LealPets: A respectful farewell for beloved pets

Paula has always been a dedicated animal lover. After the loss of her two dogs, she realised there were no funeral services or proper burial options available that would allow pets to be treated with dignity and care. She took care of the situation herself, but she kept thinking about others in the same situation, unsure what to do. Particularly older people living alone, for whom their pet was the only companion. In many cases, families wish to organise a farewell, but suitable services weren’t available. Losing a pet is a deeply emotional experience, and it’s important to have professional help through this process.

A few years later, Paula started to turn this need into a mission and began to build her business, a funeral service for companion animals. It wasn’t an easy start, as there were no similar services in the Algarve, and Paula had no example to follow. Determined and committed, she obtained all the licenses and everything else needed. Lealpets officially opened in 2022, and in the three years since, numerous families have used its cremation and memorial services. They offer 24-hour service through all Algarve and a large part of Alentejo. This includes transportation, individual or collective cremation, and farewell ceremonies.

As Paula explains, pets also deserve to leave this world with respect and dignity. For many families, pets are true family members, and having a respectful farewell and a final opportunity to say goodbye can greatly help them cope with grief. Lealpets helps to make the unfortunate experience of loss easier. They support families through the entire process and always treat animals with care and affection.

Upon families' request, Paula organises farewell ceremonies at the company’s base in Estombar. Everything depends on each family's preferences.

For those considering burial, the only official cemetery for animals is in Lagos, but you need to be a resident of Lagos to do so. Another option is at the animal cemetery at Zoo Lisbon, which was the first one in the country. As Paula explains, “Many people might not know this, but you cannot bury your animal anywhere. It can be done only in places officially licensed for animal burials.”

In case of cremation, you can purchase an urn of your choice. On the website, you can see the whole collection. There is also the option to preserve your pets’ paw or nose prints as a keepsake.

Paula is happy to explain all her services in detail. Many times, she gets contacted by people whose animals are seriously ill, and they want to get prepared for what will come. You can always get in touch with her and ask for all the information you need. The contact details for Lealpets are available on their website https://lealpet.pt/.