This project was described as an important step that recognises the special place that pets hold within many families, with local officials saying the cemetery will provide a respectful space where owners can commemorate their companions.

The initiative was announced by the Belas parish council on Thursday, 3 July, through its social media channels.

According to the parish council, the new facility has been developed in response to a longstanding request from residents and forms part of a broader commitment to promoting animal welfare as well as enhancing the quality of life within the community.

Planning regulations

This announcement comes as Lisbon continues to advance plans for its own municipal pet cemetery.

In June 2024, the city council unanimously approved a proposal put forward by the Socialist Party (PS), instructing municipal services to identify suitable land for the construction of a dedicated cemetery for companion animals.

Meanwhile, the site must comply with existing planning regulations and be located on land suitable for residential development.

Supporters of the Lisbon project argue that a public pet cemetery offers a more environmentally responsible alternative to illegal burials, which can contaminate soil when animals are interred in private gardens or on undeveloped land.

Furthermore, the proposal envisages the inclusion of cremation facilities to address what the party described as a clear and growing demand among residents of the capital.

The PS has also indicated the availability of unused municipal land that could accommodate the project, while noting that local animal welfare organisations have expressed willingness to collaborate in its development.

Although municipal pet cemeteries remain relatively uncommon in Portugal, similar facilities already exist elsewhere in the country: Lagos opened a dedicated animal cemetery in 2017, and another operates in Santa Maria da Feira.

In Lisbon, the city’s zoo also provides a space associated with pet memorial services.

The Belas project reflects an increasing recognition of the emotional bond between people and their companion animals, offering owners a permanent place to remember pets that have played an important role in their families’ lives.