Saying goodbye to your beloved pet might cost more than you think, and the prices are raising some eyebrows.
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Pet ownership in Taiwan is booming, with more than 2.79 million registered pets in Taiwan, and this bond between us and our pets means the animal funeral industry is also booming. However, some owners are confused by the pricing of animal cremation.
According to one comparison, a company that cremates hamsters charges from NT$4,000 (US$125) to NT$5,000 (US$156) to cremate a 50-gram hamster, while another company charges just NT$3,600 (US$112) for the funeral of a 10-kilogram dog.
The Rodents Care association, which takes in ill or abandoned hamsters, also struggles with the high cost associated with cremating these creatures. Rodents Care volunteer Ms. Zhang says that the costs from private funeral companies are very high, sometimes four or five thousand dollars.
However, public services offer significantly lower fees. For example, Taipei City’s Animal Protection Office charges NT$350 (US$11) for pets under 5 kilograms, with an additional NT$70 (US$2.20) per kilogram. But this only covers basic cremation, while private companies typically offer additional services like burning offerings.
Animal Protection Department Deputy Director Chen Zhong-xing (陳中興) says the government is working on official guidelines to regulate the industry and ensure that pet owners can say their final goodbyes with peace of mind.