In Britain, horse owners are being warned about fraud in the equine and pet cremation industry after a Somerset man duped horse owners into paying for individual cremations then disposed of their horses in other ways.
Warning to horse owners
Horse owners are warned that licensing regulations cover the disposal of dead animals only and do not protect the horse owner as to how cremation and disposal services are carried out.
The Association of Private Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria (APPCC) issued a strong warning to horse owners in the wake of a court case which saw a man given an eight month suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay a large fine for duping 26 owners into paying for individual cremations – then disposing of their horses in other ways.
The APPCC wants owners to realize that the equine and pet cremation industry is completely unregulated at present. DEFRA licensing regulations cover the disposal of dead animals only and do not protect the consumer as to how cremation services are carried out.
Kevin Spurgeon, director of the APPCC, said: “I would urge horse owners to ensure that they check out any cremation service being offered to them as many equine cremation firms are actually slaughter men, knacker men or rendering services that may not even have their own cremator. “
He was speaking after Philip “John” Cooper, 70, of Springwood, High Street, West Lydbrook, Somerton, Somerset, and previously trading as John Cooper Livestock Services, was dealt with for a second time at Gloucester Crown Court (case number S20120196) for fraud. All the charges related to cremations he undertook to carry out for clients of Bushy Equine vets.
Before agreeing to and paying for cremation services, APPCC advises horse owners to ask their vet or equine cremation service the following questions:
- How will my horse be transported?
- Does the equine cremation service have their own cremator?
- If not, where will my horse be taken and will it be a genuine crematorium?
- How will my horse be stored?
- How will they be identified?
- Will my horse be the only animal in the chamber during the cremation process and will they be in their entirety?
- Will the equine crematorium certify that my horse was on its own during the cremation, was respectfully handled and all visible remains were collected.
- Will I receive all of my horse’s ashes and will they be only from my horse?
In the United States animal cremation regulations are left up to the individual states. Any horse owners wanting cremation of their horses should follow the advice of the British organization APPCC to make sure any veterinarian or equine crematorium they might use for cremation of their horse follows proper procedures.