January 2, 2008

INDIANA – People forced to say goodbye to their four-legged friends now have the option of having a funeral before laying them to rest. The first pet funeral home, Pet Angel Memorial Center opened in 2004 in Carmel Ind., near Indianapolis, and franchises are quickly opening nationwide.

Coleen Ellis came up with the idea of starting a pet funeral service right after the death of her beloved dog, Mico. At the time, there were no pet funeral services available. She wanted to provide pets with the same high-quality after-care that humans receive because in most homes, animals are just as much a part of the family.

When Pet Angel first opened its doors, few calls came in each week. Over time, it has grown very quickly and serves 3,000 clients, about 90 each month. Ellis hopes to see 500 locations open nationwide within the next seven years. She recently decided on locations in Tampa, Fla. and Wichita, Kan.

Ellis previously worked in human funeral services and thinks in 10 to 15 years, using pet services will be the norm. She said Pet Angel is setting the standard for pet funeral homes.

Pet Angel serves mainly cats and dogs but Ellis said she has seen rats, birds and even goldfish. Most clients who use the service opt for cremation and are given a mold of the animal’s paw and a clip of fur. They also have the option of printing their pet’s picture onto plates or blankets. Cremations run from $230 to $430, depending on the size of the animal and the type of service.

Ellis was questioned about her services being too excessive and said that it’s no one’s place to determine what’s appropriate for someone else’s pet.

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