| Complaint: | Complaint 19-72 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Paula Poitras |
| Premises: | High Desert Pet Cremations |
The complainant says that his dog died and he took the dog for cremation. At the time he told the person at the crematory that the dog weighed about 60 pounds. He paid for cremation and an urn for the ashes. He says he was told that urn would work for his dog. He later received a call stating that the dog weighed 67.8 pounds and that an additional $20 would be required for a larger urn. He asked why a different urn would be required and he was told that the urn was actually only rated to hold 50 pounds but they could usually get 60 pounds in there. He was upset that he was sold an improper urn. He alleges that he was told it was like going to Chipotle and ordering a burrito but expecting free sauce. He says he replied that it's actually like ordering the burrito with sauce but paying $5 extra.
Poitras states that the complainant was very distraught at losing his dog and that he called her regarding the cremation. She says he wanted a photo urn and told her that his dog was about 60 pounds. She says she told him the urn in question would only hold 50 pounds but she'd managed to get a 60 pounder in there in the past. She subsequently weighed the dog and discovered the dog weighed 67.8 pounds. She also says she wanted to handle the situation compassionately so she called him and informed him of the situation, suggesting any remaining ashes could be sent home in a bag. She says that he said that he was having a lot of bills recently and would need to think about it, but then called back and decided to go with a larger urn. She says that he told her it was sketchy, and a subsequent interaction was far less amenable to say the least.
Note that there's no Investigative Committee action on this one. The Investigative Division typed up a report and it went right to the board.
| Source: | June 6, 2019 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | Jessica Creager |
| Seconded By: | Darren Wright |
| Roll Call: | |
| Christina Bertch-Mumaw | Absent |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Absent |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Absent |
| Robyn Jaynes | Aye |
| Sarah Heinrich | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
The primary source for the above summary was obtained as a public record from the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. You are welcome to review the original records and board meeting minutes by clicking the relevant links. While we endeavor to provide an accurate summary of the complaint, response, investigative reports and board actions, we encourage you to review the primary sources and come to your own conclusions. In some cases we have also been able to reach out to individuals with knowledge of specific complaints, and where possible that information will be included here.