Bodies of cremated dogs discovered dumped in field


Tuesday, August 25, 2009, 08:10


A POLICE investigation has been launched after the
bodies of four dogs, that were supposed to have been cremated, were
found apparently dumped in a Derbyshire field.
One
devastated pet owner said he had been given ashes, which he believed
were the remains of his pet, when the gruesome discovery was made.
Police say they are investigating allegations of fraud.
Peak
Pet Cremations, which it is understood agreed to cremate the dogs, said
the animals' bodies had been stolen during a robbery at its Heage
premises and it did not know why ashes had been sent.
James
Brown and his family collected what they believed were the ashes of his
12-year-old brown border collie Bournville, who had been put down after
cancerous lumps were discovered in his head.
Just days later they were told the shocking news that Bournville's body had been discovered in a field in Lower Hartshay, near Ripley.
RSPCA
inspectors had identified his body through his microchip and Mr Brown
had to go through the ordeal of identifying his pet's body.
The
29-year-old, of Hucknall, who has two other dogs called Hamish and
Elliot, said: "We wanted to go for our own peace of mind. It wasn't the
prettiest of sights - it was quite upsetting. His fur was all wet and
matted down, and he had maggots all over him.
"He
was a lovely dog and he deserved better than that. We're just waiting
to see what happens next. We're really, really shocked. We're very
upset. We paid extra money to get his ashes back and it's not him."
Normally
dogs are cremated together and ashes are not returned but the Brown
family paid about £120 to have Bournville cremated alone and to
be sent his ashes.
Two of the four dogs, including Bournville, originated from Ambivet veterinary clinic in Mundy Street, Heanor, which said it was very distressed by the news.
David
Stone, business manager of Ambivet, said the dogs were sent to a
Derbyshire pet crematorium after they were put down. He said: "Our
relationship with this company was severed immediately on Tuesday
afternoon and alternative arrangements were made with another operator.
"We feel very distressed by the whole thing. We've visited both the owners concerned."
Police
and Amber Valley borough council are continuing inquiries into the
gruesome discovery, which were found on Tuesday, August 18.
The RSPCA said they had no welfare concerns about the dogs before they died.
A
Derbyshire police spokeswoman said: "Police are investigating
allegations of fraud after dogs that were thought to have been cremated
were found dead in a field.
"The owners of two dogs were traced and so far one has been interviewed by police.
"The police have liaised with the RSPCA, Amber Valley Environmental Health and the Environment Agency during the investigation.
"Inquiries are continuing into the allegations."
The dogs are now being kept at Ambivet veterinary clinic while the matter is investigated.
Owner
of Peak Pet Cremations, in High Edge Drive, Heage, Jennifer Buxton,
says the company has been closed down since the incident.
She
said: "All I know is there was a theft from our premises which
obviously included some bagged scrap metal and some deceased pets were
taken at the same time."
But when further
questioned she said the theft was not reported to the police because at
the time they did not know the animals had been taken.
She also said she had been away at the time of the incident and so could not explain why the family had been sent ashes.
A
spokeswoman for Derbyshire police said: "Officers can confirm that no
reports of burglaries at any local pet crematoria have been received by
police".

Bournville

OMG HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN :Angry: :Angry:

this is awful.... my OH was telling me about this... it must be absolutely devastating to find out the ashes you have in your home arent your pets .....

i have boss's ashes on the fireplace, and if i found out they werent his i would be gutted

:mad: :mad:

very disturbing!