Karen Gardiner listened to stories about my cherished Jack Russell Terrier for nearly four hours after Purdy’s heart beat stopped for the final time at a vet’s clinic in Carberry.

Going for a one-hour drive west on Hwy. 1 with Purdy laying lifeless in her co-pilot’s seat on a favourite pillow, I arrived at Peaceful Valley Pet Crematorium. This fully licensed environmentally friendly facility located six miles east of Virden overlooking the Assiniboine Valley is run by Gardiner along with husband Rob and daughter Cassidy.

“Looking back when our two dogs [Jed and Cortnie] died, there was nothing in this region where you could have your pet cremated,” recalled Karen Gardiner.

“The closest [crematorium] was in Winnipeg. We had no options for our pets, so they are buried on our rural property. Private cremations for pets have grown in popularity and we’re now here to provide that service.”

Gardiner came up with the business idea for Peaceful Valley Pet Crematorium after doing her homework. She sees this alternative to just leaving your deceased animal at the vet for disposal being beneficial to pet owners. Not everyone has property where they can intern the family cat or dog.

Wrapped in her favourite baby-blue blanket, it was hard to let go of my canine companion who was put to sleep in her 15th year because of declining health. Purdy was here for a private cremation, and Gardiner was all ears as she helped an emotional pet owner during the grieving process. She’s done it on many occasions since the family business opened in 2004.

“That’s why I’m here because I can relate. I’ve lost family pets,” she said, pointing to a portrait of her deceased dogs that look down on her from a wall in the crematorium waiting room. “You take as long as you want when you arrive with your pet. We never rush a grieving pet owner.”

The Gardiners have taken an environmentally friendly approach to their cremation services for a reason. This is done so that funeral homes can now accept a pet owner’s ashes and have them cremated with that person upon their death.

“You are able to be buried or cremated with your pet’s ashes,” she said. “Lots of people want to take their pet’s ashes with them.”

Seven years after opening, the Gardiners built a special building that incorporates the crematorium so pet owners have a comfortable venue to grieve after arriving with their deceased pet. On this cold winter afternoon, Purdy’s blanket-wrapped body was placed on a special table.

“It gives the place an air or professionalism, not unlike when you visit a funeral home,” offered Gardiner. “This is a nice place where you can say final farewells or spend time with your pet prior to cremation.”

Gardiner’s husband looks after all cremations, and only proceeds with the process once the pet owner has left the rural property.

“We don’t let the pet owner do it because we don’t want that to be the last memory of their pet,” she explained. “We want people who are grieving the loss of their pet to drive away feeling good that they are leaving their pet in our care after the death.”

Gardiner puts a lot of TLC into post-cremation of your pet. Husband Rob acknowledged having your pet cremated does help with closure.

“There is definitely closure for some pet owners. Your pet is family. What are you going to do with a pet when they die? It’s nice to have this service in the Westman.”

He added, “Whether it’s pets or humans, there’s still dignity in death. Your pet is part of the family, so our goal is to help people through the hard times [of losing a pet].”

“We know what losing a pet is like, so we can relate to the people who come to us with their pets,” said Karen Gardiner.

“Your pet is left with us and treated properly, and because private cremations are our specialty, we put a lot into what we do for you at this time of loss.”

That means returning the cremated remains back to the pet owner as soon as possible.

“People ask us all the time how long it takes for a pet to be cremated,” she said. “It’s different for every animal when you are doing a private cremation. We treat the pet is dignity throughout the process. All of what we do helps with the grieving process.”

Purdy, now resting in a birch finish wooden photo box, was back with me within 48 hours. Once the pet is turned to ash, and allowed to cool, Karen Gardiner then goes to work on preparing the remains for placement in your choice of urns.

“We ensure the utmost professional handling of your pets and the their remains while they are in our care,” she said.

There are ceramic and pewter urns, and all can be personalized depending on what you want for your pet. Name plates are added, or you can use your pet’s current tags.

There’s also a garden stone which can be personalized with the pet’s name, plus date of birth and death. These peaceful stones featuring a cat or dog may be used as an urn or filled with sand and used as a grave marker if you bury your family pet. Custom painting to match your pet is also available.

“I’ll also take some of the remains and place them in film canisters if you want,” she said. “You can use this to spread some of your pet’s ashes at their favourite run, or a place you spent time together.”

Gardiner acknowledged pet owners can pre-arrange cremations in advance of the death of their animal.

This is encouraged and welcomed “to ensure your wishes are clearly met when the time arrives. Having these details set in advance can ease the stress during the time of loss.”

To learn more about having your family pet cremated in the future, visit www.peacefulvalleycrematorium.com 

Or use Gardiner’s social media platform www.facebook.com/peacefulvalleypetcrematorium/

I know I left after my four-hour visit with Gardiner still sad at my loss, but felt good that Purdy’s remains were being treated with dignity in the cremation process.

I was also thankful that a venue that provides private cremations was available so close to home, and that I was able to bring my Jack Russell Terrier directly to the facility versus having her rest in a refrigerator following death.

I consider what the Gardiners did for me as “a treasured memorial for your cherished pet.”