A perfectly healthy dog was euthanized because of her owner’s dying wish to be buried with her beloved pet, seemingly taking the whole “man’s best friend” thing a bit too far.
According to reports, Emma (above), a Shih Tzu mix, was taken to the Chesterfield County Animal Shelter in Chesterfield, Virginia on March 8 after her unidentified owner was found dead in her home early that day.
The pooch stayed at the shelter for two weeks, during which time officials got in contact with the executor of the dead woman’s estate and suggested to sign over the animal to the shelter so they could find it a new home.
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Unfortunately, Emma’s now-deceased owner had other plans, per her last will and testament: that the dog be euthanized and laid to rest with her.
A spokeswoman for the Chesterfield County Police confirmed that the executor of the owner’s estate came to the shelter on March 22 to get the dog. Employees once again pleaded to have the pet signed over and be adopted out, but the executor declined.
Emma was then taken to a local veterinarian, where she was euthanized. From there, her remains were cremated at a pet cremation center in Richmond, Virgina, placed in an urn, and returned to the rep of the woman’s property.
It’s unclear if Emma ended up being laid to rest with her owner — but she wouldn’t be the first.
In 2014, the state of Virginia enacted a law making it legal for cemetery companies to have a section where pet remains can be buried alongside the remains of their owner.
There are a few caveats to this: cemeteries have to set aside a clearly marked plot of land to create this human/pet cemetery hybrid, and are not allowed to bury a pet in the same grave, crypt, or niche as a human. Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey have similar laws.
Similarly, a handful of states allow cremated human remains to be buried in pet cemeteries, while others allow pets to be buried with human remains in a family plot or in an adjacent section for animals. Others are strictly against the practice.
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As for putting down a healthy animal, there’s no legal issue in Virginia because pets are considered property. But there’s still a huge moral issue that might make it hard to find a vet who’s willing to do the deed.
Dr. Kenny Lucas with the Shady Grove Animal Clinic told WWBT he would never do such a thing, explaining:
“Whenever we’re faced with a euthanasia situation, it’s a very emotional situation – and beyond everything we talk about – that we need to do ethically, and we’ve taken an oath to do. Also it’s something we take home too. It weighs on us as professionals.”
Apparently, some vets don’t take these oaths too seriously.
[Image via WWBT]
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