The law, aimed at considering people's feelings, was proposed by Deputy Eduardo Nobrega, who stated: "Anyone who has lost a pet understands that it is not just an animal, but a part of the family." He added that the new law provides a "decent and affordable" alternative to the cremation of pets, which often turned out to be too expensive for many people, resulting in them burying their pets in inappropriate places.
This law is already unofficially referred to as Bob the Gravedigger's Law, in honor of a dog that remained by its owner's grave for ten years, as reported by The Guardian.
The Story of Bob the Gravedigger, the Cemetery Dog from Brazil
Bob, a ginger mixed breed, lost his owner in 2011. After her burial, he did not leave the cemetery in Taboão da Serra, near São Paulo. Relatives of the deceased tried to take him away, but he always returned to the grave. Eventually, the cemetery staff took him under their care, providing him shelter and looking after his food and health.
Bob became famous throughout Brazil, accompanying funeral processions and playing with a small ball, which many saw as a comfort in difficult times. Unfortunately, in 2021, he died in a road accident when he ran out from the cemetery.
Bob's death caused a wide resonance, and although there was no law regarding the burial of pets at that time, the city authorities made an exception and allowed him to be buried next to his owner. In 2022, a statue of Bob was erected at the cemetery, funded through crowdfunding.
The plaque at the statue reads: "This is our tribute and gratitude for your lessons of love and loyalty. Bob taught us to be attentive in moments of grief." São Paulo was not the first Brazilian state to allow the burial of pets alongside their owners; similar laws are already in effect in Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina. In 2023, a similar federal bill is being considered in the lower house of Brazil's parliament.
