Calls are intensifying for legislative changes in Victoria, Australia, to allow pet owners to be buried alongside their beloved animals. This movement follows the heartbreaking experience of Lyn Robinson, who lost her dog, Deejay, not once but twice. After laying Deejay, a pit-bull terrier she described as a sixth child, to rest in a pet cemetery near Bacchus Marsh, Robinson was devastated to learn that the cemetery had been sold and demolished, erasing all traces of her pet’s resting place.
“We went there and it had just been bulldozed. All the concrete slabs were gone. The small headstones and plaques had been thrown away. It’s like they never existed,” Robinson said. The emotional toll of losing Deejay again left her feeling as though she had lost a limb. Robinson now grapples with the absence of a secure resting place for pets, prompting her to join advocates calling for change.
Unlawful Burials
Deb Tranter, who manages the Castlemaine General Cemetery, highlighted the legal challenges surrounding pet burials. Under the current Victorian law, it is illegal to bury an animal in public cemeteries, even in urns. Tranter, who has been known to conduct private ceremonies for individuals wishing to be buried alongside their pets, criticized the law as outdated. “Society now recognises pets as family — but in death, the law states that the pets must stay outside of the cemetery gate. And I think that’s really, really harsh and unfair,” she stated.
Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell noted that Tranter represents “hundreds” of cemetery managers who face the dilemma of either breaking the law or denying individuals their last wishes. “It’s just not good enough,” Purcell remarked, emphasizing the emotional burden placed on those in charge of cemetery operations.
Legislative Inaction
Despite efforts to bring attention to this issue, progress has been slow. Purcell, who has worked closely with Tranter, described the existing law as “heartless” and “outdated.” She raised the issue in parliament nearly a year ago but reported minimal progress, stating the Victorian Government has not prioritized this legislative change.
The Victorian Government acknowledged community interest but stated that the matter is not currently a legislative priority. This response disappointed Tranter, who believes that a simple amendment to the cemetery act could significantly impact many families. “It could be done tomorrow, and it would mean the world to a huge range of people,” she explained.
Changing Perspectives on Pets
Dr. Hannah Gould, an academic at The University of Melbourne specializing in death studies, pointed out that the legal framework surrounding burials is rooted in 19th-century Christian beliefs that often excluded animals from significant burial practices. “There’s a lot of religious traditions that only those who have souls … are the ones who have the last rites and are buried properly in a cemetery,” Dr. Gould explained.
Recent research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies indicates a substantial shift in how Australians view pets. Over half of participants consider their pets as family rather than property, a sentiment that is increasingly prevalent among younger generations. Dr. Gould anticipates that more people will seek to be buried alongside their pets, reflecting a broader definition of family that includes animals.
Threat to Pet Cemeteries
The case of the pet cemetery in Bacchus Marsh is not isolated. Several pet cemeteries have faced similar fates in recent years, with land being repurposed for development. The Pets Memorial Gardens in Rowville, which housed the remains of pets and champion racehorses for over 52 years, was also sold and demolished.
Ashton Graves, who specializes in exhuming pets for owners across Victoria, noted that many individuals are distressed about the future of their pets’ remains. “Clearly these places get sold for development … and that’s the main reason people want me to exhume — they’re worried about them being dug up during construction,” Graves said. He supports the push to amend burial laws, asserting that including cremated animals in human graves is a sensible approach.
Purcell warned that without legislative change, more resting places could be at risk. “New South Wales has shown us that they can act quickly, and it’s time for the Victorian Government to do the same thing,” she said, urging for timely reform to protect the final resting places of both humans and their cherished pets.
The movement for change reflects a growing recognition of the profound bond between humans and animals, challenging outdated laws that no longer align with contemporary values. As advocates continue to press for reform, the hope remains that soon, pet owners in Victoria will have the option to rest eternally alongside their beloved companions.
