Dog obituary?

[DisneyOma]

Never can say for sure til I’m in that position & hope I never am. But, if I had to decide now, I would say yes. Wouldn’t make a point to tell the person my dog’s life is more valuable, but, instinctively, I would go to save my dog first.

That's sad. I also hope you are never in that scenario.

 

[LSUmiss]

That's sad. I also hope you are never in that scenario.

Do you have pets?

 

[disykat]

No one here saying pets don't belong in the obits is saying it is about comparing level of grief. Sure the grief of losing a pet can be equal or more than losing a human, but that doesn't change the fact that it was a pet who died, not a human. We are comparing human vs. pet, not level of grief.

My pet loses have been the hardest ones I've experienced in my life thus far. That doesn't make them human. I actually consider myself very lucky in that. I haven't lost a parent, a child, a spouse. I have had terrific pets.

Obituaries have a history. Hundreds of years of history. That history is one of eulogizing and notification about the passing of human beings. The fact that I think that should stand doesn't make me somehow unable to understand the grief of losing a pet. There's plenty of room for pet memorials in a newspaper. They just don't belong in the obituary column.

The descendants of my much loved pets will not be researching their lives some day using the obituary column. Former classmates / coworkers / neighbors of my pets won't be notified of their passing through an obituary.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

So you do not eat animals? How about plants? Never use bug spray, tick/flea ointment, etc? Not a contest, but definitely a spectrum.

Think of it this way - does a firefighter risk his life for a goldfish?

I do not eat animals. Plants, yes. Give me a break. Flea or tick ointment? Um no, haven't had to use that.

 

[mummabear]

Opinion was asked, opinion was answered. People can do,what they want. Animals are not the same as people

No one said animals are the same as people.
We are just saying that someone deciding to have an announcement of passing, of a beloved family member can belong to both humans and animals. And that other people choosing to do so doesnt in any way impact on you.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

No one here saying pets don't belong in the obits is saying it is about comparing level of grief. Sure the grief of losing a pet can be equal or more than losing a human, but that doesn't change the fact that it was a pet who died, not a human. We are comparing human vs. pet, not level of grief.

My pet loses have been the hardest ones I've experienced in my life thus far. That doesn't make them human. I actually consider myself very lucky in that. I haven't lost a parent, a child, a spouse. I have had terrific pets.

Obituaries have a history. Hundreds of years of history. That history is one of eulogizing and notification about the passing of human beings. The fact that I think that should stand doesn't make me somehow unable to understand the grief of losing a pet. There's plenty of room for pet memorials in a newspaper. They just don't belong in the obituary column.

The descendants of my much loved pets will not be researching their lives some day using the obituary column. Former classmates / coworkers / neighbors of my pets won't be notified of their passing through an obituary.

What the heck does history have to do with being able to grieve a pet. History is not always right, you know? Live in the now, not the past.

 

[ols386]

I don’t see anything wrong with having a pet obituary in the same section of the newspaper as human being obituary. Some people only have their pets. For them, losing their pet is as traumatic as someone else who loses their spouse. Listing the pet obit next to a human obit, isn’t taking anything away from the human, in my opinion

 

[Cinderella94]

Or their pet worm? Or Anty-ant? (That's what my daughter called her 'pet' black ants she'd trap in containers in the yard.) Maybe only mammals count? I don't know, but some people are getting too nuts about their pets. I get the emotional issues - some people are really lonely and a dog or cat is pretty much the world to them. But they are still pets. Who would you save first, your child or your dog?

I don't think loving your pets deeply enough to possibly want to write an obituary for them means you have "emotional issues." I'm going to be absolutely crushed when my pets go - saying that those who are the most attached to their pets have 'emotional issues' is almost kind of insulting. But I can still confidently say that I would save my (hypothetical) human child over them. I don't think that rhetorical question is relevant.

 

[Cinderella94]

No one here saying pets don't belong in the obits is saying it is about comparing level of grief. Sure the grief of losing a pet can be equal or more than losing a human, but that doesn't change the fact that it was a pet who died, not a human. We are comparing human vs. pet, not level of grief.

My pet loses have been the hardest ones I've experienced in my life thus far. That doesn't make them human. I actually consider myself very lucky in that. I haven't lost a parent, a child, a spouse. I have had terrific pets.

Obituaries have a history. Hundreds of years of history. That history is one of eulogizing and notification about the passing of human beings. The fact that I think that should stand doesn't make me somehow unable to understand the grief of losing a pet. There's plenty of room for pet memorials in a newspaper. They just don't belong in the obituary column.

The descendants of my much loved pets will not be researching their lives some day using the obituary column. Former classmates / coworkers / neighbors of my pets won't be notified of their passing through an obituary.

What about the obituaries (for humans) that occasionally go viral on the Internet that are written in the style of almost a "joke"? Are they not dignified enough to appear next to other, more traditional, obituaries?

 

[IAHFTPT]

If my obituary is beside the obituary of a pet that was loved so much that it was honored with an obituary I'd be pretty darn okay with that.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

Where do you stop short of being undignified? What if someone put an obituary in for their pet turkey? I am an animal lover and I'm usually quite liberal about most things, but I think pets should not be treated like humans.

Well, as a vegan and an animal lover you are asking the wrong person about turkeys. I respect all animal life.

And you are right, each species should be respected and treated in their own rightful way.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

We don't bury people in pet cemeteries, nor do human cemeteries allow pets to be buried in them. So why are some here saying it's fine to mix human and pet obituaries?

Someday they might be mixed! Imagine the horror!

 

[Marchand63]

My new obit

My poor cockroach was laid to rest to today. He/she(can't determine sex) was a fine friend. He/she would always be there when I trned on the light. RIP my BFF

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

I'm not sure I agree, per the thoughtful point made by smokeyblue. As they pointed out, would you really want the obituary of one of your loved one to be right under that of someone's pet?

Absolutely. I respect animal life and human life. I've known better squirrels than some humans.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

My new obit

My poor cockroach was laid to rest to today. He/she(can't determine sex) was a fine friend. He/she would always be there when I trned on the light. RIP my BFF

Wouldn't offend me.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

Do people really even pay attention to what obituaries are surrounding that of their loved one's?

 

[LSUmiss]

Do people really even pay attention to what obituaries are surrounding that of their loved one's?

That was my point. I have never paid attention.

 

[MrsDuck]

I think it's very sweet and really don't see the upset over it being in the "human" section. Good grief.

 

[MIGrandma]

Do you have pets?

I have pets, but I would never put them above a human life. To say that you would save your dog over another human being, I can't even imagine. I really can't.

I think this is one of the major things that is wrong with our world today. Some people don't value human life.

Yes, I love my cat, she is precious to me. But to save her before a human being? No, I couldn't do that. That other human being is someone's husband/wife, daughter/son, etc. I'm glad I value human life more than a pet's life. And I hope and pray most other people do the same.

 

[MIGrandma]

As for having pet obituaries (this is the first time I've ever heard of such a thing) printed in the same section of the newspaper as human obituaries, no I don't agree with that.

I think they should definitely be on separate pages.