The animal cemetery of Beaumont-sur-Lèze, south of Toulouse, “is above all a story of affection”
On All Saints’ Day, even the graves of pets are in flower in the cemetery of Beaumont-sur-Lèze, south of Toulouse.
On this day of All Saints, 84-year-old Jacqueline arrived at the animal cemetery of Beaumont-sur-Lèze, 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 Lhassa Apso, with whom she made beauty contests. “I took from him, here, a small vault in perpetuity”, announces the retiree. Higher up, Françoise, accompanied by Thomas, pulls up some weeds between the gravel of Daïka’s tomb, located at the beginning of the Allée des Canaris. “This Labrador accompanied me for over 12 years,” explains Françoise. If she chose to bury this beast here, “it’s to feel like she has it forever,” she slips. The couple say they visit their dog “three to four times a year”.
Princess, Pompom, Kiki …
Cinnamon, Nono, Berlioz, Titou, Trésor, Siska, Clarinet, Poupi, Princess, Pompon, Kiki… are all first names that can be read on the 630 graves housed in this animal cemetery. “90% of us have cats and dogs. The law does not allow us to enter an animal over 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 the graves of their animals. Since last year, the cemetery has been divided into alleys. Each bears the names of birds: alley of turtledoves, thrushes, jays, .. “It is an initiative of the cemetery employee. Everything is listed, it is easier to navigate ”, recognizes Patrick Choyer.
But what makes people bring their animals here? “It’s mainly a story of affection. For 30 years, animals have 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 has 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 in the cemetery three hours a day. “He does everything: upkeep, burials, making coffins, ditches… 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 we love, we don’t count …