I think this was wrong

[Platapus]

https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/22/us/do...rnd/index.html


A healthy dog was euthanized so it could be buried with its owner

Emma, a healthy Shih Tzu mix, was euthanized to fulfill her late owner's dying wish that the dog be put down -- and then laid to rest with her. The dog arrived at the Chesterfield County Animal Shelter in Chesterfield, Virginia, on March 8 after her owner's death, where she stayed for two weeks. During that time, the shelter was in contact with the executor of the dead woman's estate trying to keep the dog alive.
"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 told CNN affiliate WWBT.


On March 22, the executor of the owner's estate came to the shelter to get the dog, a spokeswoman for the Chesterfield County Police told CNN. The shelter again offered to have the dog signed over and be adopted out, but the executor declined.



Emma was then taken to a local veterinarian, euthanized and taken to a pet cremation center in Richmond, Virginia, WWBT reported. Her ashes were placed in an urn and returned to the representative of the woman's estate.


Cemeteries in the US are generally regulated by state law, so where you live determines whether it's legal to be buried with your pet.
In 2014, Virginia enacted a law to make that legal. It allows a cemetery company to have a section devoted to human remains and the pets of the deceased humans.



However, cemeteries must set aside a clearly marked part of the property to create sections where pets and humans are buried together, and no pet may be buried in the same grave, crypt or niche as a human.



Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey have similar laws.



A handful of states allow humans to be cremated then have their ashes buried in pet cemeteries. Others allow pets to be buried with human remains in a family plot or in an adjacent section for animals. Others forbid it entirely.



In Virginia, licensed veterinarians, certified euthanasia technicians, animal control officers and human investigators are all allowed to perform euthanasia, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
But finding a veterinarian who would put down a healthy pet could be challenging. While it's not a legal issue -- pets are considered personal property -- it's certainly a moral one.


Dr. Kenny Lucas with the Shady Grove Animal Clinic said he wouldn't do it.
"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," he told WWBT. "Also it's something we take home too. It weighs on us as professionals."

The only time this would be appropriate, in my opinion, is if the dog is also very old/sick and would normally be put down.


I think this woman was selfish and I wished her will would have been challenged. There are limits on what a will can mandate. Killing of a healthy companion should be one of those limits.

[Buddahaid]

Wrong yes, and deplorable. Maybe there's a special place for the dog owner that thinks they are are so special they must have their dog with them in hell. Ego above life.

[Sean C]

This makes me angry and sad. I seriously would have taken the dog and provided it a good life until it was time, then complied with the owner's wishes and have it buried with her. I'm sure there are plenty of other people out there that would have done the same.


I agree that this was an extremely selfish act. Sometimes I hope there is an afterlife in which people are granted the common sense and decency they lacked in their actual life. That way, they can realize what harm they did to those around them.


This, to me, would be the true definition of hell.

[em2nought]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyfriars_Bobby

[HunterICX]

Just sick

If I'm to be gone but still have healthy pets I'd wish that they find a loving home for them to spend the rest of their lives. I woudn't even consider that they'd be offed so they can be burried with me that's just revolting and not showing any affection for the pet's life.

[STEED]

Just wrong on all levels.

[Jimbuna]

Terrible

[BossMark]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Terrible

Absolutely...

[u crank]

I think it shows that there are no absolutes in life. Not everyone who gets behind the wheel of a car is a good driver. Not every pet owner is a kind person.

Hopefully the animal rights people will get on this and lobby for a law protecting innocent animals like this one.