Jon Stojan
Image credit: Pet Passages
Love is unconditional; when you care for an individual, you want nothing in return but their presence. You cozy up to them so they can remain warm on a cold, rainy day. You aren’t afraid to show them affection and let them know they are loved. On the surface, to be on the receiving end of a love like this seems too far-fetched. But what if you were told that the love you sought was closer than you think and, in fact, maybe sleeping on your couch with their tail wrapped around themselves?
Our pets are hallmarks of an unconditional love. Their companionship is what makes our hearts feel whole. They may not be able to speak, but their presence is enough to make us feel warm.
These are just some reasons why over 89.9 million households in the United States have a pet. Over time, the furry friend we invite into our home becomes a part of the family.
Sadly, when the time comes, we need to lay our pets to rest. If our pets hold such importance in our lives, it is only befitting that we give them a goodbye that honors their memory. This is where Pet Passages comes in.
Pet Passages provides pet funeral and cremation services across the United States while providing comfort and care for grieving pet parents during the passage of their beloved pets.
The franchise owner is Mike Harris, the founder and president of Pet Passages. The idea was birthed from Mike’s own personal loss. The president of Pet Passages lost Hannah and Luke, his two beloved Rottweilers, in 2008. Through his sorrow, all he wanted to do was pay his companions the farewell they deserved, only for his efforts to become futile. From then on, Mike took the initiative never to let another individual and their pet go through the same. He opened his own pet funeral home and crematory in 2009. Mike has 22 years experience as a Licensed Funeral Director (1994 to 2016) and 15 years experience as a Pet Funeral Director (2009 – present).
Pet Passages has revolutionized the pet aftercare spectrum in the United States. The venture is working tirelessly to create franchises nationwide. In the grand scheme of things, Pet Passages is helping cultivate awareness of our pets while providing them with the end-of-live services they deserve. . Pet Passages provides customized cremation and memorial services. Furthermore, they also feature a viewing room, known as the “Rainbow Bridge Room,” helping owners to say good-bye to their pets for the last time. But what is the story behind that name? It is named after Edna Clyne-Rekhy’s poem. The poem is simple but powerful and paints a vivid picture of animal heaven and the promise that we will eventually meet our little friends in the afterlife.
Pet Passages and their contributions will also help elevate America economically. Pet cremation services in America generated 660 million dollars in 2022 as the market size expanded by 7.1% annually from 2017 to 2022.
The Pet Passages initiative commenced in New York, expanding to 12 states in the United States, including Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Hampshire, Connecticuit Louisana, Arkasas, Texas, Oklahoma and Montana.
In an interview, Mike mentioned, “I have been associated with the afterlife care profession since I was a child, and one thing that I have learned so far is that be it a person or a pet, if they have ever brought a smile to your face, they deserve to be laid to rest with the utmost respect, compassion, and dignity.”
He added, “We treat pets like we would treat any family member (on the human side), with the utmost dignity and respect. As soon as you entrust your beloved friend to our care, it becomes our most significant priority to make their journey transparent, respectful, dignified and peaceful. Pet Passages has helped many animals, including dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, chickens, pigs, and even alpacas, cross the rainbow bridge. For us, there is no greater responsibility than honoring and preserving the story and memories of a family’s beloved pet.”
Mike’s endeavor inspires individuals to go the extra mile for the animals we love and set a precedent for compassion and care . To learn more, visit National.petpassages.com.