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Pet Crematorium Controversy Continuing In Amador County

AMADOR COUNTY (CBS13) – A story of life and death in Amador County.  In this case, death involves pets and what to do with them after they die.  And life has to do with the people who live near a local cemetery. It all revolves around a plan by the cemetery to build a new pet crematorium.
 
Amador Memorial Cemetery is supposed to be a place of peace, but plans to put in the new pet crematorium are kicking up controversy.

"We're the highest cemetery in the county, closest to heaven," said Amador Memorial Cemetery operator Ralph Vogel.

But neighbors say it also too close to home to build an outdoor pet crematorium.

Vogel says neighbors need not be concerned.

"Open the door, insert the carcass, close the door, push the button," explained Vogel.  "There is no smoke, no odor."

Cemetery officials are so confident the crematorium will not give off odors, they plan on placing just feet from their own offices where they get daily visits from customers.

But neighbors who live on a hill just above the cemetery say they don't want to take that chance.

"No, I don't want it in the neighborhood," explained homeowner Albert Curtis. "There is going to be a smell and there is going to odors."

After opposition from dozens of people, the county rejected the cemetery's plan.

However, not everyone is against the crematorium, like Amador County resident and pet owner Nancy Mitchell who has had to send her pets all the way to Davis in Yolo County to be cremated.

The cemetery is appealing the county's decision but opposing neighbors say they'll continue to fight, too.
Amador County supervisors will discuss the issue again next Tuesday.

The San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District said if a pet crematorium uses the right technology they will have no problem issuing a permit.

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