Healthy dog euthanized for burial with owner, sparks debate
Debate? There’s debate to be sparked? Do me a favour. Read that again, but this time substitute the word “dog” for the word “child”. Then come back and explain to me why this is still ok.
Veterinarians and funeral homes in Virginia are rejecting the idea that pets should be buried with their owners after a recent case in which a healthy dog was euthanized so it could lie with her owner.
WWBT-TV in Richmond reports workers at one animal shelter tried to talk the executor of the estate out of the plan. They failed and the Shih Tzu mix named Emma was euthanized and cremated. The dog’s ashes were placed in an urn and given to the estate’s representative.
“We did suggest they could sign the dog over on numerous occasions, because it’s a dog we could easily find a home for and re-home,” said Carrie Jones, manager of Chesterfield Animal Services.
I remember Ann Adams showing me a similar story years ago about an owner and service dog and the owner had written it into her will. My reaction was still the same. What the hell? I think it was when Tans was new so I was a little busy, but I should have written it up. I don’t think I did.
That sounds sort of familiar now that you say it. But I can’t remember if you wrote about it or if we just talked about it.