06 October 2000

Co-op Offers Pet Funerals On-line

Planning the funeral of a pet can now be done on-line with the launch of the first pet funeral bond available on the web. The Co-op has set up the Farewell Pet Cremation Service at www.funeralshop.co.uk to offer a tailor-made service for any pet. The complete service costs £295 for any pet up to the size of an Irish Wolfhound. Cremation plans for larger animals are available on request. The price remains fixed regardless of inflation or increased cremation costs and is available with flexible payment options. It includes collection of the pet and individual transportation in a "pet hearse" to the pet crematorium. Pets will be individually cremated and the ashes returned in a special wooden casket. All the arrangements are personally handled by a funeral director. Phil Lane, who devised the Farewell Service, said: "We have launched the Farewell Service in response to requests from people who wanted to plan ahead. It enables them to arrange a special send off for their pet identical to that given to a human member of the family with an individual service as opposed to a mass cremation." Phil added: "It is especially distressing when a pet dies, so the plan allows all the arrangements to be made in advance and is set at a fixed price, regardless of any possible future funeral costs." The Farewell Service, which is offered in association with the on-line company Pets Pyjamas also offers a range of memorial items on-line such as caskets carved into the shape of cats and even a kennel. There is also a wide range of traditional wooden caskets, remembrance books and a tribute box. For further details about arranging a pet funeral there is an information form to fill in on the web site or alternatively there is a freephone telephone number on 08000 923 262.