Every pet owner dreads the day they need to say good bye to their pet but, sadly, it is something we all have to deal with. When that day comes, you 1000% want to have the team at Cherished Hearts Cremations on your side.
I had to deal with a terrible cancer diagnosis on my beloved Bruno for the past year and a bit, and with that came a horrific scare at the end of June when I thought I’d be saying good bye to him.
After speaking with my vet to make arrangements and asking him about cremation, he mentioned they didn’t handled them themselves but were partnered with Dignity Pet Crematorium. After reading wonderful reviews, I called them to let them know I had arranged with my vet to come on the next Thursday at 2pm home and see whether they could collect. Their answer? “Sure, we’d be able to collect on Friday morning”
I was struck with shock because I could not phantom anyone expecting me to have my dead dog’s body for over 12h at home (especially with a toddler) and, in tears I voiced that concern. Their response was probably worse, as they suggested “I handed Bruno to the vet and they could collect from the practice on Friday”. Their excuse for not collecting on Thursday is that “going after 2pm would be too late for them”
You can imagine my hysterics, and while drowning in tears and hyperventilating, I ruffled through Google and found the LITERAL ANGELS at Cherished Hearts Cremations.
I spoke to Chris (I’ll call him Chris #1, as there are two Chris’s) and after explaining my situation and also what I had just gone through, he said they could of course collect Bruno on the day and also, any other day and time for that matter. They did say it would be difficult should it be a middle of the night situation, but anything else they could accommodate.
I was lucky that was only a scare and that I managed to have a few more months with Bruno. Last week, I could put Chris #1’s words to test as I called him Thursday around 5:30pm to tell him I was thinking of doing it that evening, and asking him whether he would be able to collect Bruno. I could hear him discussing this with Chris #2 and, immediately, he said “Yes, we will do it”
I didn’t end up doing it that Thursday, but the next Friday morning it was evident I was saying good bye. I called him again with the plan and he of course said they would be en route and gave me an ETA for collection. Not only were Chris #1 and #2 on time and gave me a good 1h to share with my boy, but they were completely empathetic and respectful with the process. They put Bruno in a beautiful bag and took him to the crematorium.
My family and I were to follow to say a last good bye in a sort of “memorial” service (between us)
I never expected to want to take a photo of my dog after passing, but the place Chris #1 and #2 have to say good bye to your pet is so BEAUTIFUL I couldn’t help but to do so. It encapsulates the dignity and respect that such a moment warrants, and transmits the love you can tell both Chris’s have for animals.
When asking Chris about how long they’ve been at this and the why, you can tell this is pure vocation. It shows that they know what this moment means and that pets are more than just animals, they are family members.
Chris even gave us a lift to the train station so we could return home faster. As another review said, this felt more like a lifelong friend helping you through the toughest of times.
To both Chrises: I can never thank you enough for how you helped in what is, hands down, one of the most awful moments of my life. And to anyone reading this review and going through this: don’t think twice about choosing them to say good bye to your pet. These are the people you want by your side when everything is falling apart.