Dog Gone It: Can You Be Buried With Your Pet Or Not?
Do dogs go to heaven? It's a question that many canine lovers wonder about. And, of course, it's a question that no one will know the answer to until it is finally their time to leave this earth. There is another question, though, that many dog lovers wonder about when it comes to death, and this question may actually be answerable. It's "when a person dies, can they be buried with the remains of a beloved pet?"
It all Depends
The answer to the question of whether you can or cannot be buried with your furry best friend depends greatly on where you live and on the cemetery. In some states, such as Florida, there is no law against being buried with your pet's ashes, as long as they are separated from those of the human's -- in an urn, for example. Pennsylvania has an unusual way of dealing with this issue. This state allows a cemetery to have three separate sections. One of these areas is specifically for humans; a second section is strictly for pets; while the third is where humans and their beloved furry family members can be buried together. Then there is New Jersey. In that state, you can only be buried with your pet if you are both buried in a pet cemetery.
The situation is also very fluid. For example, it was only recently that it became legal for pets to be interred with their humans in the state of New York. In 2016, Governor Mario Cuomo signed legislation that made the practice okay in the state's 1,900 not-for-profit cemeteries. There were, however, a number of caveats. First, the cemetery had to agree to accept cremated pet remains. Second, the law did not apply to cemeteries that were operated by religious associations.
What You Should Do
If you have a beloved pet that you would like to be buried with, consider talking to a funeral home now about your options. While the situation in your particular state may change -- as evidenced by what occurred in 2016 in New York -- it's important that you learn now what you need to do in order to spend eternity with your pet. For example, in most if not all states which allow humans to be buried with a pet, your furry friend's remains must be cremated. So when your pet dies, you will need to arrange for its cremation.
The funeral home should also be able to help you find the cemeteries in your area that will allow a pet to be buried with you. In some cases, the plot might be in a "normal" human cemetery. But in some states, you may have to find a pet cemetery that will accept your remains.
If the practice is not allowed in your state or there are no cemeteries in your area that will allow your furry friend to be interred with you, there is another option. You could always consider cremation for your own body. Then you could have your ashes and those of your pet's scattered in a place of your choosing, or you could also ask a family member if they could keep the two of you together in a place of honor.
To Eternity and Beyond
There is another way that some people have skirted any laws that may apply to pet burials with humans. Family members have been known to ask funeral directors to place an urn or other item containing pet ashes in with their loved one without telling them what it contains. It may not be honest, according to Elder Law Answers, but it is something that happens all the time.
For more information, contact a business such as Hitzeman Funeral Home, Ltd.
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