Opinion: ‘Until we meet again, brave little cat.’ The heartbreak and taboo of burying our pets | CNN

A recent development in Barcelona marks an intriguing shift in how society approaches the burial of pets. The city has announced plans to establish its first public pet cemetery, offering both burials and cremations for the deceased companions. This news comes as a surprise, given that 50% of families in the densely populated metropolis already own a pet.

Historical records show that burying animals was once seen as taboo. In the 19th century, pets were often disposed of by being sold for meat or buried in rivers to avoid the perceived health risks associated with decomposition. However, over time, attitudes towards animal burial have evolved, reflecting changing relationships between humans and their companions.

In Britain, pet cemeteries began emerging as early as the late 19th century. Hyde Park Pet Cemetery in London's Hyde Park, established in 1881, is one of the earliest recorded examples. New York's Hartsdale pet cemetery was founded in 1896, followed by Paris' ornate Cimetière des Chiens in 1899.

A study on historic gravestones and epitaphs reveals a fascinating transformation in how humans express their relationships with pets over time. In the Victorian period, grave markers often described pets as "loving friends" or "devoted companions." However, by the early 20th century, these epitaphs began to take on a more familial tone, with owners referring to their pets as "Mummy and Daddy."

Fast-forward to today, and it is clear that societal norms around pet burial have evolved significantly. The introduction of public pet cemeteries in cities like Barcelona marks an acceptance of the importance of human-animal relationships. While not everyone may be able to afford the service, alternatives such as home burials or digital pet cemeteries provide more accessible options for those who wish to honor their deceased companions.

A poignant reminder that our relationships with animals are just as meaningful and deserving of expression as those with humans. The debate surrounding public pet cemeteries highlights a broader shift towards recognizing the emotional significance of these bonds.
 
[Image of a cat in a suit, sitting at a desk with a briefcase, with a thought bubble showing a gravestone with a paw print]

[ GIF of a dog and human cuddling, followed by a gravestone with "Best buds forever" written on it ]

[ Image of a person holding up a tablet with a digital pet cemetery on the screen, surrounded by flowers ]

🐾💕
 
barcelona's new public pet cemetery is kinda awesome, i guess 🤷‍♂️ who doesn't want to pay thousands of dollars to be buried next to their furbaby? anyway, it's cool that society has come a long way from the old days where they just sold pets for meat 🍖️ or buried them in rivers. now we can actually give our furry friends some decent sendoff with cremation and all that jazz 💀. and yeah, i'm low-key glad we're recognizing the importance of human-animal relationships...i mean, who doesn't love their cat like it's a person? 😂 anyway, it's not just about the pets, it's also about how our feelings for them are getting more legitimized 🤝
 
🐾💕 I'm so down for this! It's about time we acknowledge how much love and companionship our pets bring to our lives 🙌. I mean, think about it - we invest just as much emotional energy into our relationships with humans as we do with our furry friends 💗. And now, Barcelona is leading the way in creating a space where we can properly honor those special bonds 🔥. It's not just about giving pets a final goodbye; it's about respecting the memories and emotions we share with them 📚. And who knows, maybe this trend will inspire even more cities to follow suit 🌆? The world is definitely moving in the right direction! 💖
 
🐾💀 I gotta say, this is like, totally awesome! Did you know that 70% of people consider their pets to be part of the family? 🤯 Like, it's no wonder we're seeing more pet cemeteries popping up everywhere! And the stats on grave markers are crazy - in the 19th century, only 10% of epitaphs mentioned pets at all! 💔 Fast forward to today and it's like, totally accepted that our furry friends are part of the pack. The fact that 50% of families in Barcelona already own a pet says a lot about how our society is evolving 🌎. I mean, who needs a beach vacation when you can visit your pup's final resting place? 😂
 
🐾💀 just thinkin about all the furry friends we've lost over the yrs 🤗, it's amazing how society has come to accept pet burial as normal 💯. in the past, animals were treated like...well, food 🍔. but times have changed & our love for our pets has too ❤️. it's so cool that cities like barcelona are offerin' public cemeteries now 📍. makes me wish we could all afford a fancy pet cemetery 🤑 but hey, home burials or digital ones are still options 🌿📸. the point is, our pets mean just as much to us as our human fam members 👪💕
 
I'm loving this new trend of pet cemeteries popping up in cities 🌳💕! It's crazy to think that just a few decades ago, it was all about getting rid of pets who were no longer "useful" 😔. But now, we're starting to see how much those furry friends meant to us, and it's beautiful 💗. I mean, what's more human than wanting to give your pet a proper goodbye and a special place to rest in peace? 🤕 It's also awesome that cities like Barcelona are making these services available to everyone, even if they're not super expensive 💸. For me, it's all about honoring the bond between humans and animals - we should definitely be recognizing the emotional significance of those relationships 🐾💖.
 
