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Funeral Business Had Prior Violations |
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Written by DeadGirl
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Wednesday, 08 February 2006 |
Pet Crematorium Owner Was Fined
By Leef Smith
Washington Post Staff Writer
February 4, 2006
The Chantilly pet crematorium under investigation after authorities discovered hundreds of dead animals dumped in a West Virginia forest last week has been linked to previous complaints, including one in which human ashes were returned to a family in a box adorned with a dog logo.
In a 2001 incident, which drew a reprimand and fine from Virginia officials, a man's ashes were inside a box marked "Family Pet Cremations." The decedent's name, according to state documents, was written in the spot reserved for the pet's name.
Russell D. Harman, owner of Northern Virginia Funeral Services, which cremates people, and Family Pet Cremations, which handles animals, was reprimanded and subjected to more inspections in 2003 for several violations of Virginia laws governing undertaker services as well as Fairfax County zoning laws, licensing officials said.
Harman's businesses operate in the same location in Chantilly. His pet crematorium became the focus of an investigation by local, state and federal law enforcement officials Saturday, when 250 animals were discovered dumped in Hampshire County, about 70 miles west of Dulles International Airport. The animals were traced to the Fairfax County animal shelter and several others in Washington area jurisdictions, including Montgomery County, that use Family Pet Cremations to dispose of euthanized and dead animals.
No charges have been filed in the case.
Harman released a statement yesterday, referring to his "shock and sadness" over the incident and suggesting that blame may rest with a subcontractor.
"We have now begun a review of our current outsourcing policies and procedures to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again," Harman said. "We deeply regret the events that have transpired. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities to ensure that those responsible are prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
Harman would not comment further. He directed questions to a spokeswoman, Marsha Kelly, who said that the subcontractor was hired to bury the animals after Harman's crematory equipment stopped working properly. Kelly said the animals were briefly in the care of Harman, who, she said, "prepared them for burial."
Investigators said that Saturday's grisly discovery may be linked to another case of animal dumping just before Christmas in West Virginia's George Washington National Forest, about 35 miles south of Hampshire County.
In both cases, investigators found domesticated pets as well as wild animals piled on the ground. Some were in boxes. Some were bagged. Some still had intravenous tubes and other medical equipment attached to their bodies.
Kelly said that to her knowledge no one has linked Saturday's discovery with the earlier group of animals found in the George Washington Forest.
An employee of Fairfax's animal shelter, who also works part time for Family Pet Cremations, has been put on administrative leave and is the subject of a Fairfax County police investigation, officials said. Meanwhile, other local shelters that used Family Pet Cremations canceled their contracts.
Some people whose pets have died in the past few months said they are left with disturbing questions. In September, Joyce Shambeck's 6-year-old dog, Shady, died and was cremated by Family Pet Cremations.
Yesterday Shambeck, 64, of Oakton, wondered whether the ashes returned to her were those of her dog.
"Thinking that our dog might have ended up over there [in West Virginia] is so sad," Shambeck said. "You just don't know. That's the part that bothers me."
In 1995, Harman was interviewed by The Washington Post for a story on funeral directors who make their services less expensive. At the time, he referred to his business Affordable Funeral Services Inc. as "bargain-basement."
According to state documents, Harman, who had been licensed by the state in 1999, ran into trouble with county authorities for failing to get proper zoning for his business.
County officials later changed the regulations, and Harman came into compliance.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/03/AR2006020302868.html |
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