Review
I chose…read moreForever Meadows because I had used them three years ago during a previous loss and, at that time, they were extremely compassionate and professional. After that positive experience, I trusted their care during such a difficult time, not realizing what high employee turnover they have had since then, leading to a completely different experience. On April 21, 2026, after Bailey, our beloved cat of 18.5 years, passed away, we reached out around 9 PM, as their website states that 24 hour services are available for situations like this. Unfortunately, we were told that the website is incorrect and they could not assist until after 9 AM the following day. We were advised to keep our pet outside or somewhere cool overnight. This was incredibly distressing during an already heartbreaking moment.
When the employee arrived the following morning to pick Bailey up, he was quite insensitive and started the conversation by immediately asking if I had already paid. While filling out the contract and explaining the options I would like, he interrupted me multiple times to discuss prices, even after I had advised him that the price was not my concern - making sure my little girl was taken care of was my only concern. While arrangements were made, both on the phone and in person, I clearly communicated multiple times that having Bailey's paw print was extremely important to me and my son as a keepsake. I also showed the man the clay paw imprint that their company had done for her brother three years earlier and stated I wanted the same one for her. I paid in advance for this service and it was clearly marked on the contract I signed.
When I was called to pick up Bailey (four days after the man told me she would be ready to come home), I was told that the clay paw print had not been done prior to cremation and it was unclear that I wanted it, despite it being marked on the contract and them already charging me for it. This was devastating. While they did offer to refund the $45, the opportunity to have that final keepsake is something that can never be replaced. There were several other mistakes made during the process as well but this is, by far, the most upsetting as it is irreversible.
What made the situation even more upsetting was how it was handled. There was no empathy and it was treated as an inconvenience to them. Both Faith and the man in the office with her during pickup stated multiple times that it is not their fault. I specifically asked what quality control plan is in place to prevent these errors from occurring and was advised there is none and that "mistakes happen and are just part of doing business." This particular "mistake" was compared to a fast food order being prepared incorrectly, which felt dismissive and deeply lacking in empathy given the emotional nature of the service being provided.
This was not just a simple oversight. It was the loss of something deeply meaningful during a time of grief over the loss of a very important member of our family. For a service costing several hundred dollars, I expected a much higher level of care, attention to detail, and compassion. I specifically asked to speak with the owner and was told he wasn't there. I asked Faith to call him to which she replied, "I will not be doing that."
To make matters worse, I am not at all confident that the ashes I received are even Bailey's as they are less than 1/4 of the weight of her twin brother's ashes, despite them being almost identical in size at the times of their passing. With such carelessness and an admitted lack of any kind of checks and balances in their operations, I do not have any faith that they actually provided the private service I paid for or returned the proper ashes, which is even more distressing.
Unfortunately, based on this experience, I cannot recommend Forever Meadows and I very strongly discourage anyone from using their services for a loved one if sentimentality and compassion are at all important to them. My wish is that no other family ever has to experience such carelessness during an already devastating time.
