Las Vegas pet cremation business not aware of ‘deception’ that led to dumped animals

Pet owners await remains from now-closed Las Vegas company

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The owner of a now-closed pet cremation business, where animals meant for cremation ended up dumped more than 100 miles away, appears to have apologized to customers as some receive their orders months later.

Last fall, the 8 News Now Investigators spoke to several people who paid 1st Call Pet Cremation to handle their dogs’ remains, saying they did not believe the remains given to them were their beloved animals.

In May, the 8 News Now Investigators reported that dozens of animals showed up dumped more than 100 miles away in rural Utah as the Nevada Attorney General’s Office appears to be looking into the now-closed business.

1st Call Pet Cremation contracted with a Utah-based cremation company that then dumped dozens of animals rather than cremate them, Sgt. Lucas Alfred with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said. The woman who ran that company faces three misdemeanors in Washington County Justice Court with a possible fine of about $1,000, records said.

The sheriff’s office collected the dumped animals and paid another Utah-based pet cremation company to cremate them. Deputies were able to identify a few microchip numbers but no names.

Landon Heins paid 1st Call Pet Cremation to cremate his dog, Gem; and his cat, Darla, who died within weeks of each other last August and September.

“Tried calling him back — just kept getting messages,” Heins said in May after more than half a year after paying 1st Call Pet Cremation nearly $800 for the services.

After the 8 News Now Investigators story aired in May, Heins said he received a box with the order for Gem, complete with a tuft of hair, paw print, certificate and urn of remains. It was unclear if the remains actually belonged to Gem as the timeline of her death lines up with the remains discovered in Utah.

Heins recently received a second package containing Darla’s paw print and hair clipping, he said. The package did not have her ashes, but it did have a letter.

“1st Call management was never aware of their practices,” the letter said about the dumped pets. “We were confident that the cremated remains received and properly identified by the crematory operator were the correct cremated remains of each family’s pet. We were never aware of, nor did we participate in their deception.”

The business owner has not responded to repeated requests for comment and 8 News Now cannot confirm the authenticity of the letter, which goes on to say the company can “assure” the items sent are correct.

“We sincerely apologize for the anguish this has caused our families,” the letter said. “We cannot express enough the loss we feel for each family whose lives have been adversely impacted by these terrible events. While the memorial package you are now receiving may not be exactly what was ordered at the time you came into contact with 1st Call Pet Cremation, we feel that providing you with the items we are able to provide can offer you with some closure.”

While neither confirming nor denying an investigation, the Nevada Attorney General’s Office was asking anyone who believes they are a victim of 1st Call Pet Cremation to contact 702-486-3799. The phone number reaches an investigator directly.

Investigator David Charns can be reached at dcharns@8newsnow.com.