ATLANTA, April 21, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories (IAOPCC) has announced a worldwide Accreditation Program for Pet Crematory facilities, the first and only Accreditation Program ever to be established for the pet aftercare industry.
Pet Parents can now feel reassured about the care their deceased animal receives now that the new worldwide Accreditation Standards have been announced for pet cemeteries and crematories by the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories (IAOPCC).
Founded in 1971, the IAOPCC is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the standards, ethics and professionalism of pet cemeteries and crematories worldwide. Recognized as the leaders of the pet aftercare industry, they have members in more than 15 countries.
In an unprecedented and historical first, the IAOPCC is the only organization with published recommended procedures for every step of the pet cremation process, including, transportation, each type of pet cremation, readily retrievable records, facility standards and continuing education for pet crematorium staff members. Following five years of study and research, these Accreditation standards, processes, and program of inspections were rolled out in January of 2014 across the United States, Canada, and worldwide to its Members. Since 2009 the IAOPCC Standards Committee, a group of eight pet crematory owners and operators located throughout the US and Canada, have met monthly to develop these intense and rigorous standards.
Through the IAOPCC Accreditation Program, pet crematories are evaluated against a pool of more than 240 standards that represent the best practices in pet cremation care and pet crematory management. An international task force of crematory operators and a veterinary professional created and continually update the standards to reflect the latest developments and improvements in pet after care, pet cremation techniques, records, cleanliness, staff and client safety, and a host of other areas essential to excellent pet and client care.
A Beloved Friends Pet Crematory of Northern Nevada, in Reno, was the first pet crematory in the United States to successfully complete this Accreditation and inspection process. They were awarded their Accreditation status on April 1, 2014.
In an industry requiring very little oversight, other than environmental regulations and the usual business licensing, pet aftercare has been largely a self-regulated profession. Currently there are only 2 states, New York and Illinois, in the United States that have any legal standards for pet cremation. With the introduction of the IAOPCC Accreditation Program, the IAOPCC has given the industry and the pet owner a measure of protection in the integrity of the pet aftercare processes from those pet crematories who seek out Accreditation and inspection.
Pet Crematories are awarded points for each standard they meet, and they must amass a certain score in order to pass the evaluation. With the IAOPCC Accreditation, pet owners and veterinarians can feel reassured about the care their deceased pets receive.
SOURCE International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories (IAOPCC)
