Plan to bury pets at Kent's Standing Rock Cemetery causing unrest

KENT, Ohio - Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent is planning to sell burial plots for pets as early as this spring.

The cemetery, which is co-owned by the the city of Kent and Franklin Township Trustees, has cleared the way for two new sections: one for pets only and the other for people who want to be buried with their pets.

The change in policy, allowing pet burials, has infuriated Carol Alumeyri. She visits the cemetery weekly and has four generations of relatives buried at Standing Rock.

"I just consider putting your pet on the same level as your parents or your family members is disrespectful," Alumeyri said.

Alumeyri noticed a large stone for a pet area during a recent visit to the cemetery and was upset that people were not notified about the new section. Her sister, Mary Ellen Fox, is also opposed to the idea. Both women attended a meeting Thursday afternoon to voice their displeasure.

"I feel they should go to a pet cemetery. I don't want dogs buried next to my mother and father," Fox said.

Jean Chrest, clerk-treasurer of the cemetery, said all pets must be cremated. The board of trustees agreed to create sections for pets because many people inquired about burying their beloved animals here.

"We can't just say 'Your pet didn't mean anything to me. Just because it meant something to you, we don't care,'" Chrest said.

Chrest said roads and walkways will separate pet burial areas from human-only plots.

Sarah Fast, a Kent resident who lost a 12-year-old dog a few days ago, walked through the cemetery on Thursday and supports the idea.

"I'm a pet owner and we are very much attached to our pets, and I think it's a good idea," Fast said.

Alumeyri wants to start a petition against pet burials at Standing Rock and believes voters should decide whether animals should be allowed to have their final resting spots at a cemetery that dates back to the 1800s.

"I doubt that it was in the charter, the original charter, that animals could be buried here," Alumeyri said.

"We have to go with the changes.  We can stay stuck in the past," Chrest said.

Chrest said the cemetery hasn't started advertising for pet burials yet. The estimated cost for plots is between $250 to $450. The closest cemetery to Kent for pets only is in Hudson.