Pet Crematory Moves to Mountain

Shirlie and David Romans could see that their cremation business was going to the dogs. So, in January 2004, they made the shift from people to pets.

The couple bought a used Matthews Cremation incinerator in mid-2001 and began doing human cremations in Van Buren for area funeral homes. They soon learned there was a demand for animal cremations. By the end of that year, they had also purchased a pet incinerator.

In 2004, they quit doing human cremations and began using both machines for pets. They named the new company River Valley Pet Crematory and Cemetery.

“The pet business was doing so well, we figured we would focus on that one thing and do it well,” Shirley Romans said.

The shift also put the company in position to make more money.

“Funeral homes pay us a very minimum,” Shirlie Romans said. “Funeral home directors are interested in making a profit.”

Romans said funeral homes typically charge $1,500 to $2,500 for a human cremation. “Our fee on that was about one-tenth,” she said.

Working with animals is also less stressful, Romans said.

“Pet owners are more appreciative,” she said. “They appreciate that you care about their pet … that you are compassionate. It means a lot to them. I think we’ve found our niche … It’s rewarding and gratifying when you see somebody who’s hurting and you can help them.”

Doubling Business

Romans said the number of pet cremations they’ve done has doubled since last year. That year, they did a total of 217. So far this year, they’ve done 135. Costs vary by size of animal, from $135 for pets up to 20 pounds to $235 or more for an animal that weighs more than 100 pounds. (Prices for very large animals such as horses and cows must be negotiated first.) A pet can be cremated along with a group of other animals for $60.

“We just did a rabbit,” she said. “We’ve done rats. We’ve done ferrets. We did some cremations for Petco, too.”

Pet owners can take the cremains with them or have River Valley Pet Crematory bury them in their pet cemetery near Dora for $200. Urns range in price from $40 to $350. They also receive a certificate of cremation.

In mid-July, the couple was in the process of moving their main incinerator from Van Buren to a mountaintop on their property near Dora. The incinerator was already parked on a concrete slab there, and a building is to be constructed around it.

UAFS Guidance

Romans said the Small Business Development Center at the University of Arkansas -Fort Smith helped the couple make the decision to shift their business focus.

Directed by Vonelle Vanzant, the SBDC takes on 75 to 100 clients per year, in addition to fielding several hundred telephone calls from people seeking business advice.

“I tell my businesses ‘You can’t just be what you’ve always been,'” Vanzant said. “‘If you’re not changing, you’re dying.'”

Funded by federal grants, the SBDC offers its consultation services for free to area businesses. There is a small fee, however, for SBDC training sessions, but it’s only enough to cover expenses.

Leslie Toombs, director of the Family Enterprise Center at UAFS, also works with families trying to start their own businesses.

“The big focus of our center is to promote continuity from generation to generation,” she said. “Statistics say most family businesses don’t make it past the third generation.”