Residents of Almaty have launched a petition calling for clear rules on pet burial and the construction of a columbarium to store urns with ashes after cremation, reports infohub.kz.
The appeal is addressed to the Almaty city administration. The authors request unified transparent regulations for all of Kazakhstan, as currently owners are forced to bury animals secretly and in unauthorized places, creating an environmental threat.
"Pets are full-fledged family members for millions of people. After their death, every owner should have the opportunity to honor their memory lawfully and with dignity. In many countries, memorial complexes and columbariums for pets are already part of modern infrastructure. Kazakhstan should also develop in this direction, combining humane animal treatment with environmental care," the petition states.
Activists also ask to allocate a specific site for the columbarium at the thermal power plant ash dumps and to "stop the bureaucratic blocking of private environmental initiatives."
As of now, the petition has gathered 56 votes out of the required 23,469. It can be signed until January 15, 2027.
Earlier it was reported that some citizens in Kazakhstan may be banned from keeping pets for life.