9 Months, 600 Farewells: Ahmedabad Pets Get Human-Like Last Rites

In a sign of the deep bond between people and their pets, 600 dogs and cats have been cremated with traditional last rites in Ahmedabad over the past nine months. Pet owners are not only opting for cremation but also performing rituals similar to those followed for human funerals, ensuring their beloved companions receive a dignified farewell.

Bathing, Ghee, Flowers and Kumkum Before Final Farewell

At Ahmedabad’s first dog crematorium in Behrampura, pet owners bring their deceased dogs and cats for their final rites. Before the cremation, the animals are bathed, ghee is applied to their bodies, flowers are offered and kumkum is applied, after which emotional families bid them farewell.

The cremation itself takes around three hours, and the growing demand has led to a waiting period. On some days, the facility receives requests for five to seven cremations, requiring pet owners to book appointments.

547 Pets, 53 Stray Dogs Cremated in Nine Months

Of the 600 cremations, 547 involved pet dogs and cats, while 53 were stray dogs. The cremations are carried out in a CNG-fired furnace.

The facility, established by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in Behrampura in January, has also attracted pet owners from Rajkot, Surat, Bhavnagar and Mehsana. Families from Jaipur and Udaipur have also travelled eight to 10 hours to Ahmedabad to perform the final rites of their pets.

Ashes Collected in Urns, Immersed Like Human Last Rites

For several families, the farewell does not end with cremation. The ashes are collected in an urn, covered with a red cloth and labelled with the pet’s name. Owners then take the urn and immerse the ashes in a river as part of the final ritual.

Some owners have travelled to Haridwar, Kolkata and Chanod to immerse the ashes of their beloved pets.

Two More Dog Crematoriums Planned

With demand continuing to rise, the AMC’s Civic Nuisance Control Department has planned two additional dog crematoriums at a cost of around ₹60 lakh.

One will be developed in Vastral, while the second will come up in the western part of Ahmedabad near the Ring Road.