Mike Harris knows about the strong bond between people and their pets, having experienced it firsthand.
Harris took that knowledge, along with her professional background, to create Pet Passages.
The Ontario, Wayne County-based business has become the largest independently owned and operated provider of pet funeral and cremation services in North America with 16 licensed franchise locations open across the country and at least another five slated to open in end of the year
“I love animals,” said Harris, the founder, president and CEO of Pet Passages. “My goal is to honor their lives as I would honor any member of the human family.”
The Wayne County site serves as the headquarters for the national franchise and houses the company’s offices, warehouse, distribution center, national training facility and local pet funeral home and crematory. Harris has an additional local location in Greece.
The business works directly with consumers and partners with veterinary hospitals. Pet Passages offers a range of packages and price points.
Harris’ wife, Andrea Dunadee-Harris, serves as vice president of the business. A former business owner, he is involved in all new franchise development, training, sales and marketing.
Mike Harris was working as a third generation licensed funeral director when he pivoted and began focusing exclusively on pet cremation and funeral services.
The decision was largely due to the loss of Harris’ Rottweilers, Luke and Hannah, and the need Harris saw at the time for high-quality end-of-life pet care in pet funerals and cremation profession. In response, she started Harris Funeral Home’s Pets at Peace in 2009.
Two years later, he took the successful model and created Pet Passages, with the goal of opening franchises to help pet parents across the country.
He dedicated himself full-time to Pet Passages in 2016 and, a year later, its first franchisee came on board.
As the business continues to grow nationally, it is also expanding locally with a project underway at the Ontario site that will expand its physical footprint.
Harris believes that what sets Pet Passages apart from others in the industry is its love of animals and dedication to compassionate care and professionalism combined with the use of the latest technology and ongoing training.
Because there is a significant lack of federal and state regulations in place to guide and oversee the operations of pet funeral and cremation providers, the care provided varies widely and may even result in unethical practices, Harris explained.
That’s not the case with Pet Passages.
For example, each franchise location must meet specific brand requirements regarding all operating procedures, facility amenities, interior design, furniture, equipment and vehicles. This allows Pet Passages to provide continuity of service from any of the franchise locations, he said.
The business is also unique in that it has an extensive training program for franchise owners, which includes hands-on instruction in proper procedures to ensure proper handling, care and cremation of deceased associates. pet.
Upon completion of initial training, franchisees are recognized as certified pet funeral directors. Pet Passages then provides them with an ongoing educational program.
In addition, Pet Passages has a national online pet obituary system where people can honor and remember their pets, as well as its own product line that includes urns, grave markers and jewelry.
The couple expects Pet Passages to continue to grow, largely because demand for such services will never wane.
“Everyone loves their pets,” says Andrea Dunadee-Harris.
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