Could Animal remains be on the same plane as human remains?

Today in class we were discussing the difference between having the remains of humans on display and the remains of an animal on display, whether one was more appropriate than the other. It really got me thinking, as I'm sure that many other of the students were thinking too, about the loveable animals in my life and what would happen if their remains were put on display.

As mentioned in a previous post, many of my friends said that I should be buried with my dog. Of course, he's a huge part of my life but the timing is off as I anticipate (and hope) to be alive much longer than he will. But if his remains were put on display, taking out of the context of his eternal home in the grave alongside me, I would be mortified. (Given, I'd be dead, but I'm fairly certain by descendants would also be mortified). The idea of being buried alongside your precious valuables is nothing new, and although rare today, the idea of being buried with a furry companion can also be seen archaeologically.

Here's a pic of my fur-ball to provide some visual aid.

I typed in "animals as grave goods" into google and found an interesting article on a human-fox burial in the Levant. This burial dates to the Epipaleolithic (23,000-11,600 cal BP), a period before the Natufian period (Maher et al. 2011). Other burials from this time period indicate that animal-human burials were fairly common practice. What's interesting about this fox burial in particular, is the fact that it dates before the domestication of the dog (Maher et al. 2011). 

Images of the Fox's jaw found in the burial.

So, do we have an innate ability to form close bonds with our animals that eventually define who we are.. so much so, that it is necessary for us to be accompanied by these furry friends into the afterlife? Although it was hard for me to comprehend the significance behind a horse found in a Viking burial, as in discussed in class today, as soon as I replaced horse with my family dog, I instantly understood the important connections between man and animal. A connection that has provided beyond more than just a food source, but vital companionship.