Czy w Bolesławcu lub okolicy powinien powstać cmentarz dla zwierząt?
Beloved dogs, cats, hamsters and other pets are often buried illegally after their deaths in home gardens or in the forest. Illegally, because under the law the remains of pets are classified as hazardous waste and must be disposed of (burned). A police officer or municipal guard who catches someone performing an illegal burial may punish the offender with a hefty fine.
One married couple from Bolesławiec recently paid a PLN 500 fine for burying their dog in the forest. These people live in an apartment block and do not have a plot of land. When their beloved dog died, they could not imagine handing its body over for disposal at the Municipal Communal Services Facility.
“The question of an animal cemetery is asked every time one of my clients’ beloved dogs or cats dies,” says veterinarian Marta Surdyka. “Owners are obliged to hand the animal’s remains over to an MZGK employee. But it is difficult for them to put their friend in a garbage bag and have it burned.”
Another couple, who own a detached house with a garden, have already buried two canine friends there. “They loved us with such great love, served us so faithfully and took such good care of us that I cannot imagine them being buried in any way other than a dignified one,” says their owner. She adds that an animal cemetery could certainly be established in Bolesławiec.
There are ten cemeteries for small domestic animals in Poland (so-called burial grounds). All of them are supervised by veterinarians. The nearest cemetery and crematorium to Bolesławiec is located in Kąty Wrocławskie (Szymanów). It has operated since 2002, and several hundred animals have already been buried there. Burial fees vary, averaging from PLN 50 (very small animals) to PLN 500 (dogs weighing more than 40 kg). A place in the cemetery is leased, and the plot is paid for several years in advance.
The memory of a deceased animal can also be honored online. There are several virtual cemeteries where people create a memorial profile for an animal, post memories and a photo gallery, and even light candles on its online grave. Animal cemeteries are private initiatives. The physical ones are subject to very strict sanitary regulations. However, the number of animals buried there may indicate strong demand for this type of service.
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(information: Grażyna Hanaf)