New Law Allows Pets To Be Buried Alongside Their Humans At Cemeteries

BY GOODFULLNESS

Options used to be limited for people who wanted to be buried with their fur babies. Basically their only choice was to be buried in a pet cemetery if that’s what they wanted. 

But if people can be buried at a pet cemetery, than why can’t pets be buried at a human cemetery? 

It’s a question that one state is answering with a new law.

New York is changing up the rules when it comes to pets and where they’re allowed to be buried. They passed a law that allows people to be buried alongside their pets if they so choose, in a human cemetery. And the law isn’t just limited to dogs and cats. It allows for a range of different animals to be buried with their owners.

It’s a decision that many pet owners are applauding, as their fur babies are part of their family. There are some exemptions to the law, of course. Religious cemeteries don’t have to comply with this new law, and individual cemeteries can still choose to refuse to bury any pets if they so please.

A pet cemetery in Westchester County stated that, every year, at least five people choose to be buried with their pets in their cemetary, rather than being apart from them in a human cemetery. It’s a way for them to stay close to their loved ones even after they’re gone.

New York is finally allowing pet owners to rest in peace next to the living creatures who provided so much comfort, companionship, and happiness during their time on earth. After all, it doesn’t quite make sense that humans could be buried in pet cemeteries, but not vice versa. 

Sometimes family is who we choose, not who we’re blood-related to — and that applies to our pets too. Pets are family. Why make such a distinct separation between what constitutes as family?

With New York leading the way, hopefully other states will fall in line and create similar laws.

For some people who wish to be buried with their pets, they have to resort to somehow sneaking them into the cemetery. This can be dangerous for the friends or family members who are asked to do this after the pet owner has passed away.

But now, in New York at least, there doesn’t have to be any slinking around in a cemetery, performing secret burials for loved ones. You and your pet can be together forever, if you want to!

Again, each cemetery must agree to let you be buried with your pet — it’s their right to opt out. However, for people whose pets are family, it’s certainly a step forward.

New laws seem to crop up all the time, and they can be confusing — but this is one law that many of us understand the importance of.

Share this information with the animal lovers in your life who want to be buried with their pet family. 

This story originally appeared at Goodfullness.