[jmcenanly]

Having the body fall into a swiftly moving body of sediment filled water is the surest way to to keep it from being destroyed by scavengers. Sandstorms and volcanic ash eruptions will also suffice, as in this dog, buried in the famous eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in August 79 A.D.

Such speedy burials are infrequent, but given the immense stretches of time, at least some fossils will make it through.

[4yearlurker]

I believe that is a plaster dog. The plaster was poured into the cavity the dog left in the volcanic ash.

[MrB]

The percentage of found fossilized animals is really low compared to, say, clams.

The reason for this would be the fact that dead animals would tend to float and be consumed by water creatures within the year that the earth was covered.

Only those that were rapidly buried would be preserved.