Our 4 legged baby, Snapper, passed away on August 11, 2016 after 15 years of love and affection. My husband and I cannot have children and our pets are our children. We took him to the vets office after he passed away and was assured that they had a great company that picks up the deceased pets and cremates them. I was torn between burying him and having him cremated. I opted for having him cremated so I could have a pendant made with some of the ashes and could wear it close to my heart forever. When he passed we wrapped him in his blanket. The one that he laid on and was with all the time. I wanted him to stay wrapped in it while waiting for the cremation company to pick him up so that his body would be comforted by it and was assured by the vet staff that they would note for the blanket to be returned and not to be cremated with him.
The ashes were picked up on August 22, 2016 and the vet used Mountain View Pet Crematory owned by Elizabeth Maragh for the cremation. My husband went to pick up the ashes because I was not ready to be returned a box when I lost a beautiful baby. When he arrived back home I asked him where his blanket was and he said that it was not there and that he was cremated with it. He said that Elizabeth was actually at the vet clinic picking up other animals and he got to speak with her. She told him at that time that the vet office did not tag the blanket and that she cremated him in it because that is what she assumed we wanted. I called the vets office furious about this. They put me on hold and that is when I asked him did he get the woman's name and he gave me her business card that she had given him. I hung up from being on hold at the vet and much to my surprise I called Elizabeth and she told me that the vet DID have everything tagged and she cremated him with the blanket anyway.
Upon calling the vet to find out what type of documentation that they sent with this company we were informed that not only was paperwork sent with him saying to not cremate the blanket but also that they stressed it on the phone to not cremate the blanket.
I have no way of knowing if these ashes are even my baby's ashes now. Elizabeth says that she can give me her word on that part but if she cannot read clear instructions on his paperwork how do I know that she did not get his paperwork mixed up with another pet? Now his blanket that had so much sentimental value to me is gone and cannot be replaced, the pendant I wanted to have made possibly have some of his ashes in it when it is supposed to be his ashes ONLY. I have tainted ashes that may or may not be his.
All she would say over the phone was that she did it and that she is sorry. Sorry does not make this error right. She had no remorse in her voice. If you cannot take into consideration grieving people and their feelings you shouldn't be in the cremation business or death related industry period.
Thank you Mountain View Pet Crematory and Elizabeth Maragh for ruining an important memory and making my grief last longer now that I know that his death will always be incomplete.