Some funeral homes in Spain are making room for pets at farewells, recognizing the close bonds between animals and their owners. In Puerto Real, Cádiz, a local initiative allows pets to visit a funeral home and cemetery to say goodbye to their deceased owners.
The service, known as the “Haru Protocol,” was developed by Puerto Real’s council in partnership with funeral services company Cemabasa. It is named after a rescued cat belonging to the town’s councillor for animal welfare, Virginia Mera. According to the council, the protocol sets out safety measures for visits: pets must be accompanied by a responsible person and supervised by staff, and farewells take place in a private space for a limited time.
The council says pets can experience anxiety and a sense of abandonment after an owner dies, and argues that allowing them to say goodbye may help ease those feelings and help them adjust to the loss. The protocol is now in operation, with the first pet visits held in May. It has also been introduced at the Chiclana Community Cemetery.
Other services take a different approach. A dog-friendly funeral home in Bilbao allows families to attend services with their pets. Grupo Albia says animals are permitted at all its centres, subject to safety, hygiene and welfare requirements. PFB Serveis Funeraris offers pets a private space to say goodbye to loved ones, at a designated time and accompanied by a person.
Unlike these arrangements, the Puerto Real protocol can include opening the coffin so the pet can understand that its owner has died, Cemabasa manager José Luis Ferrer told El País. Elsewhere, the focus is on allowing pets to accompany and support bereaved family members during the funeral.
Sources: Xataka.