CATONSVILLE, Md. (WBAL) – A Maryland business that offers funeral services for pets is under fire for allegedly mishandling a number of clients.
Several pet owners say they were devastated to learn that their pets were not cremated, but rather dumped on the side of the road.
Darrine Timpson was able to enjoy the nice weather with his French bulldog, Bentley.
But, both of them have heavy hearts because Timpson’s female dog and Bentley’s mate, Jada, died on March 27 while delivering her puppies.
“She was just unbelievable, a well-temperament dog, you know what I’m saying?” Timpson said. “There’s nothing you can replace in that dog, and I love dogs.”
Timpson did some research and contacted Loving Care Pet Funeral Services in Catonsville to have her dog cremated.
The next day, they returned Jada’s ashes.
“About 30 minutes after he left, I received a call from animal control of Baltimore City and they stated that my dog was actually located on the side of the road with seven other dogs,” Timpson said.
Animal control scanned Timpson’s microchip to get the owner’s information, but the other dogs remained unidentified.
The owner of Loving Care, Rodney Ward, said he started getting calls late last week with the claims; one of them was from Timpson.
Ward says he was blindsided by the news, stating a new employee was supposed to take the animals to Hyattsville where they do the actual cremations, but the dogs apparently ended up on the side of the road instead.
“It just was still a lot to process, that someone would take advantage of not only me, but seven other people,” Timpson said.
In a statement, Ward added, in part, “We are under the assumption that they are cremating our pets as contracted. We guarantee to the best of knowledge that when we return cremated pets to their parents, they are the correct pet.”
“I was returned ashes, but I’m not sure if they even are pet ashes or human ashes,” Timpson said.
The pet company owner says he has not been able to get in touch with that specific employee. He also says he refunded all of the money to the affected clients.
But for Timpson, it’s not about the money.
“Animals mean a lot to me, and I think and believe that they should be held and dealt in a manner the same way as a human,” Timpson said.
The city is now overseeing the cremation of Timpson’s dog, Jada, and he says he plans to pursue legal action against the crematory.
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