A Purr-Fect Send-Off

The loss of a pet is difficult. It’s even more difficult for pet parents to find a suitable resting place for their furry friends. However, now an initiative has been taken to set up pet crematoriums in many cities of India. A perfect send-off to a dear friend who will always be missed!

In a quiet, green corner of Mumbai’s suburbs, a family stands silently to bid farewell to their pet dog at an eco-friendly pet crematorium. “Pet crematoriums are an absolute necessity for a country with approximately 35-40 million pet dogs annually,” says Pet parent Simran Singh, Founder and Creative Head of RSVP.

Simran reflects on pet parents like herself who keep pets at altitude:

Best regards, pet crematoriums

It’s always been a tough spot. “Despite the delay,” he jokes, “it’s a welcome relief to have more pet crematoriums around.”

Claws and Claws

Currently, India has its own electric pet crematoriums located primarily in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune and Bengaluru. In fact, a crematorium for pets was opened in Gopanapalli in Hyderabad in 2024. Many Tier 2 cities like Thane and Navi Mumbai will soon get into the game with plans to develop their own mobile electric crematoriums. Some pet crematoriums even offer

environmentally friendly cremations.

“Pet crematoriums offer something much deeper than a physical service. They create a sacred space for closure, honoring a soul that once shared its light and love with us,” says Aleesha Agarwal Goyal, Founder and Animal Engagement Officer at The Mystic Purple.

Not only that, initiatives like Pet Crematorium Vans are also floating around. Mumbai recently got its first pet crematorium van located in Borivali. The van features crematorium facilities that allow pet parents to respectfully say goodbye to their fur babies. Fees range from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 (depending on the size and weight of the animal). Interestingly, the service is free for strays.

Grief in short

The emotional significance of these facilities extends far beyond mere practicality. For grieving pet parents, they offer a gentle bridge between loss and recovery; a safe haven where sadness is met with solace. Most importantly, there is peace of mind knowing that they said their ‘final farewell’ to their beloved fur friend with dignity and dignity.

“Death is a sacred passage,” says Aleesha. She shares that animals, as an integral part of the family, deserve to be honored during the transition that death brings us. According to him, pet crematoriums are much more than physical spaces; these are sacred thresholds where grief, gratitude, and tranquility peacefully coexist. Animal Communicator and Pet Psychic Dr. “From both a spiritual and environmental perspective, pet crematoriums allow the life cycle to complete itself in the most natural and conscious way,” says Parul Chaudhri.

Simran goes back in time and remembers the time when she lost her first pet friend (Buzo). He was an abandoned dog who got a second chance at life and passed away peacefully, naturally. However, Simran regrets not being able to say a proper goodbye to him. “What we didn’t get to say goodbye to him was a dignified farewell, and that still hurts,” he says. Aleesha says that when her first dog (Chikoo) passed away, she wanted to give him a proper Hindu burial. He says: “The sad part was that not even a single Hindu Cremation Center was ready to give us a small space for Chikoo’s cremation.”

He then shares that what is requested is an exorbitant fee. He adds: “They even said cremation had to be done quickly, as cremation of animals is generally not allowed in these facilities.”

Veda Facilities

While pet crematoriums have begun to make their presence felt in some cities, there are some basic amenities that can be expected in these areas. What sets them apart is a thoughtful blend of modernity and sensibility. Many of these crematoriums aim to provide private farewell rooms or rooms where families can spend their final moments with their fur friends. Some of the planned offerings include: small memorial garden spotlights, nameplates and even paw prints.

Dr Parul thinks that for pet crematoriums, it is not only the technical details that are important, but also the precision in the functioning of the space. He thinks that for practical purposes, regulations should be made for both individual and collective cremations. These include eco-friendly initiatives, as well as facilities to collect ashes, memorial urns, or keepsakes to help pet parents keep memories of their friends in a tangible way. A pet crematorium should feel like a sanctuary where love is honored, pain is respected, and each soul is allowed to make a peaceful transition with dignity.

Honor in Death

What is certain is that the demand for pet crematoriums is now finally increasing. Cities like Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and Delhi have started waking up to this necessity, providing some solace and relief to thousands of pet parents around. Made of brick and mortar, these spaces bear the unspoken weight of final farewells, sturdy hands giving up the tiny paws that once held them tightly. Maybe these pet crematoriums are here to remind us that every life, no matter how small, deserves to be honored and said a purring farewell!

FUR-EVER MISSED

• A crematorium for pets was inaugurated in Gopanapalli, Hyderabad, in 2024.

• Delhi’s first eco-friendly Pet Crematorium opened in Dwarka.

• Maharashtra gets first eco-friendly pet crematorium in Mira-Bhayandar

• Six existing crematoriums in Mumbai will be updated to include animal cremations

• Cremation fees usually range from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 (Depends on the size and weight of the animal. Animals under 30 kg – Rs 2,000, Animals over 30 kg – Rs 3,000)

• Other facilities in the pipeline include green memorial parks, a tree planting area (in memory of pets) and the disposal of ashes after disposal in the bin.