A Thriving New Industry
As the pet economy continues to flourish, pet funeral services—a business that carries and farewell—are rapidly emerging. QCC data shows that as of March 2026, there were 47,000 pet funeral‑related enterprises in China. North China has the most, accounting for 28.3%, followed by East China at 25.9%.
This is an emerging market being ripened by emotion. According to the 2025 China Pet Industry White Paper, China’s urban dog and cat consumer market exceeded 300 billion yuan in 2024, with pet numbers reaching 120 million.A group of young people is responding to this deep social need with new career choices—some have quit jobs at major game companies, others have left stable government positions to enter this “unconventional” industry dealing with death.
Mr. Jiang’s Story: From Auto Mechanic to Pet Funeral Director
Mr. Jiang from Shenyang originally worked in auto modification. He had once owned a small dog that died in a car accident without a dignified farewell, which he always regretted. Later, he learned about the pet funeral industry and became a pet funeral director in 2021.
Mr. Jiang says this industry is different from others. “Although I entered because I love animals, I rarely saw deceased animals before. They can have bodily fluids and blood, so you have to overcome your physical reactions.” He admits that at first, he would cry with grieving clients, but over time he learned to control his emotions. “Our most important job is to serve the clients well, take care of their emotions, and help their fur kids leave with dignity.”
A Solemn Farewell Ceremony
Mr. Jiang has established a solemn process for pet funerals. “We created our process ourselves, innovating over the years based on client feedback. It includes reception, cleaning the pet in the farewell room, inviting the owner for a farewell ceremony, writing a letter to the pet, and keeping the pet’s paw print and fur as keepsakes.”
After cremation, some clients keep the urn at home, some bury it, and some place it in the storage hall of the pet funeral shop, visiting during Qingming and other occasions.Mr. Jiang notes that while dogs and cats are most common, he also frequently encounters hamsters, parrots, and even pigs. Recently, an elderly woman asked him to handle the funeral of a pig she had raised for 14 years—she told him the pig was as smart as a dog, deeply bonded with her.
Remarkable Growth in the Pet Funeral Services Market
The global pet funeral services market is experiencing remarkable growth. According to Research and Markets, the market grew from $1.83 billion in 2025 to $2.03 billion in 2026, at an impressive CAGR of 11.1%.The pet cremation service market was valued at $2.33 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $3.23 billion by 2032.
Pet Tombstones: Eternal Memorial After a Solemn Farewell
Pet funeral services are often just the beginning of the farewell process. More and more pet owners, after completing cremation and farewell ceremonies, choose to customize a pet tombstone for their beloved pet, placing it in their garden or a pet cemetery as a place for daily visits and remembrance.
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