What were you doing in 2018? Rene and Alan Blakemore were remodeling their home. Rene packed a few things away, including Remington’s wooden urn of ashes. Remington was a 78 lb Vizsla. Next, Rene picked up Colt’s ashes. Colt was Remington’s son and weighed 53 lbs. She immediately noticed that Colt weighed significantly MORE than Remington and handed both urns to Alan so he could feel the weight difference. They both realized that there was no way the ashes belonged to Remington, or at least not all of them were there or possibly mixed. Rene & Alan knew in their heart that the cremation had gone terribly wrong, something that haunted them for years.
A new start
Fast forward to 2023. Alan, in the software industry, was suddenly without a job. Being of a “mature” age, securing a new position was challenging. Rene came across information about Pet Passages, a cremation option for pets. Pet Passages is not your ordinary pet cremation service. Its goal is to offer dignified pet cremation. No freezing pets. No stacking pets on top of each other. No misidentification of pets during the cremation process.
Alan and Rene explored the possibility of purchasing a franchise and traveled to New York to meet with Mike Harris, the founder of Pet Passages. They immersed themselves in the rigorous Pet Passages training program and became Certified Pet Funeral Directors.
A comforting choice for pet parents
Located in Blue Ridge, just north of Melissa, Tx, Pet Passages offers pet parents and their beloved pet a powerful experience. Pet Passages offers not just cremation, but also partners with a local vet to offer euthanasia.
We’ve had to put down two pups, Carmi and Maggie. Both occurred in a vet’s office. Bright lights. Cold, steel table. Injection and a few minutes later, it was over. Walking into Pet Passages is a different, beautiful experience. Open the front door and burning candles welcome you. Comfortable chairs. A big screen TV and a gorgeous display of pet urns. No bright lights. No steel tables. No one is in a hurry to get you in and out.
Pet Passages has two “Rainbow Bridge Rooms.” These rooms offer calm, reverence, and comfort. Dimly lit, there are comfortable chairs, a soothing waterfall, and a special place to lay your pet on a soft purple blanket, which is the symbol of royalty. You can spend as much time as you need saying “good-bye”. It is an “at home” experience. A warm space for pet parents to spend a final, meaningful time with their pet.
During my tour of Pet Passages, Rene and Alan shared stories of pets and pet families that have touched them. Tears flowed. It is obvious that Pet Passages is a “calling” for Rene and Alan. They care deeply for pets and the humans who are grieving.
The Pet Passages process
The goal of Pet Passages is to offer “dignified pet cremation” and to guide pet parents through the loss of their pets. How does this happen?
- When your vet handles cremation, there can be little transparency. Their pricing can be all over the map and sometimes extreme with euthanasia/cremation package deals. Many Vets do not disclose or give you the option to choose someone other than your vet’s current provider of cremation services. You can choose your own cremation service, Pet Passages should be considered. They can also pick up remains from your vet’s office within the Collin County area at no additional charge, even if your vet currently does not use their service.
- Pet Passages is one of the few pet crematories that offer 3 services. Truly Private– your pet is the only pet in the cremation unit. Semi Private- More than one pet will be cremated at the same time using our steel partitioning system to keep pets separated from one another and no co-mingling of ashes. Only your pet’s cremated remains will be returned. Communal – many pets will be cremated in a group without partitions and no remains will be returned.
- Usually, at a veterinarian’s office, pets waiting to be cremated are frozen and stacked on top of each other in freezers. This does not happen when working with Pet Passages. No pets are frozen, and they offer a three business day (72 business hour) turnaround of getting your pets’ remains back to you..
- Many pets are terrified of going to the vet, so Pet Passages is a calm and inviting atmosphere. Pets are encouraged to come in, sniff around, explore, and feel comfortable before being euthanized.
- Pet Passages is transparent: all cremation costs are posted on their website.
- All services are done “in house,” even engraving on urns, which results in no chance of a pet being misidentified.
- Pets are given a bracelet with a stainless-steel medallion that is numbered. This bracelet travels with the pet throughout the entire process. There is no chance of a pet’s ashes being misidentified.
- Pet Parents can even choose a truly private witness cremation where they can view their pet being cremated.
- Pet Passages offers a variety of meaningful ways to remember your pet. Urns, Nose/Paw prints, pendants, engraved metal photo frame, and a “Blooming Heart of Remembrance” are just a few options.
No pet parent wants to tell their pet “Good-bye.” It’s a situation no one wishes to face, but when the time comes to lay your beloved pet to rest, they merit nothing less than the best care. Pet Passages is devoted to honoring these members of our families with dignified euthanasia and cremation services
For more information contact Pet Passages Collin County, Tx.