The news offers some comfort to those who have lost a four-legged friend and do not wish to be parted from them even after death: burying the remains of a pet in the garden is now legal in Veneto. The decision was made by a resolution approved on 11 April by the regional executive committee on the proposal of health councillor Luca Coletto.

The custom of burying pets in a way that preserves their memory and the affection shared with them stretches back to the dawn of time. Animal cemeteries have indeed been found during excavations at major archaeological sites.

Read also: C'è un cimitero egiziano dei gatti unico al mondo, a Berenice

A forward-thinking law for animal lovers in Veneto

The resolution approved in Veneto has established that, throughout the entire regional territory, pets may be buried on private land – such as gardens, courtyards and privately owned green areas – or in dedicated cemeteries. The decision, taken in compliance with EU regulations, specifies however that burial must take place in such a way that potential predators cannot access the site. Animals to be buried must therefore first be cremated, or the grave must be located at sufficient depth and protected by adequate fencing, in whichever spot on the property the owner considers most appropriate. Headstones, decorations, funerary ornaments and statues are permitted at the owner's discretion; the only requirement will be the official notification of the animal's death by means of a certificate drawn up by a veterinarian.

Read also: Cani e gatti possono vivere di più e meglio grazie a una corretta alimentazione

"For many people, a pet holds a meaning that goes beyond words, because it is felt in the heart, and being able to keep close the companion of so many years who has gone is not a wish to be trivialised," said regional president Luca Zaia. The news is undoubtedly significant for all those who, even after the death of their four-legged friend, wish to preserve their memory as befits every member of the family. Veneto's move could be the first step in a journey that sees other Italian regions too choose to stand on the side of animals and of those who share their lives with them.