Las Vegas dog owner receives ‘remains’ months later from troubled pet cremation business; Nevada investigators ask victims to call
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A week after the 8 News Now Investigators reported about troubles with a now-closed pet cremation business — which included the discovery of dozens of deceased animals dumped more than 100 miles away — one customer said he received what could be his dog’s remains after waiting more than eight months.
Last fall, the 8 News Now Investigators spoke to several people who paid Las Vegas-based 1st Call Pet Cremation to handle their pets’ remains, saying they did not believe the remains given to them were their beloved animals.
Last week, the 8 News Now Investigators reported that dozens of animals showed up dumped more than 100 miles away in rural Utah as the Nevada Attorney General’s Office appears to be looking into the now-closed business.
1st Call Pet Cremation officially closed on Oct. 31, 2023, records said. The company contracted with Angel Hutchings, owner of Forever Friends Pet Cremation outside St. George, Utah, to cremate some animals. She cremated more than 1,300 pounds of pet remains found at several dump sites in Utah and in a Las Vegas freezer, she said, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
After also working with an Arizona cremation company, it appears 1st Call Pet Cremation outsourced with a second Utah-based pet cremation company. The woman who runs that company herself became overwhelmed and then allegedly dumped dozens of the animals in 1st Call Pet Cremation’s care alongside trash, Sgt. Lucas Alfred with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said.
One pet owner, Landon Heins, paid 1st Call Pet Cremation to cremate his dog, Gem; and his cat, Darla. Both animals died within weeks of each other in August and September 2023.
“Tried calling him back — just kept getting messages,” Heins said more than half a year after paying 1st Call Pet Cremation nearly $800 for the services. Heins had received no remains until about a week after the 8 News Now Investigators’ story aired.
On Saturday, Heins said he received a box with the order for Gem, complete with a tuft of hair, paw print, certificate and urn of remains.
It was unclear if the remains actually belonged to Gem as the timeline of her death lines up with the remains discovered in Utah. All of those pets, cremated in batches, remained with Hutchings. Heins had not received the remains for Darla as of Monday.
While neither confirming nor denying an investigation, the Nevada Attorney General’s Office was asking anyone who believes they are a victim of 1st Call Pet Cremation to contact 702-486-3799. The phone number reaches an investigator directly.
A representative from 1st Call Pet Cremation said they would provide a statement for the 8 News Now Investigators’ initial story but never did. That representative did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Investigator David Charns can be reached at dcharns@8newsnow.com.
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