Cremate your pet?

An orange-robed monk chants as teary-eyed black-clad family members pray quietly in front of an incinerator. It looks just like any other Buddhist funeral service except for one thing - the deceased is a dog.

The funeral rite is usually only for humans but almost a decade ago, Klong Toey Nai temple in central Bangkok started the service for pet lovers who were looking for a place to bury the bodies of their beloved animals.

Bereaved pet owners in Bangkok come to the temple by the Chao Phraya River to mark the passing of their animal companions with a full Buddhist funeral service, which includes prayers from monks, and a two-hour cremation service and trip down the river to scatter the ashes.

The body of 14-year-old female terrier-poodle mix Bai Toey was brought to the temple as there was no space to bury her at home.

The pet owner, Jiraporn, her father, and two cousins attended the ceremony, watching the furry body of their dog, Bai Toey, being gently pushed into the pyre. They spent almost a hundred U.S. dollars in a two-hour funeral.

The temple started to cremate homeless dogs and cats in the area over a decade ago before they began offering funeral services for pets.

While most are dogs and cats, among cremated pets have been turtles, fish, rabbits and monkeys.

The funeral service at Klong Toey Nai temple is advertised on websites for dogs and pet lovers in the crowded capital city of 15 million people with few owning enough land for burial.

79-year-old animal lover and undertaker Sampao Yampradit, who has performed the service exclusively for pets for more than seven years, said more dead pets were being brought for cremation due to limited space in Bangkok, and he now receives up to 15 bodies a day.

Sampao said Buddhists believe that cremation sends you forward into the next life while a burial might not do that.

After a cremation, dog owners collect the ashes and scatter them in the river to let their dogs rest in peace.

The temple, in the capital where more than 800,000 stray dogs live, also offers a free service for those who bring in strays, but who can't afford to pay for the service.

The cost of the cremation is 1,800 baht ($56 U.S. dollars), including the boat service to scatter the ashes.

Cremation of dogs heavier than 20 kilograms costs 2,000 baht ($62 U.S. dollars) and those who want a gold-plated wooden coffin will have to pay another 3,000 baht ($93 U.S. dollars).