Source: ETC-USC/FlickrGiving robot dogs a burial befitting that of a beloved pet, electronics and vintage repair company A-Fun Co. has orchestrated the funerals of roughly 800 Aibos dogs.

First launched in 1999 by Sony, the aging and often discarded robotic dogs were collected by A-Fun for the purpose of reusing parts, calling the defunct robots organ donors.

Now, the robots — the first version of Aibos that are no longer produced by Sony — are given a proper funeral at the 450-year-old Kofukuji Buddhist Temple in Isumi, Japan, after which they are “gutted” for parts.

Nobuyuki Norimatsu, head of A-Fun, said that the funerals are held because he believes the robots have souls.

“We’d like to return the souls to the owners and make the robot a machine to utilize their parts. We don’t take parts before we hold a funeral for them," he explained.

Along with the robotic dogs, A-Fun often receives letters from the owners of the “deceased” pets, detailing what the pet meant to them.

Wrote one former owner about their robot dog: “Please help other Aibos. Tears rose in my eyes when I decided to say goodbye.”

Recognizing the attachment that forms between the robotic dog and its owner, Sony issued the following statement in a 2017 press release: “Aibo can form an emotional bond with members of the household while providing them with love, affection, and the joy of nurturing and raising a companion. It possesses a natural curiosity, and we hope it will bring joy into the everyday lives of our customers while growing alongside them as a partner.”