Human ashes OK at pet cemeteries

ALBANY, N.Y. — New regulations will allow New York animal lovers to spend eternity with their pets.

The Daily News reports that officials have finalized rules allowing pet cemeteries to accept the cremated remains of humans. The cemeteries can bury pet owners’ ashes as long as they don’t charge a fee for it and don’t advertise human burial services.

New York’s Division of Cemeteries put a halt to human burials at pet cemeteries in 2011 after an Associated Press story about the practice. It later relaxed the ban on a limited basis and began working on permanent rules.

Ed Martin, owner of the 117-year-old Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in Westchester County, says he gets five or six requests a year from humans who want to have their ashes buried with their pets.

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