A couple have been left devastated after their treasured dog’s ashes were not returned to them after a crematorium mix-up.
Kim Bowers and Martin Conlon and their three children, were heartbroken when 13-year-old bullmastiff Zeus had to be put to sleep after developing a tumour.
After his death, that family handed over their beloved dog to be cremated at CPC Pet Cremation Services (CPC), report Stoke-on-Trent Live.
The family filled out the paperwork and paid £150 to have his ashes returned to them, so they could keep him at the family home alongside the ashes of their Labrador Max, who died two years ago.
But Kim was horrified to receive a phone call from CPC to say Zeus had mistakenly been cremated in a communal chamber with other animals and his ashes had been ‘scattered in a field’.
The company has now apologised to the couple and says a full investigation is taking place.
Thirty-one-year-old Kim said: “Zeus was the world’s best dog and such a character. It was only a few weeks ago that he coughed up some blood and we both knew what it was. We took him to the PDSA at Stoke and there was a tumour on his lung.
“At that point he was still okay but he deteriorated so we took him to be put to sleep. We were devastated.
“The vet asked us what we wanted to do with him and we filled out all the paperwork for his ashes to be returned to us, and chose a casket. We did the same with our Labrador Max when he passed away and we keep his ashes at home. We wanted them to be together.”
Kim and Martin, of Fenton, paid £150 for Zeus’ ashes to be returned to them in a casket following his cremation, and expected him back within two weeks. However, CPC Pet Cremation Services - which operates a number of pet crematoria across the country, contacted Kim this week.
She said: “I got a phone call from CPC. She said that when Zeus was picked up he was correctly labelled, but when they came to do his ashes he had been put in a communal chamber and his ashes have been scattered in a field, so he won’t be coming back to us.
“She said they were sorry and that they would put up a memorial plaque, and I could go there to see him but that’s no good because it’s in Cheltenham.
“We are heartbroken. Zeus was our baby, he was the most loving dog. The kids adored him and he adored the kids. We have lost a member of our family.
“We wanted to have him back here because it’s where he belongs. I’m so upset I haven’t been able to go to work. Anyone with a dog will understand how important it was for us to have him home.
“Mistakes like this shouldn’t happen, it’s the worst thing that could have happened. I don’t want anyone else to have to go through this. Someone should be made accountable. This has broken us.”
CPC Pet Cremation Services has confirmed an investigation into the error is underway. A CPC spokesman said: “Whilst CPC is investigating the incident surrounding Zeus, we would like to offer our sincerest apologies for the distress caused to Zeus’ parents Ms Bowers and Mr Conlon at an already incredibly difficult time. We will share the findings of the investigation with Ms Bowers and Mr Conlon once this has been completed.”
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