
A pair of guinea pigs – say 2kg; a pair of squirrels, say 
1 kg: the burial of either would cause far less groundwater 
pollution than a pair of goats. Many deceased animals 
never have the privilege of being buried and/or 
mourned, though human war victims are very often 
lamented by hundreds at funeral ceremonies, and we 
can watch this on TV. As a boy, I had to wear 
embarrassingly ugly school-boots the weight of two 
dead gophers. When we pathologize the death of a pet 
animal, the question of being laid to rest is usurped by 
our rampant fearfulness. Imagine if it were two.
.
Mike Ferguson
Picture Rupert Loydell
.
