Pets’ Ashes to Be Buried with Owners in Milan, City Council Approves New Ordinance

MILAN: In a significant move, the Milan city council has enacted a 2022 regional ordinance permitting the burial of pets’ ashes alongside those of their owners in city cemeteries. The decision, announced on Thursday, allows residents to have their beloved pets interred with them, aligning with the wishes of the deceased or their heirs.

According to Ansa News Agency, the ordinance covers a wide range of pets, including dogs, cats, rodents, birds, fish, turtles, rabbits, hamsters, ferrets, and any other animals kept for companionship rather than for productive, work, or food purposes. This new regulation stipulates that animals can be buried in the same tomb as their owners, either simultaneously or after the owner’s burial.

While the ordinance permits the burial of pets with their owners, it sets strict guidelines regarding tombstone inscriptions. Any mention of the pet or images depicting the animal on the grave is prohibited. However, a photograph of the deceased with their pet is allowed, providing a personal touch to the memorial.

The regional law mandates that the pet’s burial must coincide with or follow the owner’s burial in the same artifact or family tomb. If the deceased owner is relocated to another resting place that cannot accommodate both remains, the pet’s ashes must be retrieved by the deceased’s relatives or by those who requested the transfer.

Gaia Romani, the councilor for Civic Services, expressed support for the ordinance, stating, “The burial of pets in city cemeteries is an act of civility that many were waiting for.” The policy reflects a broader shift towards recognizing the emotional bonds between humans and their pets, providing comfort and continuity in the afterlife.