overboard like a Viking burial. A lot of people assume that they can just do whatever with remains,” Bales said. “They can only bury it on private property, or cremate, or — the less appealing — bring it to the city dump. So those are the only three legal options they have.” 

Bales said most people don’t take those options and try to do something free of charge. He said there are impacts to the environment, especially if the animal was euthanized. 

“They have a poison essentially within their body. If anything were to eat those remains, that can pass along to that animal, and essentially kill it as well,” he explained.

He said anytime Animal Control collects a deceased animal and pays for the cremation process, fees quickly accrue.

“It's fairly expensive,” Bales said. “We have a verbal contract with the cremation services, as most of the other vets do, so we usually do it in a communal batch, which is multiple remains in one, with all the other vet clinics in town for any euthanasias they may have done throughout the week.”

He estimated Animal Control pays $2.50 a pound, “so, obviously, if it’s something like this burnt dog who weighs 60 pounds — at $2.50 a pound — it adds up quickly.”

He urged community members to follow the law when it’s time to say goodbye to a pet. Bales said Animal Control is still attempting to contact the dog’s owner.

• Contact Jasz Garrett at jasz@juneauindependent.com or (907) 723-9356.