A New Standard of Pet Aftercare in the West Kootenays

Where We Began

 

Kootenay Pet Cremations was built on the foundation laid by Mountain Street Pet Cremations, the first pet aftercare provider in the West Kootenays. For over a decade, Mountain Street supported local families and veterinary clinics with compassionate care.

 

When its owners, Will and Anne McInnis, retired in 2023, the region entered a period where wait times for the return of ashes increased and families and clinics had limited local pet aftercare options. Many were forced to turn to providers in the Okanagan or East Kootenays.

 

After nearly 15 years of working, saving, and building our life together, we put everything we had into purchasing the facility from Will and Anne in 2024. Will sadly passed away shortly after the transition. Although he never saw what came next, we remain deeply grateful for the foundation he and Anne created and are honoured to carry it forward with care and respect.

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Why We Stepped In

 

When we stepped into this work, we knew the West Kootenays deserved:

• more choice
• a faster, more reliable service
• a more modern approach to pet aftercare
• industry standard identification and tracking for every pet
• more personal, meaningful memorial options for families

 

At the time, families were often waiting two to six weeks to receive their pet’s ashes. There was no standardized metal identification system in place, and memorial options were limited, offering little opportunity for personalization or personal connection.

 

These gaps made an already emotional experience more difficult than it needed to be. It became clear that our community needed faster return times, clearer accountability, and memorial options that truly honour the bond between people and their pets.

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A More Thoughtful, Local Approach

 

Kootenay Pet Cremations was created to offer exactly that.

By handling every part of the process ourselves including pickup, cremation, memorial personalization, and the return of ashes we provide families with continuity and care from start to finish.

 

Because everything stays local, pets spend far less time in cold storage and families typically receive ashes within one week from pickup, often sooner.

 

This allows the grieving process to unfold more naturally instead of being prolonged or disrupted.

 

Our goal has always been simple; to make one of the hardest moments in a family’s life feel just a little more supported, a little more connected, and a little less lonely.

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What We Have Introduced in Our First Year

 

Industry leading practices brought directly to the Kootenays

1. Secure metal identification for private cremations

Every pet receives a durable metal ID tag that follows them through each stage of aftercare, ensuring accountability and peace of mind.

 

2. In house personalization through Kenyadian Creations

We create meaningful memorials locally including:

• engraved urns
• wooden memorial keepsakes
• paw print ornaments
• photo engravings
• custom tribute pieces

 

This gives families more choice and faster turnaround without long delays.

 

3. Certified crematorium operation

Our crematorium is operated by a certified crematorium operator. Certification is maintained through regular renewal with the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories (IAOPCC), ensuring safe operation and best practices.

 

4. Local ash scattering option

For communal cremations, ashes are respectfully scattered on our forested property overlooking the Beaver Valley, allowing pets to remain close to the place they called home.

 

5. Eco conscious, digital first practices

We use paperless systems for record keeping, invoicing, and communication to reduce waste and improve accuracy. Our memorial seed tags, packaging, and printed materials are chosen with environmental impact in mind, reflecting our commitment to being more eco conscious while still providing meaningful care.

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Supporting Our Community

 

Community care is at the heart of everything we do. The West Kootenays is our home. It is where our families live, where our pets play, and where the people who support us through life also turn to us during their hardest moments.

 

Being part of this community means showing up not only in times of grief, but also through:

• community markets
• pet-focused events
• local fundraisers

 

We continue a long standing tradition of supporting local clinics, rescues, and wildlife organizations whenever we are able because compassionate aftercare is a shared responsibility.

 

We also collaborate with local artists, makers, and small businesses throughout the Kootenays, knowing that when we lift each other up, the entire community grows stronger.

 

As we grow our business and our family, we think often about the future we want to help build. Our hope is to create a service and a legacy that future generations including our own little one on the way can be proud of.

 

Our commitment is simple. To be a steady, caring presence for our community. Not just a service, but a source of comfort, dignity, and genuine support when people need it most.

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Looking Ahead

 

Our promise moving forward is clear.

• To continue modernizing pet aftercare in the West KootenaysTo maintain transparency, dignity, and respectful handling at all times
• To provide fast, local, compassionate support
• To strengthen relationships with families and veterinary teams
• To invest in long term readiness, including future expansion and additional equipment, so our community is never left without dependable local pet aftercare again
• To uphold the standard of aftercare our community deserves

 

We are grateful to work closely with local clinics and deeply honoured to support families through some of their most emotional moments.

 

Melissa & Shaq
(and Boof & Chili)
Kootenay Pet Cremations