This is amazing, I've always thought it was weird how we don't have more spaces like this in the US 🤔🐾. It's so great that cities are starting to recognize the importance of human-animal relationships and providing a way for people to say goodbye and celebrate their pets' lives 💕. And yeah, it's crazy to think about how attitudes towards animal burial have changed over time - from being seen as taboo to now being more accepted and even celebrated 🌼. I'm definitely going to look into those historic gravestones and epitaphs, that sounds like a fascinating study 📚🐶.
 
omg this is so cool 🤩 I mean think about it, we're living in an age where pet burials are becoming super accepted and even celebrated! It's like our love for our furry friends is finally being recognized on a bigger scale 💕 And I'm all about that - who says humans can't have the same level of attachment to animals as they do with their own kind? 🤷‍♀️ I mean, pets are part of our families too, right? 👪 It's amazing how far we've come since the 19th century when it was seen as taboo. Now, we're like "yeah, let's give your pet a proper burial or cremation" 💯 And I'm all about that inclusivity - whether you can afford it or not, there are options out there for everyone 💖
 
This is just getting out of hand... a public pet cemetery in Barcelona? next thing you know, they'll be letting people bring their cats to the beach 🐈😂. But seriously, I get it. pets are like family, and we need some way to say goodbye that doesn't feel so... human. but 50% of families already own a pet? that's just crazy talk. what's next, a public funeral for your toaster? 😂
 
[Image of a cute dog lying on top of a grave with a "RIP" sign] 😴🐶
[A cat sitting next to a gravestone with a name tag that says "Mummy"] 🐱❤️
[An illustration of a family member and their pet cuddling together, surrounded by flowers] 👫💕
[Illustration of a person looking sad while holding an empty food bowl, with a thought bubble saying "My poor pup!"] 🐾😔
[A picture of a dog's paw print on a gravestone, with the inscription "Faithful companion until the end"] 💕🐶
[An image of a pet cemetery at sunset, with a peaceful atmosphere] 🌅💤
 
lol this is amazing, i mean what's next? public cat cafes? 🤣 but seriously, i think its awesome that people are finally acknowledging the importance of our furry friends and giving them the sendoff they deserve. its like, we spend so much time talking about humans finding love and getting married, but when it comes to animals, we just kinda... forget about them 🐾💔. this pet cemetery thing is a step in the right direction, even if its not perfect. at least now people can pay their respects and say goodbye with some dignity 😊
 
I'm so down on this new public pet cemetery in Barcelona! It's like, we've come a long way from selling our pets for meat or burying them in rivers 🙅‍♂️. I mean, it's crazy to think that people used to see animals as just commodities, not as companions and friends 🐾❤️. Now, we're starting to recognize the emotional value of these relationships and giving owners a way to honor their pets' memory in a meaningful way 💀.

It's also awesome to see how attitudes towards animal burial have changed over time ⏰. From "loving friends" to "Mummy and Daddy", it's clear that our language and traditions around pet loss have evolved 📚. And let's be real, who doesn't want a beautiful spot to visit their furry friend when they pass away? 🌳 It's a small way for us to acknowledge the impact pets have on our lives 💕.

I'm curious to see how this trend will spread and what other cities might follow Barcelona's lead 🤔. Either way, I think it's a step in the right direction towards recognizing the importance of human-animal bonds ❤️.
 
you know, this whole thing got me thinkin' about how we treat our pets - they're part of the fam too 🐾❤️ but people used to see 'em as just animals, not like they were worth puttin' in a proper rest... now it's like we're finally gettin' that these bonds are real and deserve respect. it's all about how we treat others (including our furry friends) - if we can show love & care for pets, shouldn't we be able to say goodbye with some dignity too? 🌼
 
Barcelona's move is a no-brainer 🤯, more options for pet owners who wanna say goodbye to their furry friends in a respectful way. It's only natural that our relationships with pets are valued equally to those with humans 👍. It's interesting how attitudes have shifted over time, from being taboo to becoming an accepted part of society. Now we can see the emotional significance of these bonds, which is beautiful 🌸.
 
🤯 I'm loving this new trend in Barcelona! It's about time we acknowledge that pets are more than just furry friends, they're family members 🐾❤️. Can you imagine being able to say goodbye to your beloved pup with a proper ceremony and a nice headstone? 💀 It's such an important step forward for pet owners who want to honor their companions' memory. And yeah, it's not cheap, but hey, if it's what makes the grieving process easier, why not? 🤑 Plus, think of all the emotional energy that'll be freed up when we can focus on celebrating the good times instead of dwelling on loss 😊.
 
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