Pets at Peace offer to lay Whitehaven goose to rest for free

Jeanne and Stephen Park, who run Pets at Peace, heard about the tragic tale of Billy as they regularly visit the site where he was attacked, which was cordoned off.

Jeanne said: "We saw that Mel James was involved in the original search for Billy.  We knew Mel from the rescue centre Ani-Mel Haven as she had previously brought her own dog to us for cremation and we looked around the sanctuary she owns when we returned the ashes.

"She rescues and looks after lots of birds (and other animals).  She had actually looked after Billy recently for several weeks when he hurt his leg in an accident on the harbour.

"We contacted her and offered to cremate Billy.  We will put his ashes in a lovely silver urn, with flying birds on and then decide where to lay Billy to rest."

The “going home” casket which Billy will be laid to rest in (Image: Supplied)

Pets at Peace offers a 'personal dignified service', rather like a human funeral home, where owners can spend time with their pets.

The family-run business only carry out individual cremations, with ashes returned to owners within 48 hours, sometimes the same day. 

Jeanne and Stephen will collect pets from the owner’s homes or the vet’s practice at any time as they understand that not all pets pass away in normal working hours.

The business offers a range of caskets, keepsakes and jewellery. 

The farewell room at Pets at Peace (Image: Supplied)

Jeanne said: "Pets will be always treated with dignity and care and are transported and handled the way we would handle our own pets, with the utmost love and respect."  

Pets at Peace opened on July 4, 2021 which marks National Pet Remembrance Day.

Jeanne and Stephen had previously buried their own pets in the garden, which isn’t always an option for a lot of owners, who often have to leave their pets at a vet’s practice, where they are handled and stored differently.

Jeanne said: "We took our last dog to the closest pet crematorium, which is when we realised this was a service sadly lacking in West Cumbria that we could potentially provide."

The memorial tree with pet’s names on paws (Image: Supplied)

Pets at Peace is a small family business, at the moment they cremate around seven pets a week, compared to hundreds a week at other crematoriums.

Jeanne said: "The business is not financially viable as we were not prepared for the massive increases in fuel, particularly gas (used for the cremations).

"In order to survive we need pet owners to be aware of us, as a lot of people do not know we are here."