Twitter campaign launched to stop healthy dog being cremated and buried with owner
A TWITTER campaign has been launched to stop a dying woman's wish to have her healthy dog killed and buried alongside her
The #SaveBella Twitter campaign has been launched to save a healthy dog from being put down
Connie Lay wrote in her will that she wanted her pet Bella, who is still alive, to be put to sleep, cremated and the ashes placed alongside her own.
Ms Lay died on November and her beloved dog is being cared for by a Humane Society and the dog's uncertain fate has seen #SaveBella trend on Twitter.
In America pets are classed as possessions and the Indiana resident's request to have the German Shepherd put down is legal.
Twitter users posted their anger at Ms Lay's request with some describing it as "selfish".
One tweeter posted: "Bella's owner died & wants her put down so that their ashes can be mixed. Could you be anymore selfish? #SaveBella".
While another added: "Makes me so sad, why the hell would someone want to kill a healthy dog just so it can be cremated with its owner, so selfish."
Please please please #SaveBella she doesn't deserve to die because of her odd owner. Owner is dead, Bella is alive. Someone will love her RT
— Nora Rowland (@NoraBagend) December 18, 2014
#SaveBella @TheEllenShow @DrPhil Please save Bella a healthy GSD from being euthanised due to an unrealistic demand left in a will
— Lauren McFadyen (@motolozzi) December 18, 2014
Bella's owner died & wants her put down so that their ashes can be mixed. Could you be anymore selfish? #SaveBella
Ms Lay's attorney Doug Denmure said the will stipulated one of the pet owner's close friend has taken charge of the dog.
He added that Bella's fate is in the hands of Ms Lay's friends and that the will said if the dog is not cremated it must be sent to an animal shelter.
Mr Denmure said: "[Lay] made provisions that in the event of her death, she wanted her very close friend to take charge of the dog.
"She also then requested that the dog be put to sleep, cremated and that the dog’s ashes be placed with her own ashes."
The attorney added there is no deadline for Ms Lay's friend to make a decision but that Bella had a history of aggressive behaviour.
He described the dog as "potentially dangerous" and said a vet had advised it be put down as it could "inflict bodily harm" on strangers or children.
Speaking of the #SaveBella Twitter campaign, Mr Denmure added: "The dog was owned by my client and now it's part of her estate and those are her wishes, as far as the future of the dog is concerned.
"Outsiders don’t have the grounds to rewrite the provisions of my client’s will and impose what they want."
Bella's owner died & wants her put down so that their ashes can be mixed..could you be anymore selfish? #SaveBella pic.twitter.com/zv0i1YOqUC
— Thea Marie (@DatChickTP) December 16, 2014
#SaveBella - there can be no justification in killing her just to please her dead owner.
— Ian (@leoninelives) December 17, 2014
Bella is currently being housed at the PAWS of Dearborn County Humane Centre in Indiana.
In a statement they said the dog is only with them as legal proceedings are finalised and they have no say on what happens to Bella.
They said: "PAWS has no legal right or control over his outcome. Bela will not be euthanised at our facility, either by PAWS staff or the Dearborn County Animal Control Officers.
"If a euthanisation decision is reached by the estate, then it will be the responsibility of the estate to make those arrangements elsewhere."