SINGAPORE — When Mylo the Jack Russell died two years ago, its body was placed in a specially-modified white coffin lined with cushions, transported in a hearse, and carried into the cremation hall by men dressed in black-and-white formal wear.
Cotton the Maltese’s farewell three weeks ago was not far behind in scale. A monk was hired to chant Buddhist sutras at its funeral, and joss papers and the dog’s favourite food like salmon and kangaroo meat were offered up. Later, Cotton’s owner, Ms Zoe Tan, set up an altar with the pooch’s urn at home. Seven days after its passing, she burnt more joss papers and offered food at the altar.
“Cotton is my daughter. I did what I did because I want to thank her for coming into my life. I hope she is safe and happy now,” said Ms Tan, a customer service officer.
To some, such send-offs may seem excessive but to their owners, they were “most appropriate” for a beloved family member. As the number of pets here increase, vets and funeral services have also seen more owners keen on giving their pets a more dignified send-off. This has spurred a slew of services, from pet coffins and religious send-offs, to converting animal ashes into gemstones.
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