After his owner died, Bob returned to his grave for 10 years, even when he was taken home. The dog, known as ‘Bob Digger’, motivated the law that allows dogs and cats to rest with their owners.
Bob, a mixed breed with long brown hair, watched over his owner for ten years, after she died in 2011. Even with family members taking him home, the dog remained faithful to his caregiver and always returned to the grave. Cemetery employees andn Taboão da Serra, a city in the state of São Paulo, in Brazil, they ended up adopting Bob and looking after him.
The connection between Bob and his owner was so moving that it led to known as Bob Coveiro Lawwhich “recognizes the emotional bond between owners and their pets” and allows dogs and cats are buried in family graves and tombsas long as the appropriate health rules are complied with.
In December, the text was approved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paulo. Last Tuesday, and according to the news portal a llegislation in honor of the animal came into force in the State of São Paulo.
Defining specific rules for burials is the responsibility of local funeral services. The expenses will be borne entirely by the owners of the tomb or grave.
“Bob Digger Law”
Eduardo Nóbrega, one of the deputies from the State of São Paulo responsible for legislation, argues that the law creates a affordable alternative for animals to say goodbyesince Cremating an animal incurs significant costs.
The deputy also mentions that the law is a solution for when families, due to lack of conditions to pay for an appropriate placebury animals in inappropriate places.
“Today there is a true monopoly on the cremation of animals, with values that are often inaccessible. This ends up leading families, in a moment of pain, to situations of inappropriate disposal, which generates environmental impacts, risks to public health and even the possibility of being framed for an environmental crime”, said Eduardo Nóbrega to G1.
As fate would have it, Bob spent the last moments of his life close to his owner, because, em 2021, the dog ended up not surviving being run over while leaving the cemetery.
Brazil, and even several countries around the world, were moved by Bob’s dedication and spirit of companionship, which is why the Taboão da Serra City Council authorized the dog was buried next to its caretakerbecoming the first dog to receive this permission from public authorities.
Numa on Facebook, deputy Eduardo Nóbrega stated that “anyone who has ever lost a pet knows”: “It’s not just an animal”. “It’s family. And this law recognizes this bond, bringing more respect at the moment of farewell”, he wrote.
