Pet crematorium under investigation over ‘squalid’ conditions after bags full of rotting carcasses and piles of bones and ash discovered

A pet cremation business is being investigated for ‘poor’ conditions; An eyewitness describes the ‘smell of death’ coming from rotting carcasses and piles of bones and ashes scattered around the facility.

Animal Funeral Services, based at Litfield House Farm near Kington, Herefordshire, is at the center of shocking allegations after video emerged showing dead animals inside an unlocked van and shredded bags containing the remains.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) confirmed on July 9 that the business had been served with a cease-and-desist notice banning the use of animal by-products at the facility while the investigation was ongoing.

Herefordshire Council said it was working with the APHA, RSPCA and other relevant agencies.

The investigation was launched by 30-year-old dog walker Jess Roberts, who wanted to know what happened to her beloved rescue dog Teddy after he was put to sleep by the local vet and sent there.

Roberts, of Bridgnorth, Shropshire, rescued the dog from a kill shelter in Romania about 10 years ago. He lived with it until old age, when dementia and arthritis seriously affected his quality of life.

After deciding to put Teddy to sleep, she was told that the veterinarian’s office was sending the body to Animal Funeral Services to be cremated.

But when he could not calm his fears about what was happening to him, he went to Litfield Home Farm with a friend.

‘As soon as we got out of the car it felt like we’d been punched in the face,’ Roberts said. ‘The smell of death permeated the entire property. “It was the smell of rotting carcasses.”

He estimated there were about 10 dogs in the area and described seeing cats with matted fur wandering around the property.

‘This place was dirty,’ he said. ‘Parts of it appeared to have been covered using pallets chained together. It didn’t look right.”

Roberts said some of the dogs were panting and appeared to be living in poor conditions. He and his friend called someone to take care of them.

Pet Funeral Services advertised that it operated 24 hours a day and referenced memorial sites on its website where grieving owners could visit.

“We were yelling at someone because we were told the business was open 24 hours,” Roberts said. ‘We wanted to inform the owners that the dogs were panting. Then I came across the worst thing I’ve ever seen.’

Roberts claims to have found bags containing animal remains in the area; Among them, some have been split open.

‘There were flies everywhere,’ he said. ‘There were bags torn apart with animals coming out of them.’

He initially believed that most of the yellow sacks contained clinical waste. However, he said that when he examined the crime scene and later examined the photos and videos, it became clear that some of them contained animal carcasses.

‘Ashes do not bleed,’ he said.

Roberts also described seeing cats playing in a pile of ashes that looked like bone fragments.

‘There was no maintenance,’ he said. ‘There was no respect.’

He said his most disturbing discovery was inside a white van parked on the side of the road. The vehicle appeared to be unlocked and accessible to passersby.

‘Any child, anyone walking their dog or anyone passing by could have opened the door and seen what I saw,’ he said.

Inside the vehicle, Roberts said he saw sharps containers of the type used in veterinary practices, sacks of clinical waste and bags labeled “individual incineration.”

‘There were dogs in these bags,’ he claimed. ‘Not every yellow bag had a dog in it, but the ones marked “individual cremation” did.’

One photo shows part of an animal’s head sticking out of the bag.

Other material recorded on the site was said to be too disturbing for Roberts to keep on his own phone.

‘I don’t have the most graphic photos because I can’t look at them anymore,’ he said. ‘My husband has them.’

After making the discoveries, Roberts and his friend contacted the police, RSPCA and Herefordshire Council.

He said the RSPCA initially told him the matter was the council’s responsibility, which then referred him to the RSPCA. He said police officers would attend, but he waited at the facility for nearly four hours before anyone arrived.

‘We didn’t know what to do,’ he said. ‘We took photos and videos. ‘We called everyone.’

Eventually, Roberts had to return home because she and her husband had children.

‘I said: “I’ll come back tomorrow and I’ll talk to this woman and keep going back until I find my dog.”

She returned the next day with her husband Charlie, where a conflict with work-related people escalated into an incident. Roberts was later arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently out on bail.

Roberts said he first approached Michelle Jenkins, a close friend of Rachael Slaughter, who owns and operates Pet Funeral Services.

