A dog that remained beside his former owner’s grave for 10 years has now given his name to a new state law allowing pets to be buried alongside their loved ones in São Paulo. The new law – already being informally referred to as the Bob Coveiro (the Gravedigger) Law, in tribute to its inspiration – was signed this week by the governor of Brazil’s most populous state, the conservative Tarcísio de Freitas. The law “recognises the emotional bond between guardians and their pets”, according to the state government, and authorises dogs and cats to be buried in graves and family plots whose concessions belong to their owners’ families. In 2021, after leaving the cemetery grounds, the dog was struck by a motorcycle and died. São Paulo is not the first Brazilian state to authorise the burial of pets alongside their owners, which is already in force in Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina.

Source: The Guardian February 13, 2026 01:50 UTC