The owners of a dog that passed away in 1902 wanted to give their pet a proper burial. At that time, many people didn’t have the extra money to purchase a tombstone for their pets. However, these owners chose to spend their available funds to provide their pet with the burial it deserved. They wanted their pet’s name to be remembered for as long as possible and decided to carve a racially insensitive term into the tombstone. It has been approximately 118 years since the dog was buried. When the local city council discovered the tombstone and the offensive name carved on it, they sought to have the stone removed promptly.
Council leaders deemed the racially insensitive term inappropriate for a dog that had passed away, and certainly not suitable for any dog that would have gone to heaven at that time. The tombstone is located in a pet cemetery in the United Kingdom. The city council became aware of the name after a visitor noticed it and reported it. Although the name is racially inappropriate, the cemetery owners were reluctant to remove the stone. Subsequently, the city council decided to take action to remove the monument to someone’s beloved pet. This name was quite popular at the time the dog died, even though it evokes different sentiments today.
The public urged city council members to remove the stone. However, after examining its history, the council chose to retain it as a memorial and a reminder of the struggles of the past and how far society has come today. They also believed that the tombstone could serve as a means to educate people about race. Apart from local residents, visitors to the cemetery also find the tombstone unsettling. Nathan, a man who lives near the cemetery and enjoys learning about history, believes the stone should be removed due to the offensive name. A suggestion was made to place the marker in a museum so that it could be displayed for those interested in seeing it and learning about its history. In 1902, the name on the stone was common among British people, but it was primarily accepted by white people. Black people were and still are offended by the name. A debate ensued among council members and city residents. Ultimately, the stone was removed from the cemetery and placed in a museum to be preserved.
