“We cried for days on end,” Hendrichs said, recalling the death of his faithful friend more than 15 years ago and its sad end that prompted him to set up a cemetery for pets south of Berlin.
Sebastian Oehlandt said he goes to the cemetery two or three times a week to spend time at the small tomb of his cat of almost 15 years, Hiro. “A domestic animal as a social partner, in particular for singles, has become more and more important in our society,” said IVH president Georg Mueller in the 2017 study, noting the trend among both the elderly and younger adults.“Young adults who have a very busy professional life often have an animal at home,” he said.
At the Teltow cemetery, boxes of tissues are available at every corner — at the entrance of the main building, the crematorium or the quiet room, where the walls are covered with photos of dearly departed companions.And Hendrichs is there too to lend a listening ear; a pet owner’s grief needs to be taken seriously, he stressed.