In Ancient Egypt ,   if someone cash in one’s chips   their pets would sometimes be kill   so that they could be buried alongside them . apology , I ’ve miswritten that   – in 2019 Virginia , USA , when somebody dies they will sometimes have their pets killed so that they can be swallow together .

The proprietor of Emma ,   a salubrious Shih Tzu mix from Richmond , explicitly asked for her to be killed in their will . The owner wanted the firedog to be cremate so that their ashes could be together immediately after they passed on .

The beast shelter was less than well-chosen to turn over   over a healthy pet to be pour down rather than adopted . During the two - hebdomad stay , the animal shelter had conversation with the executor to test to carry them not to carry out the requirement in the will .

“ We did suggest they could signalize the frump over on numerous occasions , because it ’s a dog we could easily find out a home plate for and re - home , ” Carrie Jones , manager of Chesterfield Animal Services , told NBC 12 . “ Ultimately , they came back in on March 22 and redeemed the weenie . ”

hoi polloi are , unsurprisingly , not felicitous .

Euthanizing hefty pets is legal in the state , and euthanasia , in general , can be do by licensed veterinary , animal control officers , humanist investigators , and certified euthanasia technician , according tothe American Veterinary Medical Association . However , vets tend to be reluctant to finish the sprightliness of a healthy animal , and the executor struggle to find someone to   euthanize Emma .

“ Whenever we ’re face with a mercy killing situation , it ’s a very emotional situation   – and beyond everything we babble out about   – that we necessitate to do ethically , and we ’ve taken an swearing to do , ” Dr Kenny Lucas   from the Shady Grove Animal Clinic told NBC 12 , explaining why he would n’t do it .

“ It ’s something we take home too . It librate on us as professionals . ”

However , the executor was able to find a vet that would bear out the owner ’s wishes , and Emma was put down . The dog was strike to a crematory that allot with pets .

In   Virginia , it ’s not legal to sink fauna in the same tomb or crypt as humankind . However , there are exceptions in the cases of private and family - have burial site , NBC 12 reports .