Pet funerals on the rise as owners say farewell

HEFEI - On a table in the mourning room, pet undertaker Yang Siwei carefully wiped blood off the body of Dumbo, a 9-year-old poodle, as the dog's owner, Chen Tingting, stood beside the table to bid farewell to her deceased furry friend, which had been hit by a car two days before.

Yang helps pet owners like Chen in Anhui province prepare funerals for their beloved pets, and has cremated hundreds of animals in the past three years.

Pet funeral services are picking up steam in China, as millions of animal lovers seek ways to bring closure to their relationships with their former companions.