And If The Dog’s Worth $12 Million, We Better Sort This Out Sooner Rather Than Later
The grand plan to have your pet accompany you on your journey in the afterlife is a nice idea, but the path to heaven seems to be full of dog poop:
Posted: August 31st, 2007 | Filed under: Well, What Did You Expect?Haughty hotelier Leona Helmsley will be denied her final wish to be buried with her unpleasant pooch — because it’s illegal for a human cemetery to entomb an animal in New York, The Post has learned.
An official with the Department of State’s Division of Cemeteries was asked if a dog can be buried in a cemetery meant for people.
“Absolutely not, there’s no question about it,” said the official, who asked not to be identified.
“A dog would not be allowed to be buried or interred in a cemetery. It’s for human beings.”
Officials at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Westchester, where the Helmsleys have a $1.4 million crypt in the mausoleum, told The Post yesterday they never had an intention of honoring the will. It specifies that when Trouble dies, her remains should be buried next to Leona and her husband Harry, who died in 1997.
“We’re not allowed to bury any pets in the cemetery,” said a Sleepy Hollow rep.
Helmsley, who died earlier this month, left $12 million to the 8-year-old Maltese.
. . .
“I was surprised to see that there was no mention of it in the media,” said Manhattan attorney Mark Borten, who had read about Leona Helmsley’s plans for the fluffy, four-legged heiress.
“Just because it’s in her will doesn’t mean it’s necessarily legit.”