South Hadley resident disturbed by cemetery dog walking

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) - One South Hadley resident is asking dog walkers to not take their pets for a stroll through cemeteries.

Bruce Bartlett has lived in South Hadley since 1961 and has several family members who have been buried in both the Notre Dame and Mater Dolorosa Cemeteries. While visiting his mother’s grave for the three-year anniversary of her death on April 23, 2012, he ran across two unleashed Labradors.

“I spoke to her [the dog walker] and informed her that it was private property and she felt compelled to tell me someone told her it was OK to walk the dogs on the property. At that point I was a little upset and I made a comment to her, how would she like it if I brought my dogs and let them do their duty on her parent’s grave and she felt compelled to tell me her parents did the right thing; they were cremated,” said Bartlett on Wednesday morning of the experience that led him to write an open letter to the editor of the Town Reminder .

Bartlett told 22News he’s seeing more homeowners who live in the area walk their dogs inside these cemeteries and feels it’s sacrilegious. He says more signage should be put up around entryways.

The burial parcels for both the Notre Dame and Mater Dolorosa Cemeteries abut each other in South Hadley. Both cemeteries don’t allow dog walking or skateboarding inside its grounds, but only one sign posted before the Pittroff Avenue exit indicates the rule.

22News spoke with Joseph Kostek, Director of Cemeteries for the Diocese of Springfield . He said that when they see someone walking their dog, they ask them to leave. As far as the signs go, he says they have been up in the past, but they continue to be stolen.

Kostek told 22News that six new signs will posted on entryways by Friday.

Diocesan spokesperson Mark Dupont told 22News that because the cemeteries cannot be patrolled 24/7, anyone seeing someone walking a dog through a cemetery should call the police.