The only animal cemetery in the Oise is no more than a memory, room for the future Compiégnois incinerator

An open gate could still leave room for doubt. But the owner of the premises and the town hall of Saint-Leu-d'Esserent have removed any ambiguity: the only animal cemetery in the Oise, which was located on the heights of Saint-Leu-d'Esserent, has ceased all activity for several years. Established in 1989, the place began to decline after the death of its first owner and founder. However, several hundred animals, dogs, cats, birds, had been buried on this dedicated site, where the concession was billed 100 euros per year, roughly the same amount as for burial.

For a few years, volunteers, who had themselves buried their animals in Saint-Leu, provided minimal maintenance, but this period is now over.

Already, in 2008, a tiny part of the tombs was regularly maintained while, on the rest of the area, nature and weeds had taken possession of the place.

Animal burial activity would even have ceased in 2007. Now, trees hide what remains of animal burials.

Saint-Leu-d'Esserent, in 2008. Volunteers had maintained an interview for several years.

This is no longer the case today.

LP / HS

"In 2008, the new owner applied for a building permit to build a pavilion at the entrance to the land," indicates the mayor of Saint-Leu, Frédéric Besset.

She was supposed to continue the activity but she finally gave it up.

She thought that it was possible to bury horses but it is strictly forbidden, the horses must go to the rendering.

So today only the pavilion remains.

The activity for dogs and cats alone would not have been profitable enough to continue.

"We haven't seen anyone for a long time"

If no other animal can therefore be buried there, there remains the question of those that their masters had chosen to bury in Saint-Leu-d'Esserent.

“Most of the concessions that were temporary have come to an end,” says the owner of the land.

There are about ten left, but hardly anyone is coming, maybe two or three a year.

A disaffection which seems to be confirmed by the neighborhood.

Read also In Douains, in the Eure, animals have their cemetery

“We haven't seen anyone going inside for a long time,” indicate two local residents.

"This is a question I asked the current owner but I have not had an answer," notes the mayor of Saint-Leu.

From memory, only one person had contacted me about this but, for three years, we have not had any request from the town hall about the animal cemetery.

These days, I think pet owners are turning to cremation systematically, with the help of vets.

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Pet owners are increasingly turning to cremation for their loyal four-legged companions.

LP / HS

Unless you opt for the huge animal cemetery of Asnières-sur-Seine (Hauts-de-Seine), which houses more than 900 concessions. It is the closest to the Oise, which no longer has any cemetery reserved for animals. In Saint-Leu-d'Esserent, the owner of the site believes that "the operation could have been continued if the city had taken it over to its own account", which does not seem to have been considered by the elected officials who have succeeded. in town hall.

Today, the page therefore seems definitively turned and, failing to receive concession owners who have come to flower the few remaining tombs, the land seems to attract envy.

"I have already received the visit of several people with different projects", slips the hostess, without expanding further.

As for the faithful companions, whose last home was in Saint-Leu, the last memory they will leave will soon be found only in the hearts of their masters.

The first animal incinerator in Oise will open in 2023

From now on, it is towards the Compiégnois that the eyes of animal owners will be able to turn.

Because today, if the veterinarians take care of individual and collective cremations, they must send the bodies in the North, in Beauvois-en-Cambrésis, or in Île-de-France (in Étampes, in Essonne, or in Guyancourt, in the Yvelines), for lack of a dedicated crematorium in the Oise.

The company Funecap will open, in early 2023, in the Compiégnois region a crematorium dedicated to animals.

DR

In any case, until 2023, the opening of such equipment is planned in the industrial zone of Meux, near Compiègne. It can cremate dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and even horses. The complex will be able to carry out up to 50,000 cremations per year. Individuals can either go through a veterinarian or approach the establishment directly. The ashes can thus be kept at home, or even buried with the deceased master, the urn being considered by law as an object and not a body.

If you decide despite everything to bury the remains of your animal on private land, and provided that it weighs less than 40 kilos, you must then refer to the departmental health regulations which stipulate, for example, that this must be done more than 35 meters from a house or a water source (fine of 150 euros).

"Throwing the body of your animal in a trash can, a sewer or any other place is prohibited and can be punished with a fine of 3,750 euros", also specifies the prefecture.