Politics & Government

Walking Fido Through Eternity: Virginia Lawmaker Pushes to Allow People to be Buried with Pets

With so many people spending millions of dollars on their pets and calling themselves "parents" to their pups and kitty cats, we're not too surprised by this proposed legislation by a Virginia lawmaker.

Del. Israel D. O'Quinn, a Republican from Grayson, Va., has submitted a bill to Virginia's General Assembly that would allow pets and their owners to be buried together, the Washington Post reported Friday. The bill number is HB 588.

The idea started when a retired police officer asked a funeral service if it would be possible to be buried with his pets.

A Northern Virginia pet cremation company owner told Patch Friday she is not surprised by the proposed law. "A lot of people want their pet cremated," so they can take the pet's ashes with them if they move from the DC area. She said she's heard of people asking that their pet's ashes be buried with them.

Lawmaker O'Quinn explains that his proposal would allow people and their pets to be buried adjacent to each other, and not in the same casket; also, any human-pet burial ground would be separate from a "regular" cemetery.

In Falls Church, Noah's Ark Pet Cemetery, 2726 Hollywood Road, is adjacent to National Memorial Park, a human cemetery. "We do occasionally get a request for someone's pet's cremated remains to be interned with them," a spokeswoman from company headquarters in Houston told Patch.

The Washington Post article notes that the funeral industry could use a boost: Cremations are up 20 percent to 42 percent, since 1996. Cremation is a cheaper option than burial, the article notes.

O'Quinn's proposal awaits a vote in the House of Delegates' General Laws Committee.

What do you think about the proposed law? Would you want to be buried with your pet?

 


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