As spring returns to the earth, life flourishes and the beauty of the season continues to spread. When we think of the Qingming festival, what first comes to mind? Is it spring outings or spring sacrifices? Regardless of the activity, the most important aspect is who we go with and for what purpose.
Have you heard of pet cemeteries? With the changing times, a culture surrounding pet cemeteries has gradually emerged. The peak of tomb-sweeping in pet cemeteries also reflects the diversification of modern lifestyles. Besides the common cats and dogs, there are also rabbits, turtles, goldfish, and more. Pet cemeteries are places where deceased dogs are buried; the term primarily refers to locations where the bodies or ashes of deceased pets are interred. This is a sign of civilization and progress in human history.
However, some netizens believe that establishing cemeteries for pets is a waste of land resources, and it is hard to accept the idea of tomb-sweeping for pets during the Qingming festival. Many others argue that pets accompany their owners for their entire lives and are part of the family. The pain of separation when a pet’s life comes to an end is something that those who have not raised pets cannot understand. In fact, pet cemeteries have been established for a long time and are the preferred choice for more and more pet owners to lay their deceased pets to rest.
“With the increasing number of pets, if all pets need to be buried with grand ceremonies, buying cemetery plots and setting up tombstones, given the scarcity of land resources, isn’t this a waste? Moreover, with the cost of human funerals already so high, there is a debate about the necessity of funerals for pets.” Besides these viewpoints, there are also practical obstacles. For instance, in China, there are no clear legal regulations for the pet funeral industry, nor are there departments responsible for and supervising this sector.
“Humans have dignity and can have funerals after death; why can’t pets have the same dignity? For those with deep emotional bonds with their pets, they are no different from us.”
