Trouble in Michigan Pet Cemetery

Our Basset Hound, Presley (2005-2016) riding shotgun on his way to a walk.

In the 1970s the Heavenly Acres Pet Cemetery in Livingston County, Michigan, began selling burial lots, monuments, and markers, as well as interring deceased pets for clients.  Along with these charges, the cemetery collected fees for what was purposed to be perpetual care of the cemeteries.

The cemetery has had some ups and downs since then but managed to continue operating for over 40 years.  However, according to this article from the Detroit News all that has stopped and lot owners have now filed a lawsuit against the cemetery.  Turns out that last November 30 the owner of the cemetery, Carol Street Park Ridge, had an attorney contact people with pets buried there over the past 40 years and gave them 30 days to remove their remains.

According to the owner of the cemetery, they plan to market the property for sale with the hope of a sale to person or entities willing to continue to maintain the pet cemetery. However, according to the owner’s attorney, the future use of the property will ultimately be determined by the new owner.  Again, according to the article, the attorney for the owner  stated, “If pet owners are uncomfortable with the uncertainty of the future use of the property, they are welcome to retrieve their grave markers or pet remains by making arrangements. .”

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development regulates the disposal of livestock.  However, those rules do not include pets.

A group of pet owners have banded together and filed a lawsuit against the owner and previous owners.  One of the plaintiffs says he believes that over 74,000 pets have been buried in the cemetery over the last 40 years.  The plaintiffs are seeking a temporary restraining order against any reuse of the cemetery and an eventual ruling that it remain a pet cemetery.

Funeral Director Daily take:  Like any disagreement it is important to hear both sides of the issue.  However, at first glance, this just seems wrong.  The idea of “burying” and paying “perpetual care and maintenance” should be just that  — perpetual.

Pets, especially in the past 30 years, have became extensions of families and it is my opinion that pet services will become a larger and larger portion of death care revenue.  As it happens more human funeral homes will get involved in the business and that should make it  better for all concerned.

Rules and/or laws governing pet cemeteries are long overdue and as more and more funeral homes get involved in the pet death care business I think you will see the regulations tighten up.

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