A lifeline for struggling boarding kennels

Greater opportunities to grow a business

The financial impact of the Coronavirus is only just beginning to be felt across many industries, some of which may not be able to recover. While the Holiday industry may be making headlines one essential associated industry is currently being overlooked.

As some industries are more public in the challenges that they are facing due to the personal restrictions that have been put into place since early March this year. Boarding Kennels are facing a particularly catastrophic year, following several of increasing challenges caused by the increase in pet-friendly accommodation and pet passports enabling people to take their dogs with them.

Millions of holidaymakers have been forced to cancel or postpone their holidays this year while others have held off booking for fear of losing out. Up to 40% of these travelers would have been using one of the hundreds of Boarding Kennels and Catteries covering the country.

As many boarding kennels are situated on agricultural farmland often with plenty of space for expansion perfect for growing their business into Pet Cremation. While initially, operators of boarding kennels would not consider this an option, after learning more they soon realise the similarities and opportunities available to them.

Staffordshire based Addfield Environmental has worked with 100s of pet crematoriums worldwide and have found that the majority are run by genuine animal lovers who care deeply about the experience of the pet owners. Modern pet crematoriums are highly discreet units than can be easily installed on agricultural land within a barn conversion or even a specially adapted container which can then be further clad to blend into its surroundings. The whole process is completely smoke and odour free and can be operated with minimal contact.

“From our experiences when working with Kennels which have chosen to branch out into pet cremation is that in some instances they have known the pets for most of their lives. Boarding them as pups and then through the years as they have grown. Building relationships and trust with their owners who when the sad time has come have been hugely grateful for a friendly face and the comfort in knowing that their family pet will be looked after one last time to a very high standard at such an emotional time.

The kennels already have an established customer base to provide for in the future and with the potential earnings available from pet cremation have found that they are able to achieve a return on their initial investment in as little as 12.” James Grant Business Development Director, Addfield Environmental Systems.

As industry leaders in the field Addfield has potentially the widest selection of machines to suit all business plans, from being a small bolt-on service exclusively to existing customers through to full multi-chambered machines for kennels looking to make a real stand-alone business of pet cremation.

The unavoidable truth is that as long as people have pets, they will have a need of pet cremation services. It is not an industry that will be affected by environmental factors beyond control and can provide an essential boost in income for kennels with very little financial outlay beyond the initial purchase which can be optimised through the use of one of several specialist finance and leasing providers which enable the investment to be made with minimal financial impact.