Animal cemetery proposed at Ta’ Qali

The death of a furry friend is never welcome, but a recently announced government initiative will strive to make the process at least a little bit more dignified.

According to a planning application presented by the Ministry for the Environment on 19 October, a 1,700 square metre agricultural field has been identified by the government for the development of a dog and cat cemetery.

The development is set to take place in an Outside Development Zone known as Ta' San Gakbu in Ta' Qali.

The development will include a cemetery gate, a back storeroom and an area for graves covered with trees in what looks to be a replica of a human cemetery.

The proposal includes a well to absorb rain water runoff.  The development will not result in the uprooting of any existing trees or demolition of rubble walls.

The proposal for an animal cemetery was proposed in Labour's electoral manifesto before the election.

The previous government had excluded such a development as this deemed to be in breach of EU regulations.

"What you can do is cremate the animal in Marsa and bury its ashes. But you definitely cannot have a public animal cemetery," former Minister George Pullicino replied in a parliamentary question in 2002.

Presently, an owner may bury a dead pet on their property, as long as this is done only occasionally.