Jackson woman says pet cremation error leaves her without closure
By Brooklyn Joyner
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JACKSON, Miss. (WAPT) — A Jackson woman says her request for a private cremation for her Chihuahua was not honored, leaving her with no ashes at all.
“I got him when I was pregnant with my son,” Laura Arcuri said. “He was very spunky even at his old age, was very sweet, very friendly.”
Arcuri said she chose Pet Angel Memorial Center for the cremation of her 17-year-old Chihuahua, Neut, but later learned his remains were cremated with those of 19 other pets.
“A manager called and stated that she was so sorry and that my dog had been involved in a situation where several private cremations were supposed to be done and instead, he was cremated with several other pets,” Arcuri said.
She said the discovery has left her feeling misled and regretful.
“I think it’s very misleading, fraudulent, and there’s no changing that now,” she said. “We won’t get his remains back. If we are able to get anything at all, it will be a mix.”
Pet Angel Memorial Center acknowledged the issue in a statement, saying, “Pet Angel recently discovered that two team members did not follow our company’s established protocols. As soon as we became aware of this, we took immediate action, including launching a full investigation.”
Arcuri said the experience has shaken her trust in the business.
“I just think if I knew this would’ve been a possibility, I wouldn’t have chanced it, and it concerns me for the community that has trust in this business,” she said.
Pet Angel said they are committed to providing aftercare services with compassion, but Arcuri said she did not feel that compassion and is left wondering how to say her final goodbyes to Neut.
“He was a good boy, and that was one of the hardest things about this, was just wanting to make sure everything was done right for him,” she said.
When visiting the memorial center, corporate representatives confirmed that the employees who failed to follow protocol have since been fired. Acuri told me she will not be able to receive their pet’s ashes until they get consent from 19 other families whose pets were cremated as well.
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