"After burying their pets, families regularly visit the cemetry to pay floral tributes to the departed," says veterinary department chief Dr Satish Gore. "Before burying the dead, all the rituals almost similiar to humans are peformed by families," he said. Dead animals and birds from the civic-run Bahinabai Chaudhary zoo are also laid to rest here. The PCMC however is not allowing burial of pets from outside its jurisdiction due to lack of space.

This year, the cemetery will undergo a major overhaul as the veterinary department has drafted a plan to improve infrastructure, change its look and make it comfortable and attractive for visitors and tourists. The 20 gunthas of land where the pet cemetry is located will now have proper fencing which will rise to five-six feet. "The land is open at many places resulting in animals straying into the cemetery," he said. Apart from this, a garden, a green lawn, additional benches, pavement blocks, toilet and storage facility are being put in place. "The storage facility will help keep stocks of salt, pesticide, charcoal, quicklime and neem leaves required for burial," he said. The civic and the garden department will carry out the overhauling work. "The pet cemetery will be a must-see place in Pimpri-Chinchwad in a few month's time," said Dr Gore.

Animal rights activist Sanjeevani Pandey said a few suggestions made by activists seem to have been accommodated by the veterinary department. "Plantations of trees around the compound and setting up of green beds have been included in the plan. Our main suggestion is that the place should not look scary. Families should feel like visiting it frequently. They should also feel that they buried their beloved pet at a peaceful place," says Pandey, one of the architects of the pet cemetry.