Ashes to ashes, dust to dust

Dogs, cats and other pets are a part of the family, but with only one animal crematorium for the whole city, owners are at a loss

When you walk through the verdant bylanes of this four-acre land in the heart of Parel, your ears get attuned to constant mewls, barks, bellows and squeaks of the 500-odd animals residing in Mumbai's very own animal's paradise, officially called 'The Bombay Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' (BSPCA). But right next to the 'buddy house' — a home for ownerless cats — is a quiet room, which houses the city's only electric crematorium for animals.

It's a place that offers bereaved owners the chance to give their pets a dignified farewell.
"More than 90 per cent of pet owners come here to get their animals cremated," says Colonel Khanna, secretary of the BSPCA. Electric cremation, he says, is one of the safest and most environmentally friendly options available today. "And if the owners wish, they can take the ashes of their pets home." This is a practice that's very much in vogue these days. Some people are so attached to their pets that they even take the ashes and flow them into holy rivers like the Ganga.

Dr Deepa Katial, a Chembur-based vet says, "When my dogs passed away, I had them cremated at the BSPCA in Parel, and then took their ashes to the River Ganga. I was very attached to my dogs." She's done this for three of her dogs, who were an integral part of the family.

But what irks Mumbai’s pet owners is that this is the only facility in the entire city. "There should be more centres like this. It took me around two hours to come here with my injured dog," says a disheartened Sonia Jaini, who had to cart her Doberman, Tiger, from Thane to Parel for an emergency operation last week.

It's not surprising that people who can't make the long commute prefer to bury their pet in a neighbourhood garden — a practice that's frowned upon by many neighbourhood societies and buildings. Just last week, a Navi Mumbai resident, who chose to bury his dead Pomeranian in a residential area got into trouble when neighbours thought he was covering up a murder.

"No grieving owner wants to go through such a harrowing incident," says Dadar resident Alex Perierra, who recently lost his pet dog. "Luckily for me, the BSPCA is close to my house, but I can understand how difficult it will be for people living in distant parts of the city," he says. “It gets worse if you don’t have a vehicle to transport your pet’s body. Not all taxi drivers are accommodating.”

Says Girish Ambe, the BMC's joint executive health officer: "It's a common practice for owners to opt for a burial. But it has to be done in a manner so as not to harm the environment or create health problems." Khanna concurs.

"Burying leaves an infection in the soil, which can cause harm to other animals also. I don't support that practice at all." But owners say that with only one crematorium in the city, burial is their only option. Vet Dr Barry Kalsy feels that few people really "know how to bury their pets". He says, "It's a difficult task because the hole has to have a depth of more than five feet."

Owners feel that it's time the government and NGOs take steps towards building another crematorium. One that will ensure that the city's animals can leave this world with the dignity they deserve.