Pet lovers lay their best friends to rest

In memory of the dog, she grew a tree. Peng Tong / for China Daily

In the past, owners would often dump their dead pets, and some even threw them in the trash.

"It brought about a severe problem for the environment," Zhang said.

In Beijing, the problem grew so serious that a new set of regulations was passed last year banning the improper disposal of dead pets.

"So cemeteries like Baifu not only play an important role in sanitation, but offer a special space to remember pets," Zhang said.

However, not everyone supports the idea of pet cemeteries.

As burial land grows scarce and land values skyrocket, there has been much debate about whether such services are driving up prices for human burials.

In some extreme cases, the price of burials has led people to claim they "cannot afford to die", Zhang said.

He frequently hears others say that people should leave enough land resources for themselves, rather than use it on pets.

For those opposed to using a pet cemetery, the association recommends cremation.

"It is becoming commonplace for developed countries to have specialized funeral services for pets," said a spokesman for the association. "China could be more open and tolerant toward pets and their cemeteries."

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