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Eco-friendly pet cemetery designs

Jan 8 2012 by Richard Fletcher, Sunday Sun

SCULPTOR John Davison carves pet gravestones for the eco-friendly animal-lover . . . out of power station waste.

The sculptor is already unique after coming up with the idea of creating works of art out of ash blocks, the compacted waste product from incineration at Britain’s power stations.

But even more unusually, he has been commissioned several times to make headstones out of the material for people’s beloved family pets.

With crosses shaped like dogs’ chewing bones, and pictures of bunnies, he has created several lasting memorials to families’ departed faithful friends.

The 31-year-old from Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, is more used to sculpting fruit, figures, animals and plants out of the versatile material but said: “I’ve had quite a few commissions off people. They’ve asked for a lot of things which I do on a regular basis but I’ve had other requests too.

“I’ve had gravestone requests, which is weird, but only for pets. That was one of my first ones that I had to do, for a couple of dogs. I’ve also done rabbits and things like that. I’ve done crosses with a bone across it and the name on it, and a plaque with a rabbit on it.

“It’s good because it lasts outside and they’re frost-resistant.”