PETALING JAYA: It used to be common for pet owners to find a vacant piece of land to bury their pets, but times have changed.
Many Malaysians now hold proper funerals to give their pets a dignified send-off, with the ceremonies becoming increasingly common here since the pandemic as more owners view pets as family.
When Neoh Bi Yun’s pet dog Casmiere died after 15 years with her, she didn’t want to just bury him in the backyard.
Instead, a funeral ceremony, complete with coffins and flowers, was held for the Pomeranian-mixed sheepdog that died a month ago.
The final journey: An example of a pet funeral set-up. Coffins go up in price depending on the size of the animal. — Photo courtesy of Chow
For Neoh, 23, a pet funeral is important, rather than a typical burial just anywhere.
“He passed away last month due to kidney disease. It was a disaster for the whole family, as he had stayed with us for nearly 15 years, almost like a family member,” said the auditor from Kuala Lumpur.
“We had a difficult time accepting the loss of a family member, but we’re also glad Casmiere isn’t in pain anymore.”
She said that spending RM4,500 on the funeral was worth it, as it was a meaningful way to commemorate Casmiere – especially since they had never held birthday parties for him.
“This funeral allowed us to feel that we could keep him close to us, rather than simply burying him,” she said. She added that she found peace in the way they sent him off.
“I think it is important that pet funerals become more common. They provide a way to formally recognise that bond and the loss rather than dismiss it as just an animal. It validates the grief we feel,” she shared.
Sharing similar sentiments, Kelly Yan Yen Qun, 35, said the loss of her dog four years ago inspired her to start a pet funeral service in Petaling Jaya.
“My dog’s name was Pie, a Border Collie, and he died because of an illness, which I did not know about when he was with me.
“When I lost him, I was very sad and chose to cremate him. But it was done just like that – I wasn’t given proper counselling or a proper farewell with my Pie,” she said.
Determined to help others say goodbye more meaningfully, Yan decided to be an undertaker for pets, offering pet funeral arrangements with her packages, including counselling, to ensure owners are comforted after their loss.
“I wanted to create a space where pet owners can properly mourn and find comfort,” she said, adding that she has done all sorts of household pets, including jumbo rats.
Her packages range from basic cremation to full memorial ceremonies, from RM499 all the way to RM3,000, depending on the size of the animal (for casket) and funeral packages.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Funeral Public Association secretary-general Nick Chow said that the professionalisation of pet funerals emerged as people began to cherish their pets deeply.
“Every month, we receive enquiries about our services, which cater to various pets, including dogs, cats and pigeons,” he said.
He also said that there have been approximately 24 cases each year since 2022, with prices for pet coffins ranging from RM300 to RM2,000, depending on the size of the animal.
He said that pet cremation will occur in a dedicated furnace to avoid mixing human and animal ashes.
When asked about the preparation process, he said pets are not embalmed like humans.
“We only do simple grooming and cleaning to make them look their best before the final viewing,” he said.
“Unlike humans, the process is shorter because pets can start to smell within a few hours, so we don’t keep them for too long.”
