Enhancing Funeral Services:
The Strategic Importance of Pets
at Funeral Services 

By Juan Rodríguez, CEO Grupo Gayosso, Mexico

I believe that funeral services are in the business of people, of life; and death is an intrinsic part of life. It will surround people during their lives and to be able to offer a comprehensive service for families we need to adapt and find new and creative ways for our modus operandi. It is not a matter of ceasing to be what we are, it is a matter of naturally expanding what we are and what we do.

We can and should be more present in certain avenues of life, such as health and peace of mind (buying funeral preneed or funeral insurance is part of the latter), and of course, also the needs of dignified services when life comes to an end.

On the basis that the composition of the family as the primary social nucleus to be protected is changing, is being configured in different ways and clearly pets have become part of it, we cannot ignore this reality and we must adapt our portfolio of offerings if we want to remain the solution for all members of a family. 

I will try to explain my experience and why in Gayosso, we invested in developing the business of pet provision and operation from two different aspects:

• As a value contribution for families and natural diversification of the human funeral operation.
• And as an approach to care for pets through the use of (veterinarian) foresight in their lives to extend or improve the lives of our human preneed clients.

History

The practice of developing funeral rites for companion animals dates back thousands of years. It represents an ancient emotional connection and value placed on pets by their human owners. One of the earliest known examples of this type of custom is found in the bond between humans and dogs. 

Archaeological sites have revealed that some of the oldest pet burials date back more than 14,000 years. For example, a dog burial discovered in Oberkassel, Germany, is approximately 14,000 years old. This site suggests that humans maintained an intimate relationship with their dogs, even to the point of burying them ceremoniously after their death.

Other examples include remains of dogs buried alongside humans in tombs dating back to the Neolithic period, evidencing not only the existence of a special bond between humans and dogs but also a consideration of the animal as an important part of human life and deserving of burial rites.

Moreover, in ancient Egypt, where reverence for animals was highly pronounced, pets were often mummified and buried with their owners or in dedicated necropolises. Cats, dogs, and other domestic animals received this treatment, indicating the belief that there was a bond beyond death, and the desire that these animals could accompany their owners in the afterlife.

These findings demonstrate that pet burial rites represent a significant and ancient cultural practice, reflecting the deep connection between humans and their companion animals throughout history, a connection that deserves a dignified farewell.

Want to learn more about:

• Benefits of pets in the final years of a person's life
• Demographics of companion animals
• Global statistics
• Funeral business insight
• Pet protection legislation

Read the article in the autumn issue of THANOS magazine - you can read online at pages 26-29