The prevalence of pet funeral services is relatively high among young people. According to a report by Qiu Bijian and Su Saiyi, the pet funeral market is primarily targeted at young users who mostly have experience in pet ownership and have a high level of acceptance for pet funerals, supporting the rationalization of animal funerals. Additionally, the research subjects are concentrated among young people aged 19 to 23, with the majority of consumer groups supporting the rationalization of animal funerals.
However, despite the high demand for pet funerals among young people, factors such as high costs, complicated procedures, low credibility, and long waiting times have affected consumer demand. Nonetheless, as living standards improve, keeping pets has become one of the choices to satisfy emotional needs, and the pet industry has gradually grown and strengthened, including breeding, daily life services, and cremation funeral services. Currently, some developed countries have established comprehensive pet end-of-life service systems and formulated relevant laws and regulations to regulate the development of the industry. In China, the pet funeral industry is still in its developmental stage, but due to its convenience, safety, and sense of ceremony, it is favored by young people, with demand increasing year by year. Pets play an important emotional role in their lives. Modern young people face tremendous life pressures and feelings of loneliness, and pets have become their emotional support and spiritual pillars. Many young people have moved away from their hometowns to live alone in big cities, where pets are not only their companions but also their emotional support. Therefore, when their pets pass away, they feel a strong sense of pain and loss, requiring a ceremony to express and alleviate these emotions. Pet funeral services not only provide a formal farewell ceremony but also help pet owners to reasonably vent negative emotions and meet their emotional needs. This sense of ceremony allows pet owners to share memories with their pets and soothe their emotions through the farewell ceremony. For example, young people hope that funeral institutions will provide a range of services such as body cleaning, farewell ceremonies, cremation ceremonies, and ashes storage. According to a report, 63.46% of respondents would choose body cleaning, 48.12% would choose farewell ceremonies, 48.08% would choose ashes storage, and 38.46% would choose cremation ceremonies. In addition, pet funeral services can also provide a variety of memorials and cultural and creative products, further enhancing the memory and emotional connection of pet owners with their pets. As society develops, young people are increasingly valuing emotional sustenance, and pets play an important role in their lives. Pets not only provide them with companionship and emotional support but also become part of the family. Therefore, when pets pass away, the owners often feel great sadness and pain.The emphasis on pet funerals also reflects a shift in the attitude of young people towards life and death. They begin to face death squarely and learn how to deal with separation and loss through pet funeral services. This service not only helps them handle the pain of losing a pet, but also makes them realize the fragility and preciousness of life.