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A love that rewrites the law
A senator wanted his dog's ashes to be buried with him, so he acted.
By SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER
Published May 1, 2007
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[Photo: Courtesy of King Family]
State Sen. Jim King and his wife, Linda, hold their dogs Gemini, left, and Valentine in an undated family photo.
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[Special to Times: Oscar Sosa] An urn contains the ashes of Valentine, the beloved dog of state Sen. Jim King. He wants them buried with him when he dies.
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TALLAHASSEE - Jim King of Jacksonville wants to be buried with the ashes of his beloved black Labrador, Valentine.
"Through some very hard times, she was with me, " King says. "She was more human being than dog."
But state law apparently doesn't permit pet remains to be buried with human ones, no matter how humanlike the pet. The law on cemetery companies refers only to "human remains."
So King is out of luck, right? Not necessarily.
King happens to be Sen. Jim King, a longtime lawmaker and former Senate president. That means he has lots of clout.
And the advantage of being a powerful lawmaker is that you can try to change the laws and policies you don't like. Sometimes that means overhauling property insurance or rewriting education policy.
But sometimes, the matter is far less weighty. And often, the impetus is a very personal experience.
Like Labradors and pet ashes.
When King heard about a cemetery regulation bill proposed this session by Tampa Sen. Victor Crist, King mentioned to a friend and cemetery operator that he plans to be buried with the ash-filled urn of Valentine.
Valentine was a gift from King's wife on Valentine's Day. King immediately fell in love, and he carried Valentine everywhere. She even stood in medians campaigning for him, with a sign around her neck that urged, "Vote for my Daddy."
After Valentine died a decade ago at age 14, King changed his will to ensure her ashes would rest with him inside his coffin.
So imagine King's dismay when the cemetery operator friend told him there's nothing in state law allowing pet remains to be buried with human ones. You and Valentine, the friend told King, cannot spend eternity together.
To which King replied: "Well, maybe this is one of the good reasons I'm a lawmaker. We can fix this."
King tacked onto Sen. Crist's bill an amendment that specifically authorizes the "internment or entombment" of human remains with the urn of a cremated animal - as long as the human and animal remains are not mixed together. King got Rep. Will Weatherford to put the same provision in a companion House bill.
The House passed the bill Monday, and the Senate is expected to do the same today.
If the governor signs the bill, it becomes law.
And just like that, Valentine and King can rest in peace together.
"Some people may say it's not good or it's frivolous, " King conceded. "But you do what you do and you hope it works."
Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler can be reached at svansickler@sptimes.com or (850) 224-7263.
[Last modified May 1, 2007, 09:10:16]
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Comments on this article
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by Rpberta
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05/02/07 09:24 PM
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Thanks Senator for this rule.
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by Roberta
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05/02/07 09:19 PM
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I, too, want to be buried with my dog, Molly. She is my best friend in the whole wide world. I take her to Doggie Day Care most weeks. I just love her so much.
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by christine
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05/01/07 10:43 PM
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My Mom died too young, 49. I have been taking care of her dog for the past 8 years and had decided that when he passes I would put his urn/ashes in the niche where my Mom's are. I had no idea that I might have been told I could not do that! Thanks!
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by Carole
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05/01/07 09:54 PM
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My husband and I just lost our schnauzer yesterday. I thank Senator King for this bill, now our Millie can be with us for all eternity.
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by jeff
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05/01/07 09:54 PM
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Thanks for the meaningless law Senator. This is much better than fixing the insurance crisis or lowering property taxes.
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by Terri
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05/01/07 08:31 PM
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I think its about time politicians realized how important our pets are to
us. Considering pet cemeteries are being destroyed for development, our furry friends would be better off with
us than without us. Thank You!!
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by jim
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05/01/07 04:39 PM
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God bless Sen. King. Far too few people realize the love that can be felt for your animal soulmates.
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by Linzi
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05/01/07 04:08 PM
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Great! I hope this means my horse's ashes can be buried with mine and my husband's. Well done Senator King!
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by Jim
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05/01/07 12:31 PM
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I too thank you Sen. King...for wasting taxpayers' money! While we're trying to prevent taxes from going up, we're wasting even more on your pork! I'd suggest impeaching you...if it weren't so darn expensive. Solve real problems instead!!!
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by Tom
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05/01/07 11:44 AM
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Max, mom's poodle, died b4 her. She had him cremated and kept the ashes in an urn, she wanted to be buried with him. My sisters and I asked some time w/mom after the service...that's when my sis slid a baggie w/Max into mom's pocket & shut the lid.
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by Lee
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05/01/07 10:48 AM
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I love how legislators can get whatever pet (no pun intended) project that have acted on, while the real problems of the state fester.
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by mark a
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05/01/07 10:26 AM
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finally .. a politician doing something worth while! okay, maybe his motivation was driven by selfishness .. but obviously most people like it and many will benefit! i thought these words would never come from me but .. Thank You, Senator!!!
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by Ellen
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05/01/07 10:15 AM
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This is sweet. I have no problem with this. Pets are loyal - all they want is love. As long as the pets are not put down before their time this is a good idea.
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by Celeste
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05/01/07 10:05 AM
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No matter what the political affiliation, this bill shows the person's character, where practicality and heart combine to give some people peace and happiness to the end. Not much on this earth does that! Good for you, Sen King!
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by Ray
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05/01/07 09:59 AM
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Thanks Jim King. I had planned on the same thing. Glad the law will make it legal.
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by Tony
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05/01/07 09:53 AM
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Nice to see our law makers in touch with the really big issues that impact peoples daily lives - he should resign immediately
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by Richard
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05/01/07 09:30 AM
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Nutters like Jim King should be impounded. The article doesn't mention his political affiliation, but I'm guessing he's a republican - the barking party.
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by Gladys
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05/01/07 09:05 AM
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Thank you Jim King. To many people their pets are family or closer. I can't imagine being without mine forever.
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by Sarah
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05/01/07 09:04 AM
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Excellent! Thank you Mr. King!
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by Allison
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05/01/07 09:02 AM
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I think this bill is great and all people who truly love their pets will like this bill. My pets have been with me through this life loving me unconditionaly and i would be happy to have them with me through eternity. I hope this bill passes!
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by Teri
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05/01/07 08:47 AM
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I love this bill...thank you Jim King! My pets are my best friends, and if I could spend eternity with them.. I will. Your the best Mr. King!
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by Ray
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05/01/07 07:56 AM
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I see no problem with it. My dogs have been better friends than a lot of people I know, why wouldn't I want them with me in eternity? I Like King's bill!
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by Marci
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05/01/07 07:55 AM
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I too would like my dogs' ashes burried with me. They are still alive (thank God) but they are so a part of my life and love! They have shown me more love that some humans I know! Hope this bill passes country wide! Go King! Good Luck!
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by barbara
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05/01/07 07:14 AM
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THANK YOU ......JIM KING OF JACKSONVILLE YOU ARE THE BEST.
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