Humans buried with pets? NY may soon allow it

ALBANY - New York lawmakers this week approved a measure allowing people to be buried with their beloved pets.

The state Assembly voted Wednesday in favor of a bill to allow human cemeteries to grant permission for people to be buried with the cremated remains of their pet.

The Senate voted unanimously for the bill in March.

If signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the burial of pet and human remains would have to happen at the same time, and the cemetery would have to approve.

"Increasingly, cemetery organizations are being approached by their lot owners to allow for the interment of cremated pet remains in their non-religious cemeteries," according to a memo attached to the bill.

The bill wouldn't apply to religious cemeteries.

Only "domestic animals" that have been "adapted or tamed to live in intimate association with people" and have been cremated at a pet crematorium would be eligible for burial with their owners," according to the legislation.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer, R-Amherst, Erie County, and Assemblyman James Brennan, D-Brooklyn.