Standardized burial for pets

With the number of pets reaching an estimated 250 million last year in China, a lack of standardized disposal and burial option for pets is being highlighted, reports the Beijing News.

Most pet owners say they intend to either dig a hole and bury their dead pet randomly or ask pet hospital to deal with the body.

A woman holds a funeral for her pet dog at the Wangzai pet cemetery, March 27, 2017 in Wuhan, Hubei Province. [Photo: VCG]

But the article is warning that random burials may spread disease and pollute the environment.

Though there are regulations for animal epidemic prevention, the report claims there is a lack of supervision.

Accountability is also unclear, said the report, as no department has a defined responsibility of supervising and managing pet burials.

As such, authorities in Shanghai are taking the lead, setting up pet carcas receiving stations, installing specialized cremators and training professional staff with animal disposal techniques.