Exploiting grief
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that my dog, Horace, was one of the primary reasons I survived the extended lockdown during the pandemic. His daily walks forced me to establish a regular exercise routine, while the playtime and attention he needed as a puppy gave me a welcome distraction from the pressures of leading an organization amid a crisis.
These days, my dog also helps keep my parents physically and mentally fit. Occasionally, Horace goes on extended “vacations” at their house, and I get to hear all sorts of stories about their time together. My father finds it especially endearing how Horace scratches at the bathroom door whenever he takes too long to shower. My mother, meanwhile, loves having a little shadow following her around as she goes about her chores and errands. Horace is even the first animal our family officially included in our Christmas pictures.
My parents’ only complaint is that they have a hard time leaving the house whenever Horace stays with them because they do not want him to be left alone. As my mother once observed, gone are the days when dogs were regarded primarily as the household’s bantay. These days, we seem to be the ones constantly looking after them—a small price to pay for the unconditional love and devoted companionship they offer.
The growing importance of pets in family life is reflected in the boom of businesses catering to our furry companions, from pet insurance and animal apparel (including a recent collection by Adidas) to pet-friendly restaurants and even dedicated airline seats for pets.
Among these are pet funeral services, which offer burial and cremation options to grieving owners. These services can come at a hefty price. A pet memorial package can cost as much as P12,000, depending on the size of the animal as well as other add-ons like special urns, jewelry, and other keepsakes.
Recently, however, the pet cremation industry has come under scrutiny following disturbing revelations involving Ahjay Paws Aftercare Pet Crematorium, a provider based in Bacoor, Cavite. At least 29 dead dogs and cats were discovered dumped in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, despite their owners having entrusted them to the company for cremation.
Since the news broke, grieving pet owners have come forward with complaints, including fears that the ashes they received may not belong to their pets. These concerns have prompted forensic examinations of samples submitted by pet owners.
Last Friday, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed criminal complaints against the owner of Ahjay Paws, along with a couple operating a subcontracted crematorium in Bulacan and another individual allegedly involved in disposing of the animals’ remains. Investigators found that the Bacoor-based business had been outsourcing its cremation services to the Bulacan facility, which reportedly could not accommodate the volume of animals being sent to it. Some remains were allegedly dumped instead of cremated.
The NBI recommended charges of estafa and violations of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. As of Friday, at least five of the 25 pet owners initially identified by investigators had completed the NBI’s complaint process, while hundreds of others had reportedly approached the Bacoor police.
The incident exposes the need for stronger regulation and oversight. In recent years, other businesses, including a pet grooming facility and a dog training service, have faced allegations of negligence and mistreatment that resulted in the deaths of animals entrusted to their care. As the pet industry continues to expand, the standards governing these businesses must keep pace with the growing demand for their services. Without adequate safeguards and consistent enforcement, animals and their owners remain vulnerable to negligence and abuse.
Businesses that deal with emotionally vulnerable consumers have an ethical and operational responsibility to maintain their trust. Pet owners seeking cremation services are often grieving and may be particularly vulnerable to exploitation. This makes proper oversight all the more necessary. Providers should be required to maintain appropriate facilities, disclose their pricing and procedures, offer customers the option to witness or verify the cremation process, and establish reliable systems for tracking remains.
Perhaps not everyone will agree with someone’s choice to spend thousands of pesos to cremate a beloved pet. But the issue is not whether animals deserve the same funeral rites as human beings. We do not have to share another person’s attachment to their pet to recognize that their grief deserves respect. These pet owners sought cremation services because they wanted to give a dignified farewell to a beloved member of the family, while retaining a physical reminder of years of companionship. To discover that the remains they received may not even belong to their pet is to have that final act of love and remembrance compromised.
