When Pets Pass
Plastic, colored Easter eggs decorating a well-kept grave; a lone ceramic urn atop the living room mantle — tributes to the dearly departed.
In this case, these tributes are for the four-legged, the winged and the scaly.
"Pets are taking on new roles in people's lives," said Kevin Miller, a co-owner of Orchard Hill Pet Cemetery in Jefferson Township, which has five acres of plots available.
He is a witness — and business owner — to the phenomenon of people bearing the expense to give their pets a human send-off, whether through burial in pet cemeteries or through pet cremation.
Pet cemeteries have been around for more than 100 years, while the popularity of cremation has surged more recently.
"Cremation has become especially popular in the last couple of years, even going back to the past 10 years," said Mark Pollman, a veterinarian at Alpine Trail Veterinary Clinic in Slippery Rock.
He said cremation now accounts for half of all the pet disposals at his clinic, which he contracts out to a pet cremation service in Kittanning. He added that he's thinking of starting a service himself.
In 2002, Orchard Hill Pet Cemetery opened. That same year, Butler Veterinary Associates in Center Township began offering cremation. In 2004, Fannie's Friends, a cremation service in Evans City, opened.
Bruce Schmucker, a veterinarian with the state Department of Agriculture, said there are 41 facilities licensed in the state for the burial or incineration of domestic pets. The license does not specify what services the licensed facilities offer.
At Orchard Hill Pet Cemetery, Miller said former owners routinely plant flowers at the base of the tombstones and last winter one person even placed an electric graveside Christmas tree.
Miller said between 60 and 80 pets are buried there, mostly dogs and cats, but also some iguanas and birds. The minimum cost of a burial is $200 and the average is $350. That covers a 20-year lease, which will include upkeep of the plot, Miller said.
On the site there also is a chapel, where Miller said he hopes to enlist the services of a clergyman soon.
At the other end of the spectrum is pet cremation, a service offered by some veterinary clinics and specialized businesses.
Ed Schaefer, director of Fannie's Friends, said he believes the service is popular because it goes well with today's condo lifestyle and is a good fit with the elderly, who would have difficulty burying pets. He said it's also a good fit for people who feel they would be tied down to their land if a pet was buried in the backyard.He started his business two years ago and said it has been growing ever since. He estimated he handles between 30 to 50 cremations a week, sometimes working 12-hour days.The cost breaks down by weight, averaging $100, he said.There are two types of cremations offered, mass cremations and private cremations, with the latter being more expensive."The biggest concern is 'Will that be my animal?' There's no doubt about it, there's too much to lose," said Schaefer, speaking of the importance of a good reputation.Before he puts another animal in the cremation chamber, Schaefer scrapes it with a long steel broom and carefully vacuums it clean.The internal furnace temperatures are regulated by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The main chamber is at 1,400 degrees and then the air circulates underneath, where the temperature is 1,800 degrees, Schaefer said."There is nothing but heat coming out of the stack. There are sensors to make sure smoke doesn't come out," he said.But those who still prefer the backyard as the final resting place should keep in mind state regulations.Schmucker said under state law, a domestic animal must be buried within four to eight hours and not within 100 feet of a road, house or water source. Additionally, 2 feet of dirt must be spread over the carcass.
