Couple uses peaceful locale for pet crematorium

by Pam Martin
Business Report Correspondent

reprinted with permission from the Boulder County Business Report

MEAD – For Chuck and Penny Myers setting up shop on their land in rural Weld County presented the picturesque backdrop essential to their business model – an animal crematorium.

The county required a special-use permit so a hearing was arranged with the neighbors whose land abutted their own. Approved in February 2006, the couple built a barn and purchased equipment for an animal crematorium. PennyLane Pet Cremation Services Inc. brings a homey farm setting to what can be an emotionally challenging event.

Because of zoning regulations businesses like pet crematoriums typically congregate in warehouse settings. The Myerses’ locale on rural residential property with their horses, chickens, ducks and dog and cat wandering the 2.5 acres treats clients to a face-to-face reminder of the cycles inherent in life.

The Myerses’ love of animals combined with Chuck’s 25 years of experience as the manager of a mortuary and cemetery and Penny’s 17 years as a physical therapist make them ideal caretakers.

“I love visiting with people,” Chuck said. “People tell amazing stories about their animals, and I’ll sit with them and listen. I’m not a psychologist or a counselor, but I listen. Death is always a mystery. There’s something about the property, with its views of Long’s Peak. You could sit and look at the mountains forever. There’s a comfort level that people experience. They start to see that everything’s going to be OK.”

“We often see dogs from puppyhood until they’re 13, 14 years of age,” said Dr. Laura Meyer, a veterinarian at Long’s Peak Animal Hospital in Longmont. The hospital uses PennyLane for its general cremations. “It’s great to know that an animal’s end is just as good as the beginning – that the animal receives the same compassion and care. That really, really helps me.”

The facility and location have been instrumental in garnering the clients they now have, and they are quick to invite potential clients to the site because the setting is so ideal. A garden on the property serves as a cemetery of sorts.

“For clients who don’t want to pick up their pet’s remains we have a garden where we sprinkle their ashes,” Penny said. “It’s very peaceful.”

Penny and Chuck balance family with their day jobs in addition to the pet cremation business.

“PennyLane requires that I work evenings and weekends,” Chuck said. “But it’s great to have the facility here at home. Otherwise I’d never see my family.”

Their daughter, Linzie, is 15 and works for a local veterinarian. Taylor, 12, works for the business. She stains the biodegradable wooden urns, stamping each with a paw print that, according to one client, has meant the world to her and her husband.

“We keep them on the mantle by the fireplace. Each is a cedar, round box with the paw print and their names,” said Bonnie Ramos, who lost both their Bijon Frises last year to old age and cancer.

“Penny came to the house. She’s so calm and kind. She and Chuck both are. They treated Tanya and Ace as if they were relatives ... with all the respect and dignity of family members.

“They made it bearable for us. Chuck and Penny are truly the nicest people you’d ever meet.”