• 21/01/2023
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Haute-Garonne: The Beaumont-sur-Lèze animal cemetery, "is above all a story of affection"<

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Religion,Animals,Toulouse
Published on , updated

the essentialsOn All Saints' Day, even the graves of pets are flowered in the Beaumont-sur-Lèze cemetery, south of Toulouse.Haute-Garonne: the animal cemetery of Beaumont-sur-Lèze, Haute-Garonne: the animal cemetery of Beaumont-sur-Lèze,

On this All Saints' Day, Jacqueline, 84, arrived at the Beaumont-sur-Lèze animal cemetery, south of Toulouse, with two small fuchsia plastic flowers in her hands, a brush and wipes . She comes to take care of the grave of her dog Mathias, a superb Lhasa Apso, with whom she did beauty contests. “ I took him, here, a small vault in perpetuity ”, announces the retiree. Higher up, Françoise, accompanied by Thomas, pulls out some weeds between the gravel of Daïka's grave, located at the start of the Allée des Canaris. “ This Labrador accompanied me for more than 12 years ”, specifies Françoise. If she chose to bury this beast here, "it's to have the impression of having it forever", she slips. The couple say they visit their dog " three to four times a year ".

Princesse, Pompon, Kiki...

Cinnamon, Nono, Berlioz, Titou, Trésor, Siska, Clarinet, Poupi, Princesse, Pompon, Kiki… are all first names that can be read of the 630 graves housed in this animal cemetery. “ 90% we have cats and dogs. The law does not authorize us to bury an animal of more than 40 kg. For example, when we are asked for horses, we cannot ”, specifies Patrick Choyer, the brand new president of the association “ Maurice Massonnier ”, which has been managing the premises since 1991. On this All Saints Day, it is he who welcomes visitors who come to meditate on the graves of their animals. Since last year, the cemetery has been divided into aisles. Each bears the names of birds : alley of doves, thrushes, jays, .. “It is an initiative of the cemetery employee. Everything is listed, it is easier to find your way around ”, recognizes Patrick Choyer. But what drives people to bury their animals here ? “ It is mainly a story of affection. For 30 years, the animal has taken an increasingly important place in our lives. They are considered full members. The people who come to bury them here, do it to keep the memory ”, continues Patrick Choyer, who buried “two dogs, Varna and Casimir and four cats” in this cemetery. Created in 1968, on an initiative of Maurice Massonnier, the Beaumont-sur-Lèze cemetery is managed by an association. The latter employs an employee who works at the cemetery three hours a day. “ He does everything : maintenance, burials, making coffins, graves… At the moment, he picks up the leaves that fall from everywhere… ” notes Patrick Choyer. To benefit from a grave, members of the association pay €60 per year and €90 on the day of the burial. Because when you love, you don't count…

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