Woman Says Animal Hospital Mistakenly Spread Dog's Ashes

Photo: Lauren Waters’ dog Foxi. The miniature doberman pinscher would have been four years old Sept. 7.

When Lauren Waters’ dog went missing Sept. 1, she was sick with worry. She posted on the Lost Dogs Illinois Facebook page in hopes that someone would find her dog. Someone did, but the dog had died.

Waters said she had to identify her dog at the Joliet Township Animal Control and then brought the dog to the Crest Hill Animal Hospital and was given the option to have the dog cremated in a group or privately. She chose the private option so she could have her dog’s ashes.

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“I’ve had my dog since since was a baby,” Waters said. “I don’t have any kids. That’s my baby.”

Waters said she went in and paid $175 to have a private cremation and was told it would be between 24 and 48 hours before she could pick up her dog’s ashes. Waters called Friday to see if she could pick up her dog’s remains, but was told the crematorium had not yet returned them.

When she called Tuesday, she was told by the Crest Hill Animal Hospital manager that her dog had been cremated with other dogs and the ashes were scattered in a field, the location of which the hospital allegedly wouldn’t disclose to her.

Crest Hill Animal Hospital Manager Matt Fritz said he was unable to comment on the issue.

According to Waters, the manager told her they had read the paperwork wrong and didn’t realize the mistake until it was too late.

Upon hearing the news, Waters said she became livid. In order to remedy the situation, Waters said she was offered a refund for the cremation via a gift card.

“A gift card for what?” Waters said. “What are you gonna give me a gift card for? Your animal hospital? You know the status of my pet. I paid cash. Why am I getting a gift card back?”

The hospital allegedly told her there was nothing they could do. Now Waters said she is left without the remains for her dog and no idea where her dog’s ashes were scattered.

“They could have put her in a landfill for all I know,” Waters said. “I don’t want to think like that, but if you can’t even tell me what field she’s in.”

Waters’ dog was a miniature doberman pinscher named Foxi. Her birthday was Monday and she would have been four years old.

“I don’t even want to come home anymore because I know my dog’s not there,” she said.

Waters said she plans to file a lawsuit against the hospital.