Losing a pet is one of the hardest moments in life. Mourning and the feeling of emptiness stay with us for a long time. It is very difficult to recover. Anyone who has experienced that terrible situation knows it.
In addition, there is the down-to-earth practical dilemma we face when our pet passes away: what do we do with our best friend's body?
This is undoubtedly not a pleasant subject, but it is worth discussing now that some towns are beginning to be aware that pet lovers face this problem when their pet dies…
Recently, Málaga City Council presented an initiative supporting the creation of a pet cemetery. The proposal has the support of all municipal groups and is committed to offering a solution that ensures compliance with environmental regulations, meets public health and hygiene requirements, and, in turn, provides comfort to those facing the recent loss of their best friend.
The initiative is a response to society's growing awareness, but also to the data: Málaga is the Andalusian province with the highest number of companion animals, with a registered figure, according to the College of Veterinarians, of 350,000 (representing 23 percent of the Andalusian total) and approximately 12,500 deaths per year. Thus, this Andalusian city will become one of the first Spanish localities to join the list of Spanish cities that already have pet cemeteries. For example, Madrid, where “El último parque” is located. Or Barcelona, where you can visit the cemetery for small animals. Or Valencia, where the Sena crematorium cemetery is located. And Zaragoza, where the Humas cemetery is located.
When discussing the origins of pet cemeteries, we have to go back to 1896 and travel to New York to find the first one in history: Hartsdale Pet Cemetery and Crematory. A few years later, in 1899, the Cimetière des Chiens et Autres Animauxs Domestiques de París was opened, a good place to rest for all eternity, as you can see in this video:
Without a doubt, saying goodbye to our best friend as they deserve, allowing them to rest in peace, and having a place we can visit whenever we wish is something we owe them. For so many years of loyalty, friendship, and unconditional love.