Pet Rest Pet Crematory

Pet Rest Crematory and Cemetery are owned by Charles Smith of Eastgate Funeral Home in Garland, Tx. Calls to Mr. Smith have never been returned with regards to our concerns over his employee Rick Wilson and the handling of our pets remains. Mr. Wilson is abrasive at best with the public and told us at one point that "you might as well put your cat in the garbage because you didn't select a private cremation for him".

When we picked up our cat's ashes from the vet there was no cremation certificate and no documentation for us at all. The vet's office couldn't help us out, after all, they "trusted" that these folks did the right thing. And we had asked for private cremation, Mr. Wilson was wrong.

We had several concerns doing business with these folks, but unfortunately they already had the cat and we felt stuck. Our concerns were as follows: We asked to witness our pet's cremation and they said no. After all this we found out that several other pet crematories in the area not only offer witnessed cremation, they also provide cremation certificates.

We visited the premises a few days after our pets alleged ashes were returned to us and we were greeted by obnoxious black smoke coming from the crematory building. Very unappealing to someone who might be visiting their pet buried in the cemetery. The crematory is pretty much right in the middle of the cemetery. We saw the new story on this crematory on Channel 4 KDFW and it showed the owner Charles Smith stating that the crematory "had never had a complaint", but Rick Wilson at the crematory was caught on tape saying "we've had a few complaints."

Pet Rest does not provide any documentation to the pet owner and there is no explanation by them of how they identify animals to keep their records straight.

After a news expose broke on this crematory in May of this year I tried to get documentation for my dog that had been cremated there. They have never sent any documentation and Rick gets really nasty with people who call him and ask him about things.

There have been 86 complaints filed with the NADL against Pet Rest for its practices, lack of documentation and performing cremations of more than one pet body, but charging as if they were private cremations. They seem to do some sort of separation in the chamber, but often the animal remains commingle together. Many people are questioning whether or not they got their pets back.

Pet Rest provided the cremation services for my cat who died on March 21. My cat was taken to my vet office and cremation services were arranged through my vet's office. I asked for a private cremation and for the return of the ashes. The operator Rick Wilson was very concerned over how he was to be paid and I advised him I would pay him through my vet. He expressed further concern citing that people expected him to do the "dirty work" and then they did not pay him. He did, however pick up my cat that day and advised me on the 21st that my cat had already been cremated.

My cat's (alleged) cremains were returned to me on March 22 with NO paperwork identifying them as such. I was simply handed a sealed box (I had requested that they not seal the box). For weeks I had requested paperwork for my cat through my vet office, who finally sent me a bill. I felt that the crematory owed me proper documentation, however they made me wait three weeks citing that the owner needed to sign the paperwork. When I finally did get something from them it was undated, not signed by the owner, but signed by the crematory operator and it had the wrong cremation date on it.

I called the crematory operator back and asked him "how do I know these are my cats ashes" he responded, "We are not Altanta" alluding to the crematory scandal in Noble, Ga. He would not answer my question and to this date I have no reason to believe these are my cat's ashes.

I am a breast cancer patient dealing with advanced breast cancer. Not knowing if these are my cats ashes has been emotionally devastating to me. Not having proper documentation and the evasiveness of the crematory to provide such seems to be a breach of contract. Also I found out after the fact that they practice partitioned cremations, which means my cat was cremated with other animals and separated by a partition in the chamber, when the partition is removed ashes do commingle.