“He got hot,” Roberts said. ‘I wanted to know where my dog ​​was.’

While her husband later spoke to Slaughter and Jenkins, Roberts asked them about the memorial site and the condition of the clients’ animals and ashes.

Roberts said he repeatedly asked what happened to Teddy.

‘I said: “Please tell me where he is and I’ll drop him off. I just want my dog ​​and I know he’s there.”‘

‘But he didn’t want to give me any answers.’

Roberts also questioned Slaughter about how the animals got to the facility.

‘I asked him: “What do the dogs come to you with? What kind of bags?”

‘ He said: “Individual cremation bags.” “What’s in the van?” I said.

‘He said there was nothing in it.’

Roberts said he was not shown documents identifying Teddy or documenting his cremation.

‘There was no paperwork, no administration, nothing,’ he said. ‘All I have are the things I took photos and videos of.’

He also expressed concerns about the accessibility of cremation equipment.

Roberts claimed the ovens did not have adequate protective barriers and that a member of the public may have approached the ovens.

‘Anybody could have gone up and opened the door,’ he said. ‘As someone who was once a teenager, I can’t believe no one got hurt. Curious children or young people could direct their attention to this subject.’

He said smoke was coming from the equipment and piles of ash around the area were still smoldering.

Roberts, a professional dog groomer, fears poor handling and hygiene could pose a risk of disease.

He cited canine parvovirus, a highly contagious disease, as an example of why animal remains must be handled under controlled conditions.

‘If even one dog had been euthanized and sent there due to parvovirus, strict protection and neutering procedures would have been needed,’ he said.

‘I walked around in normal shoes and unprotected clothing and then came home. Luckily, my dogs are fully vaccinated.

‘But only one infected dog would be enough for this. Even a dog walking past the house could potentially be at risk.’

Roberts claimed that he and his companion experienced chest problems after visiting the area, but there is no evidence that the symptoms were caused by anything at the facility.

‘We don’t know if we’re breathing anything,’ he said. ‘But the apparent lack of sterile conditions was frightening.’

The RSPCA is not the legal regulator of pet crematoriums but may investigate the welfare of live animals kept on site.

While APHA inspects sites where animal by-products are processed and incinerated, the council and environmental authorities may have responsibilities regarding pollution, waste, planning, nuisance and public health.

Since the allegations emerged, many veterinary practices in Herefordshire have sought to reassure customers about the cremation providers they use.

Investigators will likely investigate what veterinary practices knew about Animal Funeral Services, what checks were made before animals were sent there, and whether they received individual cremations they believed grieving owners had paid for.

Roberts said people have been contacting him with concerns going back many years.

‘I can’t believe a 30-year-old elderly woman came and checked,’ she said. ‘Where was the law? Where was the recording? Where was everyone?’

He believes the business is able to present a convincing public image through its website and positive customer reviews.

‘Everyone trusted that the professionals above them were doing their job,’ he said. ‘Hidden behind a professional looking website and good reviews.’

Despite a wider investigation, Roberts wants to know what happened to Teddy.

‘My brain was filled with scary thoughts that he was in a place where he wasn’t treated properly,’ she said.

‘People are now angry because their animals were sent there. Some said five years ago that this looked suspicious. So why did me and my dog ​​have to get there before anything happened?

‘Teddy is the reason all this is happening. Without him, none of this would have come to light. ‘I want his photo to be used so people remember why this started.’

Pet Funeral Services states on its website that it offers a ‘dignified farewell’.

According to DEFRA, crematoriums must ensure that animal by-products are cremated as quickly as possible and stored for a maximum of seven days.

Animal byproducts that are not immediately incinerated should be stored in leak-proof, closed and labeled containers.

In a statement, Herefordshire Council said: ‘We are working with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, RSPCA and other relevant agencies as part of ongoing investigations and will take appropriate action within the council’s responsibilities and powers.’

Following the incident between Roberts and Animal Funeral Services staff, West Mercia Police said: ‘We received reports of an assault on Titley Station Road, Lyonshall, at approximately 3.40pm on Wednesday 8 July.

‘A 30-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently out on bail.’

Pet Funeral Services has also been contacted for comment.