When dogs pass away, you might think that it only matter to their family and owners. But dog lovers are all around the world and tales of good dogs inspire the most uplifting action around. That explains this incredible story from Brooklyn, New York about a dog named Rex.
After the ban on Pet Burials in human graves, dog lovers decided to…
Dogs mean a lot to their owners. Many even consider them essential parts of their families. But dogs aren’t allowed to be buried in the same cemeteries as their owners. So some families take the next logical step and create dog guardian statues to watch over their grave stones and tombs.
So when Rex passed away, they created a statue of this dog to stand guard over the family crypt. You can tell a lot of love and passion went into this statue’s design, which honors the spirit of this noble animal and the memories he’s given his family.
Rex is one of the more famous graves which has led to visitors…
Now, everyone has heard of cemetery visits that end with gifts left on graves. So what do you give a good boy like Rex? Why sticks, of course. The tradition of leaving a chew stick for Rex likely started with friends of the family and has since gone on to spread to locals all around the city.
In Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn there is a gravestone for a dog named Rex. People bring him sticks and place them at his feet because he is still a good boy. cc: @dog_rates pic.twitter.com/0GhxcZwjSz
— Kevin T. Morales (@KevinTMorales) August 2, 2020
But what could this tradition mean? Does it represent giving new sticks for Rex to play fetch with? Is it a way of recognizing the importance of good dogs in all of our lives? Whatever caused it, it’s become one of the longest enduring Brooklyn tradition.
Dog lovers from all over the country come to Green-Wood Cemetery to leave their gifts
It may have remained a local tradition, but with the terrible realities of the global pandemic, it’s taken on new life. Now, Brooklyn visitors are making a point of visiting Green-Wood Cemetery so they can give Rex their own stick gifts.
A Green-Wood Cemetery official explains Rex’s popularity
Stacy Locke, a communications manager for Green-Wood Cemetery, was questioned about the famous statue. When asked about Rex’s popularity, she had this to say.
“When it comes to Rex, he obviously stands out, People see him from the road — it’s sort of a prominent spot, right off of the intersection of two roads here.
Locke even added that someone left a picture of their departed dog on the statues paws. Almost as a way of asking the spirit of Rex to look after their little pal.
The Mystery Behind Rex
But who was Rex’s owner?
Well the city has records suggesting that Rex may have been the faithful hound of John E. Stow, a fruit merchant from the city who passed away in 1884. If that’s the case, then you can just imagine how popular John was in bringing fresh fruits to the neighborhood, alongside his good boy, Rex. This might be further proven by Green-Wood records refering to a 19th century placement of a “bronze likeness of a dog”.
No one really knows if Rex is lying next to his owner’s grave, but judging by the gifts of sticks piling on, it doesn’t really matter. Rex stands as a reminder of the good times that our animals bring and a promise that our dog’s love will never go forgotten.
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