Owners memorialize loved pets in dedicated cemetery

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"My baby, Mao Mao Tou, I miss you so much," Li Jianmin said as she was cleaning the tomb of her dog in a pet funeral home in the capital city of Taiyuan in China's northern Shanxi Province.

It's the fifth time that Li Jianmin has visited the pet cemetery since the ashes of her dog were buried there last year. Mao Mao Tou had been her pet for over a decade.

"Now wherever I go around my home, I always think of my dog. She was really adorable. I miss her very much," Li said, bursting into tears.

Li Jianmin sweeps the tomb of her late beloved dog. /CGTN Photo‍

She believes such a memorial is a must for those grieving over the loss of a cat, dog, or other cherished domestic animal.

"I think it's necessary. They are just like people. They are also living creatures roaming the earth. They deserve a place for their remains. I'll never throw them away like some people do," Li said.

Li Chunyang opened the pet funeral home last June. Located in the suburbs of Taiyuan, it covers 2,000 square meters, including the cemetery.

Li Chunyang's pet cemetery now has around 30 tombs. /CGTN Photo

Services of purification, funerals, cremation and cemetery plots are all provided. And a full set of services costs around 1,500 yuan.

Li Chunyang recalled why he had the idea, "I had had a dog for 11 years. And I buried her under a city bridge. But later, after road construction, I couldn't find her. I was sad and felt like I lost her the second time. So I thought why not open a cemetery for pets."

But as a new rising industry, pet funeral homes are still unknown to many people. Li Chunyang said most pet owners often bury their deceased pets randomly which can cause transmission of diseases.

And there's still no government or any kind of legal supervision over the industry. Unreasonable charges for memorial services are often reflected in negative reports.

Since its opening last summer, Li Chunyang has recorded around 100 customers. /CGTN Photo

Li wants governmental supervision. "I hope the government can make regulations to streamline the industry," he said. "They can refer to our suggestions and learn from the already developed industry in foreign countries. That's the only way this industry will develop healthily."

Li Yining, head of the Xiao Jing Ling Pet Hospital, said, "An increasing number of pets leads to more deceased ones. How to deal with the dead pet patients properly is also a problem for us. We hope related government departments can support the last link of the pet industry chain."