New York Allows Human Burials at Pet Cemeteries

New York unveiled a new regulation this month which allowspet cemeteries to accept the cremated remains of the owners who wish to beburied forever beside their beloved pets.

This regulation was prompted by the state’s refusal to allowWestchester’s Hartsdale Pet Cemetery to accept the ashes of a former NYPDofficer who wanted to be buried next to his three Maltese dogs.

The Department of State eventually relented and will allowowners to be buried with their dogs as long as the pet cemeteries don’t chargefees for human burials or advertise this service. 

See Nathan Place& Glenn Blain, Pet Cemeteries WillNow Accept Human Remains for Burial Alongside Beloved Family Pets, New YorkDaily News, Sept. 14, 2013.

Special thanks to Adam J. Hirsch (Professor of Law,University of San Diego School of Law) for bringing this article to myattention.