Pet farewells are now transforming funeral services across Barcelona’s metropolitan area through a pioneering initiative.
PFB Serveis Funeraris has launched a groundbreaking service allowing companion animals to visit funeral homes and say goodbye to their deceased owners, recognising the deep emotional bonds between pets and their human families.
Pet farewells address emotional needs
This innovative approach currently operates across funeral homes in Badalona, Barcelonès, Baix Llobregat and Maresme.
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Furthermore, the service specifically addresses the emotional wellbeing of animals during times of loss. According to Ana Gassió, general director of PFB Serveis Funeraris, their primary objective is providing “a service adapted to each family’s needs that respects all sensitivities.”
The procedure is intentionally simple and respectful. Families interested in this option contact the funeral home to arrange a quiet moment during the wake period. Consequently, the farewell typically lasts between five and ten minutes and always occurs with professional supervision and family members present.
Protocol development and implementation
To ensure an appropriate experience during such delicate moments, PFB has adapted its funeral homes to comply with regulations. Moreover, they consulted ITVET, a specialist certifier of pet-friendly spaces, to define access and coexistence protocols. Gassió emphasises that pets also suffer when facing death, making this space “a necessary and positive gesture for their emotional wellbeing.”
The initiative’s genesis came from personal experience within the PFB team rather than corporate planning. It originated from a worker at the Badalona funeral home who wondered what would happen to his own pet if he died first and how the animal could say goodbye. This reflection prompted company management to recognise the profound human meaning behind the concern and develop the service accordingly.
While PFB had occasionally facilitated this practice for families who requested it, the service has been formally available since this autumn. The initiative now gives visibility to this option and fully integrates it into the company’s bereavement care. Most participating animals have been dogs, though cats and other companion animals have also taken part.
Importantly, this pet participation involves no additional cost and isn’t classified as a special service, but rather as a natural and respectful option for families. This development reflects changing attitudes toward emotional wellbeing in the region. Through this measure, PFB Serveis Funeraris reaffirms its commitment to more empathetic and comprehensive bereavement care, ensuring all family members—including pets—can experience farewells respectfully.
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