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LOOK: Dead pets get a feast at pet cemetery

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Jenny Vaughan and Tran Thi Minh Ha, Agence France-Presse

<div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/afp/08/16/20190816-feast-at-pet-cemetery.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/afp/08/16/20190816-pet-cemetery-2.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/afp/08/16/20190816-pet-cemetery-3.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/afp/08/16/20190816-pet-cemetery-4.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/afp/08/16/20190816-pet-cemetery-5.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/afp/08/16/20190816-pet-cemetery-6.jpg"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>A woman cleans the plaque of her dog at &quot;Te Dong Vat Nga&quot; pagoda, which means all lives are equal, a pet cemetery in Hanoi on August 15, 2019. <cite>Nhac Nguyen, Agence France-Presse</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Nguyen Bao Sinh, the owner of a cemetery for pets, leads a prayer ceremony for dogs and cats at &quot;Te Dong Vat Nga&quot; pagoda, which means all lives are equal, in Hanoi on August 15, 2019. <cite>Nhac Nguyen, Agence France-Presse</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Two women stand before the plague of their pets after placing offerings at &quot;Te Dong Vat Nga&quot; pagoda, which means all lives are equal, a cemetery for pets in Hanoi on August 15, 2019. <cite>Nhac Nguyen, Agence France-Presse</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A woman cries while touching the plaque of her cat at &quot;Te Dong Vat Nga&quot; pagoda, which means all lives are equal, a pet cemetery in Hanoi on August 15, 2019. <cite>Nhac Nguyen, Agence France-Presse</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Nguyen Thi Xuan Trang touchers the plaque of her dog while praying at &quot;Te Dong Vat Nga&quot; pagoda, which means all lives are equal, a cemetery for pets in Hanoi on August 15, 2019. <cite>Nhac Nguyen, Agence France-Presse</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A woman looks at the grave of dogs and cats at &quot;Te Dong Vat Nga&quot; pagoda, which means all lives are equal, a cemetery for pets in Hanoi on August 15, 2019. <cite>Nhac Nguyen, Agence France-Presse</cite></p></div></div></div><p>HANOI, Vietnam - Sausages, grapes, milk and mooncakes are laid at the gravestones of beloved cats and dogs at Hanoi&#x27;s pet cemetery -- an earthly feast for the souls of dead animals believed to return from the afterlife for a meal to mark ghost month.</p><p>Dozens of pet owners turned out for a solemn ceremony at the &quot;Te Dong Vat Nga&quot; pagoda -- which means all lives are equal -- where thousands of dogs and cats have been laid to rest in the burial grounds on site.</p><p>It is a feasting ritual more often performed across Vietnam for dead ancestors whose souls are believed to wander the earth during ghost month and are honored with a large meal offering before it closes at the end of August.</p><p>But the charismatic dog-loving Buddhist who runs the pet graveyard believes animal souls should be treated with the same dignity as human ones.</p><p>&quot;We love dogs and cats not just in this life but in the next life as well,&quot; said Nguyen Bao Sinh, who opened the graveyard 50 years ago.</p><p>He says he&#x27;s cremated or buried around 10,000 animals -- including the odd turtle, bird or fish -- and charges $45 to $65 a year to pet owners to set up plaques and mini gravestones for their lost pets.</p><p>It&#x27;s a small price to pay for those who want to make sure their beloved animals are comfortable in the afterlife.</p><p>&quot;Bon deserves to have a decent resting place permanently so that he can be at peace,&quot; Nguyen Anh Minh told AFP after leaving milk, yoghurt and grapes for his husky who died earlier this year.</p><p>For Nguyen Thi Xuan Trang, giving her dog Quoc -- who she thought of as a son -- a proper burial has brought her peace of mind.</p><p>&quot;I bought him peanuts and a mooncake because those were his favourite foods,&quot; she said.</p><p>Cemetery owner Sinh said people thought he was crazy when he opened the site in a country where dog and cat meat is sometimes offered as menu items for hungry diners.</p><p>Though cats and dogs are more commonly kept as pets in Vietnam these days, it&#x27;s not unusual to see guard dogs confined to cages or illicit animal parts like rhino horn or pangolin scales used in traditional medicine.</p><p>Sinh, a former soldier who&#x27;s now deceased dog accompanied him to the battlefield during the Vietnam War, hopes the pet graveyard will help people see animals in a new light -- and spread a message of kindness.</p><p>&quot;Animals and humans are equal,&quot; he said. &quot;When you love an animal you will not be cruel to human beings.&quot;</p><p>tmh-jv/fox/aph</p><p>© Agence France-Presse</p>

<p>HANOI, Vietnam - Sausages, grapes, milk and mooncakes are laid at the gravestones of beloved cats and dogs at Hanoi's pet cemetery -- an earthly feast for the souls of dead animals believed to return from the afterlife for a meal to mark ghost month.</p>

HANOI, Vietnam - Sausages, grapes, milk and mooncakes are laid at the gravestones of beloved cats and dogs at Hanoi's pet cemetery -- an earthly feast for the souls of dead animals believed to return from the afterlife for a meal to mark ghost month.

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LOOK: Dead pets get a feast at pet cemetery

Jenny Vaughan and Tran Thi Minh Ha,

Agence France-Presse

Published August 16, 2019 09:03 AM PHT

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Updated August 16, 2019 10:21 AM PHT

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pets

pet cemetery

ghost month

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