Axolotl one of first animals cremated at Harrogate pet crematorium

With its “smiling” face, pointy gills and the ability to regenerate lost limbs — the axolotl is undoubtedly the most unusual animal to pass through North Yorkshire Council’s new pet crematorium.

It opened at Stonefall Cemetery on Wetherby Road in February with a promise of providing a dignified cremation for the region’s beloved pets.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked the council through an FOI request for a list of all the animals that have been cremated there so far.

It’s been a modest start for the service, with 10 dogs, eight cats, two rabbits, one rat, one guinea pig, one hamster and one axolotl being cremated over the last five months.

Depending on the animal, the council charges a fee of between £76 and £125 per cremation.

Owners can then collect their pets’ ashes along with a memorial certificate.

What is an axolotl?

Axolotls are a species of salamander found in cool waters in Mexico but they’ve become more popular as a pet in the UK thanks to fame on the video game Minecraft and on TikTok.

But the recent trend has led the RSCPA to raise concerns about some owners not being able to look after them properly.

Axolotls require a large aquarium, live for up to 15 years and can grow as long as 120cm.

They are carnivores and their diet consists of live invertebrates such as earthworms, blood worm, black worm and shrimp.

Critically endangered in the wild, axolotls can also regrow lost limbs, making them popular with scientists who want to understand regeneration.

Jordan Mangham, owner of pet shop Peculiar Pets in Heckmondwike, told the LDRS why the creatures are becoming more popular as a pet in Yorkshire.

He said:

“Axolotls have become popular due to their simple care routine, long life expectancy and constantly ‘smiling’ faces. They found a little extra fame through Tik Tok and also the game Minecraft.

“Luckily the responsible selling of axolotls led to them becoming popular and not a disposable pet. There’s a huge amount of information available on Google, YouTube and through specialist pet shops like myself.

“They cannot be handled and are essentially treated like a pet fish, but they learn quickly who feeds them and most will greet their owners and accept food from tongs or fingers quite happily and become quite interactive little pets.”

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Pet crematorium opens today in Harrogate

A pet crematorium opened in Harrogate today.

The crematorium, run by Harrogate Borough Council, gives pet owners the chance to say farewell to their cats, dogs and small animals.

Prices start at £72 for small animals and from £85 for cats and from £115 for dogs.

The ashes will be placed in a scatter tube, which owners can collect, along with a memorial certificate.

The crematorium is located at Stonefall Cemetery and Crematorium on Wetherby Road.

Pet crematorium

The crematorium is at Stonefall on Wetherby Road.

Councillor Sam Gibbs, the council’s cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said:

“Pets are like part of the family and they deserve an ending with dignity and respect, just like humans.

“The new pet crematorium will provide the most sympathetic setting for people to say goodbye to their pets.

“This service will also provide people, as well as veterinary surgeries, a local, trusted and reliable pet cremation service – operated by experts in bereavements.”

The Stray Ferret revealed last year the council was set to award a £40,000 contract to create a pet crematorium at Stonefall.

Further information on the facility is available here.

Pet crematorium

Inside the crematorium

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Harrogate council to award £40,000 pet crematorium contract

Harrogate Borough Council is set to award a £40,000 contract to create a pet crematorium at Stonefall Cemetery.

The crematorium will be built inside a converted shipping container at the crematorium on Wetherby Road.

The contract would cover the purchase and installation of a cremator, as well as five years maintenance.

Councillors backed plans for the district’s first pet crematorium in March 2022.

Stephen Hemsworth, bereavement services manager at the council, said at the time it was likely to cost about £50 for a rabbit to be cremated and over £200 for a dog.

The contract, which is being advertised on a government procurement website, is expected to start in June this year.

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It says:

“This contract includes the purchase of a pet cremator and container in which the cremator will be housed and operated, including delivery, installation, training and periodic maintenance.

“The anticipated contract value is £40,000.00 for the purchase, delivery, siting and installation of the containerised pet cremator including five years maintenance from the date of installation.”

The move to set up a pet crematorium follows in the footsteps of councils in North East Lincolnshire and Barnsley, which have built similar facilities.

The Harrogate facility will include a “goodbye room” in a converted garage where owners can say final farewells to their pets.

Plans for pet crematorium in Harrogate set for approval

Plans to build a pet crematorium at Stonefall Cemetery in Harrogate look set to be approved.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee will make a decision on the council’s own application next Tuesday. It has been recommended for approval in a council report.

It follows the lead of councils in north east Lincolnshire and Barnsley, which have already opened or started work on pet crematoriums.

The council currently charges £36 to collect dead pets from people’s homes. The closest pet crematoriums are in Leeds, Thirsk and Skipton.

The crematorium at Harrogate would be built inside a converted shipping container.

The plans also include converting a storage building at Stonefall into a “goodbye room”, where owners can say their final farewells to their pets before they are cremated.

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