There are reports coming out of New York City that some in the Funeral Homes are using Pet Visitations as a loss leader to get clients.
This is indication of hows hard times may be for Funeral Homes in Funeral Industry. Difficult times. to Say the least.
Pet "Visitation"and Pet Burial are a loss leader for some funeral homes.
“A media story on National Public Radio recently reported on housepet burials in the New York metropolitan area. According to the piece, basic interment at area pet cemeteries runs about $1,500, although big sticker mausoleums have also been built to provide eternal rest for housebroken animal companions. Ostentation thy name is Spot.
There is also a trend toward visitation of the deceased dog, cat, budgie or iguana at human mortuaries. It was described as a loss leader for the funeral homes, which reportedly charge a couple hundred bucks for a tasteful service, all the while figuring a way to incorporate the pet hereafter into their line.”-
Funeral Industry|Funeral News Blog By Your Funeral Guy
Congressman Bobby Rush did a good job summarizing National Cemetery Reform this week in a hearing in Congress. The reform comes in response to the horrific Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal that occurred in July 2009.
The Bereaved Consumers Bill of Rights Act provides comprehensive National Cemetery Regulation for the first time in US History.
Here is part of the Congressman’s opening statement : At the hearing on the Bereaved Consumers Bill of Rights Act of 2009 “Planning for one’s own, or even a loved one’s death, is typically a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience. It is often compounded by unpredictability.But just because death all too often comes like a thief in the night, bereaved consumers should not be left wondering who, in fact, was the real thief…death or the cemetery salesperson?
“On September 25, 2009, I introduced the “Bereaved Consumer’s Bill of Rights.” Today, my Subcommittee is reviewing this draft bill at its first hearing of the new legislative session. To help us consider the measure, I am grateful to the accomplished panel of witnesses who have prepared testimony and saw fit to be here, today, to comment upon the merits and drawbacks of this important bill.
“Among H.R. 3655’s provisions, the bill would require the FTC to require ALL funeral goods and services providers, and not just “for profit” funeral homes, to do the following:
The Legislation was written in response to the Horriffic Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal outside Chicago
* provide consumers with accurate, itemized price information for each specific funeral good or service offered for sale;
* prohibit these providers from misrepresenting what federal, state, and local laws require in protecting consumers;
* include disclosures in pre-paid contracts regarding fees or penalties to be assessed for cancellation or transfer, by the purchaser, of burial, cremation, or entombment rights to different facilities, and * retain records of the date and location of each burial, cremation, and entombment as well as the corresponding rights of disposition (i.e., perpetual or term), and make those records available to federal, state, and local governments.
“In drafting this Bill of Rights, I have been earnest in respecting existing states’ laws. The bill would authorize both the FTC and the States Attorneys General, and other designated state entities, to enforce its requirements.-via www.house.gov
Funeral Industry|Funeral News|Funeral|Cemetery Blog By Your Funeral Guy
This is a light in a dark place, A National Funeral and Cemetery Consumers Bill of rights.
Illinois has a New Cemetery law that was crafted in Response to the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal outside of Chicago. Here are 5 provisions of the new law.
2009 Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal maybe the most horrific in US History
1.Cemetery owners, managers and customer service employees will have to be licensed,
2.Regulatory agency will conduct audits
3.Regulatory agency will issue fines of up to $10,000 for violations such as poor grounds upkeep or failing to keep burial maps.
4. There will be a State Wide Burial Database keeping track of every burial in the state. This will prevent desecration of graves and reburials.
5. There will be a place for consumers to file complaints. This is important in preventing abuse.
“Gov. Pat Quinn signed a measure into law Sunday that overhauls the way cemeteries are regulated in Illinois, a move brought about by the scandal at Burr Oak cemetery and one that officials say could ultimately shutter the troubled burial site.
State officials said the changes mark the first significant regulations imposed on an industry that has historically operated with little oversight. Employees at Burr Oak, near Alsip, were accused of digging up bodies and reselling plots for profit.”-via www.chicagotribune.com
Funeral Industry|Funeral News|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy
This is the first time the cemetery industry has been regulated in the State of Illinois. The name of the New Law is the Cemetery Oversight Act.
This is good for the cemetery and funeral consumer in Illinois and provides an example for the rest of the nation.
Haiti Earthquake news-Funeral Burial Video from the Haiti Earthquake. The National Funeral Directors Association(NFDA) in the USA has refused an immediate response to help Haiti Earthquake victims with their dead. This video is horrific showing a burial at a Haitian Cemetery.
Funeral Industry| Funeral News Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy
The organization with the power to help the NFDA has refused an immediate response.
How Much Does it cost to disturb the dead? How much does it cost to turn a Cemetery into an airport runway? These are some questions that will be decided by a judge in DuPage County, IL. The City of Chicago should have found away around this respecting the Dead.
A Cemetery is being taken over by Chicago OHare Airport
“A DuPage County judge will hear arguments about the property value of a historical cemetery located in the middle of a proposed O’Hare runway in February.
Chicago and the owners of St. Johannes cemetery are in a legal battle over acquiring the site so the city can move forward with expansion of O’Hare International Airport. Chicago has moved for “quick take” powers, meaning it could expedite condemnation of the cemetery, which attorneys for the cemetery have said they will oppose.
The city says additional runways will reduce congestion and improve safety at O’Hare. Cemetery supporters say the city is pushing forward with an unnecessary plan it cannot pay for.”via www.dailyherald.com
Funeral Industry| Funeral News Blog By Your Funeral Guy
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