A VET practice in Worcester has said it is “mortified” after images emerged of animal carcasses piled up at a yard allegedly used by a pet cremation service.
Henwick Vets said it had “immediately” terminated its agreement with Animal Funeral Services (AFS) at Litfield House Farm in Kington after seeing the images online.
The cremation service is currently being investigated by Herefordshire Council, over reports that the bagged pet carcasses had been left to rot.
The Worcester News contacted AFS for comment earlier this week.
Vets that have confirmed they don’t use AFS
Multiple vet practices in Worcestershire have confirmed they have not used AFS’ services, including Stocks in Upton, the Worcester Vet Group, which runs Ambleside Vets and St Peter’s, as well as Severn Veterinary Centre, which runs Worcester Veterinary Hospital – Berkeley House and St John’s in Tybridge House.
But some Worcester pet owners were left concerned after seeing photos from the AFS yard, showing bags marked for ‘individual cremation’, that had been sent for disposal from Henwick Vets in Worcester.
READ MORE: Worcester pet owners demand answers after claims dead dogs dumped in bags
Henwick Vets ‘appalled’
MORTIFIED: Henwick Vets said it has terminated its agreement with Animal Funeral Services (Image: Google Maps)
In a statement shared late on Friday (July 10), the practice apologised for the distress that worried owners may have faced.
It said had visited the site and that its patients’ ashes had been returned to the surgery.
It added that “affected owners” had been contacted individually, but that it was as “confident as we can be” that individual cremations had been carried out properly.
“We apologise for the delay in commenting publicly,” a spokesperson for Henwick Vets said.
“We have been understandably snowed under with enquiries and are working as hard as we can to prioritise.
“We are appalled by what we have seen on social media. As soon as we were made aware of the situation; we immediately terminated our agreement with AFS.
“We visited the site first thing this morning, and all our patients’ ashes are safely returned with us at the surgery.
“Any affected owners have been contacted individually, albeit due to our duty of care and client confidentiality, we cannot comment further.
“From what we saw this morning, we are as confident as we can be that all individual cremations have been done correctly.
“We are mortified at the situation we find ourselves in, and so sorry for the upset and anguish it is causing.
“We will address our clients’ individual concerns but, we respectfully ask we have time to do so, as soon as we are able.”
READ MORE: Pet crematorium under investigation after corpses left outside
Council investigating
INVESTIGATION: Herefordshire Council is investigating concerns about Animal Funeral Services in Kington (Image: Supplied)
In a statement provided to our sister paper The Hereford Times, Herefordshire Council said it was investigating reports about AFS, alongside the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), and the RSPCA.
“We are working with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), the RSPCA and other relevant agencies as part of the ongoing investigations and will take appropriate action within the Council’s responsibilities and powers,” a spokesperson said.
“Enquiries are ongoing and we will continue to work closely with the relevant agencies as their investigations progress.”
