POLICE and council officials exhumed the remains of a pet dog buried in a Grimsby park.
As reported at www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk, officers cordoned off part of Ainslie Street Park after council staff discovered a recently-dug grave marked with flowers and a toy windmill.
They raised the alarm after it was initially feared the grave may have been the resting place of a baby.
However, it was later revealed the grave was dug by a family two weeks ago, after their Staffordshire terrier called Poi died at home.
The eight-month-old suffered a miscarriage just a few weeks before dying at its owner's family home in Willingham Street, Grimsby.
Having initially said pet graves could not be dug in public parks, a parks manager said the grave could remain in place, but left unmarked.
A spokesman for North East Lincolnshire Council said the remains of the dog had started to decompose and that "reburying it was the best option".
Council workmen were cutting the grass at around 7.30am yesterday when they found the grave.
Poi's owner Zoe Taylor said: "She was more a member of the family than a pet. We had a beautiful ceremony for her. This is where she ran and played every morning, so we decided to put her to rest here."
Zoe, 20, added: "It was awful losing her. We wanted to leave her where she would have been the most happy."
NELC's portfolio holder for environment and housing, Councillor Dave Watson, said: "It is a very sad time for any pet lover when they lose a close companion but for further advice and guidance on how to dispose of a deceased pet, please contact your local veterinary practice and first seek the landowner's permission.
"At the moment the council does not offer a burial service for pets, but there will be a separate section for the cremated remains of pets at the new Woodlands burial site at the Scartho Road cemetery."
A Humberside Police spokeswoman said: "In the circumstances no police action was required. However, police attended in support of the local council and in the event of there being a need for police intervention."
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