Loyal dog who lived by owner's grave for 10 years inspires new law in Brazil

A dog who spent 10 years living in the São Paulo cemetery where his owner was buried has inspired a new law permitting the burial of pets with their families in the Brazilian state.

Nicknamed Bob Coveiro - meaning "gravedigger" in Portuguese - the loyal dog brought comfort to mourners and became a fixture at the graveyard until his death in 2021, when he was buried alongside his guardian.

The law named after the canine came into effect on Tuesday and recognises the "emotional bond" between pets and their human families, the state government said.

One of its authors, representative Eduardo Nóbrega, wrote on social media: "What began as a story of love and loyalty has turned into public policy."

Bob attended his owner's funeral at the cemetery in Taboão da Serra and refused to leave thereafter, Brazilian media reported - even returning when family members tried to take him home.

He was given a green dog house to live in and was known to accompany funeral processions at the site, where he was eventually buried with his owner after being hit by a vehicle in 2021.

Local animal protection charity Patre, which led a fundraiser for a statue in his memory, said Bob "won the hearts of everyone who met him".

It said in a statement: "People who were saddened by burying their loved ones would manage a smile when the little dog, who was crazy about balls, tried to play."

Nóbrega said of the Bob Coveiro Law on Wednesday: "Anyone who has lost a pet knows: it's not just an animal. It's a family. And this law recognizes this bond, bringing more respect at the moment of farewell."

"Love does not end at goodbye," he wrote on social media.

It means cats and dogs can now be buried in family graves in the southeastern state - Brazil's most populous - provided sanitary standards are met, with local funeral services to determine the rules for doing so.

Brazil has the world's third-largest pet population, with 160 million animal companions, according to data from the Pet Brasil Institute.