Anders says some pet owners never visit the grave, while others return regularly. "One man comes every Sunday and lights a candle in a lantern. It's amazing."
Stones and nameplates are neatly arranged on a gently sloping lawn. There, Anders Fahlgren waters flowers planted by pet owners who have buried their pets at Djurvilan.
– When people see the graves, they wonder if there are more animals buried here. But the animals that have their own headstone may be only ten percent of the total, says Anders.
It is more usual to choose a common grave at the vet's. If that is the case, Anders buries them in a meadow a short distance from Djurvilan. Up to 50-100 animals are buried there.
– The moment at the vet's can be very anxious. You have to fill in how big the animal was and things like that, and a lot of people just want to resolve the situation. Sometimes the price is the deciding factor in whether you want to handle the animal yourself, cremate it, or send it here, Anders says.
There are dogs, cats, parrots, turtles and iguanas at the cemetery. Even horses rest on the meadow where the communal graves are located.
– I don't advertise that I bury horses, but I do if someone asks. Euthanasia scares me. They come down the road with the horse trailer with the horse alive, and later I see the horse trailer drive away empty. We had horses, so I'm very sensitive to that. Here at the cemetery it's easier; the animals are already euthanized, and I don't know them.
The idea for a pet cemetery came about almost twenty years ago. Anders and Beth had just moved to the farm and a woman complained in the newspaper that there was nowhere to bury her pets.
– When our dog died, we could bury him here at my parents' house, so I thought that's an idea. I got advice on how to start a business and contacted everyone I needed to talk to, like the county council, the Swedish Board of Agriculture and veterinarians. Everything went very well, everyone was positive.
The veterinarians then had a freezer for cremation and one that the municipality of Skellefteå took care of. In 2009, it was discovered that the municipality was driving the animals to a landfill, where the bodies were dumped in a pit. Birds and rats were able to eat the unprotected bodies. The routine was immediately changed when the municipality realized what was happening. After the incident, Anders experienced an increased demand for dignified burials.
Anders Fahlgren is motivated to help and support those who have lost their pets. He has always had animals and knows what the owners go through.
– Some even ask me to reserve plots for live animals, so that all the pets can have their graves next to each other, says Anders.
It is difficult to know exactly how many pet cemeteries there are in Sweden, as they are not registered anywhere. Stockholm has the oldest, and here in Ragvaldsträsk it is the only one in Norrland. Some animals come from Umeå and Boden, but the vast majority are local.
– The one that came the furthest was a horse from Kiruna, says Anders.
Anders enjoys the business so much that he wishes he had started the cemetery when he was younger. He especially enjoys meeting people and hearing the stories of their pets, but also being able to help when pet owners need it.
– I don't like picking up an animal at the scene of an accident, which I do sometimes. But I can help. We've always had animals, so I know what pet owners go through.
One of those who buried her cat at the cemetery is Sussi Boström. When she talks about the funeral, she comes back to Anders' understanding.
"There were eleven of us at Fanny's funeral," says Sussi Boström, who buried her cat in Djurvilan.
– The funeral is so dignified, as if it were my best friend or family member, says Sussi.
Sussi's friend Kristoffer Westermark agrees. He buried his cat, Missan, at the cemetery.
– It was important for me to have proper closure.
Having a strong relationship with one's pet can evoke different reactions.
– I've had absolutely positive reactions to having a funeral, for example, while there are those who criticize that money is "wasted" on the pet, says Sussi.
They argue that dogs especially are considered family, while the relationship with other animals, such as cats, is not accepted in the same way. Kristoffer says:
– It becomes a bit difficult for someone who sees the cat as a family member to understand that others just see it as an animal.
