Florida Passes Legislation Allowing Humans to Be Buried With Their Pets

Florida passed a piece of legislation that allows humans to be buried with their pets. Previously, funeral homes were prohibited from handling animal remains and ashes of humans and animals could not be co-mingled.

At the Best Friends Animal Hospital at Gateway, office manager, Rainy Hoy, said about half of their clients take home their pet’s ashes. “They just want to keep them. They’re like family to them,” Hoy said.

Fort Myers resident Joe Castrogiovanni wouldn’t consider euthanizing his 2-year-old dog Barkley to put him in the casket, but he would consider saving Barkley’s ashes.

“It may be a little weird, but he’s like the son I never had,” Castrogiovanni said.

Jay O’Shaughnessy, funeral director for Anderson Funeral Home of Fort Myers with more than 30 years’ experience, said he has received requests from clients wanting their loved ones to be buried with remains of their pet.

“It’s not a real new deal. We’ve done stranger things than that,” he said. “It’s always the family’s idea.” Complete article here.

He’s right, it’s not unusual. Urngarden has received several requests for urns large enough to contain the pet owner and the ashes of their cats or dogs. Or couples that have left instructions for their children to bury their ashes in the back yard with the family pets. (source)

Pet Cremation and Pet Urns... There are some great choices out there!

Pet Cremation and Urns can be hard to find. Afterall, most people love their animals as much as any human... I have had quite a few people ask me about some good places to go online to find either something unusual, something affordable or something nice that they find for their pets remains... So here goes:

Everlasting Memories: You can have your pets hair or ashes placed inside a locket or piece of jewelry (pretty neat). They also have the traditional urns, memorial rocks and plaques.

One of my favorite sites: Angel Ashes -- They have really cool bookends (to hold your pets ashes) (see pic) They have traditional box urns, figurines and photo urns... I particularly like the angel urn (see pic)

Pet Loss Products is another great site. They also offer Pet Loss Grief help. There is also info on cloning, grief, loss, euthenasia ... and other things you really don't want to hear but have too!

Huggable Urns.... Wish I had thought of this ....

I ran across Huggable Urns (they offer a most unique way to keep your loved one close to your heart) You can actually hug the urn.... you have to see the pictures to believe it!

The founder came up with the huggable urn concept because she felt that society really doesn't deal well with the whole dying process" she says, " it can make it very hard for people who are grieving, when they are forcibly separated from the remains of their loved one. When my own father died, his ashes were put into a plastic urn which was

stored in my mothers closet. All I wanted to do was hold him again,but the urn was hard and impersonal."Alexandra's search for a way to keep her father near and able to hug and feel close to him led her to develop these unique urns which are extremely soft and comforting to the touch, perfect for holding, and discreet and stylish enough to keep visible in the home without causing discomfort or embarrassment to visitors."I just love to sit and hold my father" she says. "Even though I know that he as moved on, I feel as if he is still watching over me in his own way. It gives me great comfort to know he is physically close and a part of my life, instead of being hidden away in a closet or scattered somewhere."

"Huggable Urns has become Alexandra's life's passion. She hopes that Huggable Urns will help break down the mystery and fear surrounding the natural process of death and grieving. Anything which makes it easier and can give a little comfort when you need it most, has to be a good thing!

And I have to agree..... what a cool concept.