09/07/2026
Here at Prestwood we are aware of a very upsetting social media post regarding another pet cremation provider.
We won't link to it here as some of the images are very distressing, and we understand why pet owners and veterinary teams across the country are upset by the images.
All pets deserve a dignified, caring final journey, they are part of the family.
Whilst we cannot comment on individual businesses and circumstances we haven't independently verified, it is a reminder that both veterinary practices and pet owners should ask their cremation provider not only how pets are cremated, but also how they are collected, stored, identified and returned. Individual cremation is not simply about getting your pets ashes back, but the entire journey.
We always encourage both the vets that choose to use our services and the ones that don't, to regularly visit their cremation service provider to ensure they are happy with the entire process. All of the vets we work with (who are listed on our website) have visited us numerous times.
All pet crematoriums are subject to annual inspections from APHA (the Animal and Plant Health Agency) and they can also carry out spot checks, but these only cover the basic government disposal legislation, not how pets are treated behind the scenes.
At Prestwood we are also members of the APPCC (the Association of Private Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria) and follow their code of practice. We are also independently inspected to ensure all of our processes are accurately described, dignified and caring. This protects our clients from a consumer protection point of view, not just the legislations
This is a difficult and upsetting time for the profession, but is also reminds us that standards really matter.
When we carry out any part of a pets final journey we try to think to ourselves, "If the pets owner was stood next to us now, would they be happy with the way we did that?" or "If that was photographed would it support our reputation, or damage it?". If for one moment we didn't like the answer to either one of those questions, we would immediately change our procedures.
This was a long post but we felt it important to re-assure everyone that it is possible to organise a fitting, dignified final journey over the rainbow bridge for your pets, you just need to ask the right questions and choose your pets crematorium carefully.
