Losing a pet is one of the hardest moments in life. Grief and a feeling of emptiness stay with us for a long time. It's very difficult to recover. Anyone who has experienced this terrible situation knows that.
To that, we must add the earthly practical dilemma we face when our pet passes away: what do we do with the body of our best friend?
Undoubtedly, this is not a pleasant topic, but it is worth discussing now that some localities are beginning to be aware that pet lovers face this problem when their pet is gone…
Recently, the Málaga city council presented an initiative advocating for the creation of a pet cemetery. The proposal has the support of all municipal groups and commits to offering a solution that ensures compliance with environmental regulations, guarantees public health and hygiene requirements, and, in turn, comforts those facing the recent absence of their best friend.
The initiative responds to increased societal awareness, but also to 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 about 12,500 deaths per year. Thus, the Andalusian city will become one of the first localities to join the list of Spanish cities that already have pet cemeteries. Such as Madrid, where "El último parque" is located. Or Barcelona, where you can visit the small animal cemetery. Or Valencia, where the Sena crematorium cemetery is. And Zaragoza, where the Humas cemetery is located.
If we talk about the origin of pet cemeteries, we have to go back to 1896 and travel to New York to find the first in history: the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery and Crematory. Some years later, in 1899, the Cimetière des Chiens et Autres Animauxs Domestiques in Paris was inaugurated, a good place to rest for all eternity, as you can see in this video:
Undoubtedly, bidding farewell to our best friend as they deserve, allowing them to rest in peace, and having a place where we can visit them whenever we wish, is something we owe them. For so many years of loyalty, friendship, and unconditional love.