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Washington Report
August - September 2008
Pet cremations: A cautionary tale
by ICCFA General Counsel Robert M. Fells, Esq.
Funeral homes and cemeteries that may be considering pet cremations should be aware of a recent incident whereby the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) canceled a contract with a crematory because it also processed animal remains, though in a separate chamber.
According to The Washington Post, since 2001 DOD has cremated some remains of U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan in a Delaware crematory that also cremates pets.
An officer who traveled to the crematory to attend the cremation of a friend discovered signage that indicated pets were also cremated at the facility. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was quoted as saying that he found "the site and signage insensitive and entirely inappropriate for the dignified treatment of our fallen. ... The families of the fallen have the secretary's deepest apology."
Though no misconduct in the handling of the remains seems to have occurred, the government announced that it would "cease using the off-site crematory, use only crematory facilities that are co-located with licensed funeral homes, and have a military presence during the off-base process at the funeral home facilities."
To view the complete news story, go to http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/ nationworld/2004404786_cremains10.html.
Copyright ICCFA 2008
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