Agency Considers Change in NY Pet Cemetery Rule

State cemetery regulators are considering a request to soften their recent ban on burying pet owners' ashes in animal cemeteries.

The Cemetery Board ruled in February that pet cemeteries were violating the law because only not-for-profit corporations can take in human remains.

The 115-year-old Hartsdale Pet Cemetery had asked the board to at least allow the burial of people who had pre-arranged to be interred with their cat, dog, goldfish or iguana.

For example, one man who died in April hasn't been buried, although his wife and two dogs are interred at Hartsdale.

The Cemetery Board, meeting Thursday in Albany, expressed sympathy with families in that situation. And it called for an investigation by the Division of Cemeteries in time for next month's meeting.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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