About Us

Dawn Murray CACB is the founder of the Pet Undertaker...

"I have had companion pets throughout my life and since leaving the Merchant Navy in 2001, my partner Dave Melville and I have been involved in the welfare of retired Greyhounds.

Just before Christmas 2004, my beloved rescued Greyhound, Kaz, became seriously ill and I found myself having to make the agonising decision to end his suffering. I decided to make arrangements for his aftercare and I took comfort in knowing that when the time came, my faithful, loyal pet would be honoured for the unconditional love he had given me throughout the few short years I had him.

I broke my heart the day Kaz died in my arms, but I thought that he would be given dignity in his aftercare, as I had arranged for a large Pet Crematorium (recommended by my Vet), to collect Kaz from my home, individually cremate him and return his ashes to me. However, I was totally unprepared for what actually happened. In December 2004, I paid that Pet Crematorium £200 (they asked for full payment in advance) yet Kaz was treated in the most appalling manner by the boy who collected him – I will spare you the details of how Kaz was handled. He was then dumped in a van along with several other pets who were already bagged and tagged; many of them frozen at the Vets prior to the cremation. Kaz, along with all the other pets in the van, was taken to an industrial estate to be incinerated. I never found out what date or time he was cremated and his ashes were returned 10 days later. How much contempt could this large company have treated my beloved dog with? To them, Kaz was only a “dead dog” and one of hundreds they dealt with every week. I was distraught at the lack of respect shown to my beloved dog and to me. I paid for an individual cremation – sadly my interpretation of individual cremation was not what Kaz was given. Through my role as a Pet Bereavement Counsellor, I have heard many similar and some far more shocking stories about how pets have been handled by large pet crematoriums.

The only way to ensure that never happened again to a much loved pet, was to start my own Pet Undertaker's business offering grieving pet owners the opportunity to say goodbye to their pets with dignity, the dignity I had thought that I had arranged for Kaz to have. We are 100% transparent about every aspect of our service. We do not collect pets in vans, bag, tag or freeze pets! We return pets ashes to the carers usually within 12 hours. My primary concern is that any pet that comes into my care is treated with the utmost care and dignity at all times and this in turn helps carers through the inevitable grieving process.We are members of the Association of Private Pet Cemeteries and Crematorium - the 'kite mark' for anyone involved in individual Pet Cremations, and one every pet carer should look out for when making arrangements for their pet. Ask your Vet if the company they recommend abide by a strict 'code of ethics' like that of the Association of Private Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria. Do not confuse this with a Pet Crematorium having the appropriate licence to operate! Kaz was my family, he was my boy, and never again will I hand over any pet to be treated in the manner that he was. I cannot change what happened to Kaz, but I can guarantee that a pet will not suffer the indignity that Kaz received. The Pet Undertaker is my legacy to my beloved Kaz. You will not be surprised to learn that since the launch of the Pet Undertaker, that Vets use my service for their own much loved family pets!

I have a Diploma in Pet Bereavement Counselling, I am an Associate member of the Animal Care College, Member of the Society for Companion Animal Studies and most importantly I am a Member of the Association of Private Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria.

I now live happily in Lanark with my partner Dave, and, pictured below, from left to right, top to bottom, our 5 rescued Greyhounds & Lurchers (Ruby, Presley, Basil, Molly and Mac) and our 4 cats (Six, Charlie, Stan and Hilda)"