Veterans’ Families Seek Ban as Dogs Walk Among Gravestones

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In this Monday, Feb. 1, 2016 photo, a Puggle named Artie stands on the grounds of the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter, R.I. The state received six complaints in the past year from visitors to the cemetery who were upset that dog owners walk dogs on the property. A bill was introduced Tuesday, Feb. 2 to prohibit dogs, except for service animals, from the cemetery. Rebecca Allen, Artie's owner, said she has relatives buried there and that she and her dog don’t go near people visiting gravesites. (AP Photo/Jennifer McDermott)
In this Monday, Feb. 1, 2016 photo, a Puggle named Artie stands on the grounds of the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter, R.I. The state received six complaints in the past year from visitors to the cemetery who were upset that dog owners walk dogs on the property. A bill was introduced Tuesday, Feb. 2 to prohibit dogs, except for service animals, from the cemetery. Rebecca Allen, Artie's owner, said she has relatives buried there and that she and her dog don’t go near people visiting gravesites. (AP Photo/Jennifer McDermott)
(AP Photo/Jennifer McDermott)

BY JENNIFER MCDERMOTT

Families of those buried in Rhode Island’s veterans’ cemetery say that using the grounds as a dog park is disrespectful to the fallen, and they’re battling pet owners over access to the property.

Unlike many state veterans’ cemeteries nationwide that ban pets out of respect, Rhode Islandhas no such restrictions.

Rhode Island has received six complaints in the past year from visitors to the cemetery who were upset that dogs are roaming about the 265-acre property in Exeter. One complaint alleges a dog knocked down a child.

The head of the Veterans of Foreign Wars department in Rhode Island, Frank Rosebrock, is appalled that dogs walk among the veterans’ stones and sometimes relieve themselves. “I can’t believe it,” he said. “It is disgusting.”hire vets

The chairman of House Veterans Affairs Committee agrees. Democratic Rep. Jan Malik introduced a bill on Tuesday to prohibit pets, except for service animals, from the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Violators would be fined.

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