Memorial planned for pets found at closed crematorium, cemetery

The Winnipeg Humane Societyis hosting a memorial service at the Manitoba legislature Monday night for pet owners whose animals were supposed to be buried or cremated at the now-closed Misty Gardens Pet Cemetery and Domestic Animal Cremation.

Manitoba Conservation officers and the humane society are working to identify the remains of 125 pets found at the La Salle, Man., facility, which conservation officials closed in August over concerns aboutfilthy conditions and the manner in which animal carcasses were being handled.

Pet owners in Manitoba expressed outrage over conditions at the facility,including dozens of animal remains foundin freezers and barrels of what appeared to be bone andash.

"We were trying to think of something that would help people to get some comfort and to feel as though the memory of their animals is really being respected and honoured," said Vicky Burns, executive director of the humane society.

Burns has both personal and professional connections to the crematorium: the Winnipeg Humane Society sent hundreds of its animals to the facility, and two of her own dogs were cremated there several years ago, before the controversy surfaced.

"Lots of people, the grief that they experience when they first lost their pet has sort of resurfaced," Burns said.

"There really isn't a good way to deal with that, in the sense that there isn't going to be a very good closure, probably, to people to reassure them that their pet it's their ashes that they have."

The memorial service will provide a way for people to grieve together, Burns said.

"If there's 100 people, that's fine, and if there's 10 people, that's fine," she said."It's more of a symbolic gesture to say we understand, we love [our pets], they are treasured and we're honouring their memory."

The bodies of the animals found at the site have been taken to another location for storage and identification, with notification to pet owners to follow, humane society officials said.

The owner of the facility, Gail Harrison, told CBC News last monththat problems at the business including a malfunctioning incinerator, financial difficulties and staffing issues led to the closure.

The memorial, which will include a short service led by a chaplain and therapist, will begin at 7 p.m. CT.