More and more Romanians have pets, and the phenomenon has led to the extension of food and accessories, as well as to the development of animal cemeteries. Looking in the past as a curiosity, the places of eternity for non -speaking have become perceived as a sign of civilization.
Animal cemetery. Source: Heaven of Facebook animals
Romanians are among the most pets attached to Europeans, which is reflected by the large number of dogs and cats registered in Romania.
Dogs and cats, favorite animals of Romanians
Over 4.2 million dogs and over 4.4 million cats live in the houses and around the Romanian households, according to the statistics of the European Federation of Pet Industration (Fiaf).
The Fediaf report for 2024 shows that the number of cats and dogs held by Romanians was increasing, by about 100,000 compared to the previous year. The document also states that Romanians have almost 300,000 ornamental birds, over 150,000 aquariums, about 95,000 rodents and other small mammals, as well as over 32,000 turtles.
Increasing the number of pets in Romania shows that more and more people are responsible for these living things, considered beneficial for the physical and emotional health of their masters. This trend also contributed to increasing the number of veterinarians in Romania, to almost 7,000, as well as to the development of food and animal accessories.
If in the past the only options of the owners whose dogs and cats have died were the burial of animals on private lands or incineration, in recent years, in several localities there has been an additional option: burial in cemeteries specially for pets.
The first animal cemetery
One of the oldest animal cemetery in Romania was established in 2003, in a locality with a predestined name: the village of Cățelu, located on the outskirts of the Capital. A place of eternity in this private cemetery for animals costs from 1,100 lei for rodents, birds, cats and rabbits, and reaches up to 1,450 lei for very large dogs. The owners also pay an annual green fee of 200 lei, as well as, optionally, a transport fee.
If they want, the owners can pay several hundred lei for the coffins in which the animals are deposited, depending on the model and size, as well as for the commemorative plates and ceramic pictures. Also here, deceased animals can be incinerated for a fee, and their ashes can be kept in funeral urns, available for purchase. At the request of the owners, dehumues can be made. The cemetery on the outskirts of the capital has over 50,000 places, on a 1.5 hectare land.
Animal cemetery. Source: Heaven of animals. Facebook
At the end of the 2000s, the first animal cemetery in western Romania was inaugurated in Hunedoara. Over time, the space allocated has filled with numerous tombs for dogs, cats, rodents, reptiles, birds and even fish. The cemetery was opened in 2010 by the Bodrean family, after the loss of Pony puppy.
“The cemetery is located on a picturesque hill in the city of Hunedoara, where the wind of memories always brings together. On its alleys, you can meet with the emotion, love and separation. In our cemetery, the burial is individual, and each animal is buried alone, in the grave. The funeral can assist friends and family, only a programming is required ”, transmit the representatives of the cemetery.
The tomb can be marked with a funeral plate of marble or granite, on which the birth and death data, the name of the Animăuț and its photograph are inscribed.
Public funds for pets cemeteries
In recent years, cemeteries have been opened for pets and Codlea (Brașov county), and in Lazaru commune (Bihor county). All are private investments, but recently, the local administrations in Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu and Galați have announced the arrangement of such facilities from public funds.
“We start the construction of a pet cemetery in a forest-parc. In 2024 Emil Boc, the mayor of Cluj-Napoca, declared in 2024.
The cemetery in Cluj-Napoca is still in the project phase. The future pet cemetery in the municipality of Sibiu will be located in the area of Dealul Păilaurii and will have about 600 graves, for small, medium and large animals. Located in the project phase, the Galati Cemetery will be arranged on an area of 1.5 hectares, with funds allocated by the Galați County Council.
What Romanians do after the death of pets
On the online platforms, many Romanians told how they broke up with their ruthless friends, after their death.
A Romanian told that he spent 1,300 lei for incineration of his dog, large.
“I received the ash, the ballot box, two paintings made with his paws-one of the plaster, which I put on the furniture, and one with ink, on the canvas, which I hang on to the wall, above the crib. It is very comforting to know that it is with us at home, even so.” he added.
Others reported that the garden of the house, the yard, the banks of some waters and the forests on the outskirts of the locality were the places where they buried their animals. Sometimes, they planted trees over the graves.
“I buried the cat in a forest near the house, where there is peace and almost no one passes. I wrapped it in her favorite blanket and, to be sure that an animal did not unearther, I gathered several stones and placed them on top.” a Romanian reported.
However, the law prohibits the burial of animals in the public domain or in unauthorized places.
