Bern moves to allow people to be buried with their pets

Some people don’t want to go anywhere without their pooch, and soon they could have them by their side forever. New burial regulations proposed by the city of Bern would allow people to have their beloved pets buried with them. 

Pet ashes could be allowed in graves of Bern residents

Four-legged companions are an important part of the lives of many people, becoming part of the family for many years and making it hard to say goodbye. This could be the very reason that the city of Bern is considering allowing people to share their graves with their pets.

The pet’s ashes would be considered funerary objects, according to 20Minuten, and would have to have a volume of less than five litres. 

Proposal for joint burial of owners and pets sparks concerns

Understandably, animal welfare organisations are concerned about the possibility of pet owners having a joint burial with their animals. While it may seem like a harmless idea to have your dead pet buried with you, the issue comes in when the person’s pet is still alive at the time of their death. 

The animal welfare association, Tier im Fokus, is worried that pet owners would have their healthy pets euthanised just so they can be buried with them. This is why the organisation is suggesting a clause for the regulation that animals put to sleep exclusively for joint burial not be allowed in the burial, and that anyone who signs up for a shared grave sign a declaration that the animal will not be killed just for this purpose.