Dead dog flown 6,000 miles to be buried in a kimono at lavish funeral

A beloved pet dog was flown up to 6,000 miles across the world to be buried in a special ceremony in a pet cemetery near Holywell in Wales. Elaine Kao, from Hong Kong, had golden retriever David shipped to North Wales after scouring the internet to find somewhere to lay him to rest. She was unable to find a plot for him in Hong Kong because there is little space for animal burials and owners are forced to cremate pets. But widow Elaine wanted to give her pooch a send off to remember, so he was taken to the pet cemetery near Brynford for a farewell ceremony.



Onlookers stopped in the street as the hearse, carrying the small coffin, took David to his final resting place. The embalmed canine, who died aged 13, was buried in a special kimono after a service in the chapel of rest, including prayers and music including Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You. His coffin was then carried by four pall bearers from the Daimler hearse to the burial site, with a flower arrangement in the shape of a bone on top of the small wooden casket. Ms Kao, who was unable to attend the funeral, said: “David was a great dog and a very trustworthy friend and I really don’t want to cremate him.





“I made a lifetime commitment to him. The pet cemetery in North Wales is a really impressive place where he can find eternal peace. We are short of space in Hong Kong. I have never been to the UK but I have an affection for the British. But the most important factor is I really believe David loved grass and the natural environment.” She added: “We are in deep grief and I am sending a representative to represent myself and my two children.” Mr Ward travelled to the airport to collect the representative and the dog’s remains from the Cathay Pacific desk.





He said the tombstone is to be made of black, polished granite with gold leaf lettering bearing the epitaph: “To our Dearest David, Salute to the most courageous person and the best trustworthy friend ever in our lives. Thank you for loving us and making us feel deep much further what love truly meant. You deserve everyone’s fullest respect and applause. May you stay strong and continue to shine at this Eternal Paradise.” Mr Ward said: “I feel very proud that Ms Kao has chosen us because she could have gone to anywhere in the world.” He added: “I have been in the business for 25 years and I have never heard it happen that a dog is getting flown from that far away to Wales.” The pet cemetery is the final resting place of a number of different species of pets or their ashes. The remains of 40 pet owners are also in the graveyard.

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