This is hard for me.. Every year, mom (my kids called her Grandma Monen) would sit down and watch the Westminister Dog show. It was her "Super Bowl". She invited everyone over. She has chips, beer, bbq. It is a real family event. Tonight's party was more of wake for Grandma Monen. We had a good time, but it has been tempered with a little sadness.

Sadly, she was killed in a freak auto accident last week. Because of the autopsy (anytime alcohol is involved, there has to be an investigation), we've had to delay the funeral to next week.

Well, her will specifies that she is to be buried with her poodle, Andy. "Andy" survived the crash unscathed. He even tried licking mom's face to wake her up.

It seems cruel to bury him alive, but we don't want Grandma Monen to be lonely, either. Some want to put Andy down, some think it would be ok to bury him with her after Andy passes.

Have any of you any experience with digging up your dead relatives to bury them with their dogs?

Thanks in Advance.

I can not imagine being in your shoes at this time. Please accept my sympathies for the situation in which you find yourself.

In order to honor your mom's wishes, I would have her funeral and next to or on top of her plot leave a small space where her dog will go upon his passing when that happens naturally. Your Grandma Monen would not want him euthanized just to be with her. Her spirit is no longer in the body and she knows her Andy will live a happy life with you and your family, sharing his special gift of uncondiational love. When he passes, his spirit will join hers and all that will be left is the body. In the future, I would not dig up the casket, I think this would be a good comprmise. The other option is to cremate her remains and when he passes, cremate him and then bury them together in a place that is special to both of them.

May the Lord bring you peace during this very sad time in your life. My heart goes out to you and your family.

Grandma won't be lonely, she's already gone. Bury Andy at her gravesite after he passes naturally. Have you thought about cremating him and burying his ashes at her grave? You wouldn't be "digging her up" and she would still have Andy with her. Is there a headstone with an urn attached that you could later put his ashes in?