Losing a pet is traumatic and choosing to remember one by keeping its remains used to mean an hour to an hour and a half drive.

Through its More Than Just a Pet crematorium, Hockaday Funeral Home is providing that resource locally.

David Boswell, a Hockaday funeral director, knows the feeling. “My old coon hound had been with me for 12 years,” he said today. “A pet knows everything about you and still loves you. They deserve to be memorialized with respect like a family member because they are a family member.”

More Than Just a Pet has been open since March 1, said Jay Carlisle, owner of the funeral home. “We’ve done several pet cremations.”

The resource provides several ways to have pets cremated so they can have the remains returned, Carlisle explained. They can go through their vet, they may bring the pet to the crematory located behind the funeral home or have the funeral home pick up the pet.

The funeral home will also write an obituary for a deceased pet — rrspin.com will run them free of charge.

To add this local resource meant choosing the proper device to do the cremations, Carlisle said. He chose Biomass Marketing Associates in Hobgood, which makes the device. “The decision to go with a Halifax County company keeps the dollars in the local economy.”

More Than Just a Pet plans to expand the business and make improvements to the room where the crematory is located, Boswell said.

There are urns and caskets which currently can be ordered through a catalog and the funeral would like to explore opening a cemetery. “It’s not beyond the realm of possibility,” said Carlisle.

More Than Just a Pet provides preplanning. “Through pre-need planning, we ensure that all details are covered,” an information sheet says. “When we sit down to discuss your wishes, we will cover burial or cremation, casket or urn, where you wish to bury your pet, memorial services or charitable donations.”

For more information call 252-537-6144.