Dear Reverend,
My partner and I have two dogs, but we don’t have the luxury of a fenced-in yard, so we share dog-walking duties. We live near a cemetery, and she thinks it’s perfectly fine to walk the dogs on the cemetery grounds. I think it’s disrespectful, and I never go in there with them. I appreciate that she walks the dogs, and I don’t want to make a big deal about it, but who’s right?
Proper Puppy, (woman, 45)
Dear Proper Puppy,
While cemeteries can be lovely green spaces to visit, they aren’t dog parks. Yet neither one of you is entirely right or wrong. It ultimately depends on the cemetery.
Some cemeteries strictly prohibit dogs — excluding service dogs, of course. Others allow dogs as long as they are leashed and their person picks up any waste. You should be able to find the rules of the one near you pretty easily. If you can’t find anything posted — on the grounds or online — it’s fair to assume that dogs are allowed. Just follow some commonsense guidelines.
Make sure to keep the dogs on leash at all times and stay on the trails that go around the grave sites. Peeing on a gravestone or monument is a big no-no, and I don’t even want to talk about pooping on a grave. When you’re dealing with dogs, accidents can easily happen, but do your best to avoid those.
If there is a service happening in the cemetery, steer clear. I know I’d be happy to see a couple of random pooches at a funeral, but not everybody loves the fuzzy buddies.
One last note: Whenever visiting a cemetery — with or without canine company — it’s always a nice gesture to acknowledge the residents. A simple “Hello, everybody,” even silent, shows respect and warms up the resting place.
Good luck and God bless,
The Reverend
This article appears in April 8 • 2026.
