Human and pet funeral worlds unite at major exhibition

For the first time in its history, the National Funeral Exhibition included a stand dedicated to pet services, paving the way for a closer working relationship between the two sectors.

The Association of Private Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria’s (APPCC) stand was one of the busiest at the National Funeral Exhibition at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, last month.

Nick Ricketts, chairman of the APPCC, commented: “We were delighted with the amount of interest we attracted and I think it reflects the growing awareness that pets are family too, which was the very apt slogan above the stand. We are now considering launching a new pet funeral arranger scheme in liaison with funeral directors and other organisations such as vets and pet shops.”

Funeral firms participating in the new scheme would become ‘APPCC officially approved pet funeral arrangers’ and would visit the premises of their nearest APPCC member to become fully grounded in standards, options and procedures operating in the pet world. They would also be able to use the organisation’s special logo in promotional literature. 

Mr Ricketts said the APPCC’s stamp of approval would ensure public confidence in the scheme as it is the only European organisation setting standards specifically designed for pet owners.