A year of dignified goodbyes with Cherished Companion

Cherished Companion marks its first year offering personal, compassionate pet care in Glossop and the surrounding areas.

For many families, pets are cherished members of the household, offering companionship, joy and unconditional love. When the time comes to say goodbye, the experience can be overwhelming and deeply emotional. That’s where Cherished Companion steps in, a family-run pet cremation service based in Glossop, who provide dignified, compassionate support when it matters most.   

This month, Cherished Companion celebrates its first year of service. Reflecting on a year of helping local families through the most difficult of times, founders Ruth and Paul said, “We want to thank all the families who have trusted us with their beloved companions, and the vets who have supported us on this journey.” 

Their business offers gentle guidance and support to anyone considering, or who has reached, end-of-life care for their pet, providing dignified goodbyes and personal support when grieving people need it most. 

Services include visits to their private 'Farewell Room' for a sensitive euthanasia, or the option of a final goodbye at home with a professional mobile vet. Cherished Companion also provides individual cremations and prompt, personal return of ashes, typically within 24-48 hours. Private collection from their lodge is also available, rather than a quick visit to a busy surgery counter. Every pet in Cherished Companion’s care is treated individually and with dignity, unlike the larger corporate cremation services used by many veterinary practices, where pets are often transported in groups and ashes may take weeks to return. 

(Photo: the Farewell Room)

“Our aim is to make an incredibly difficult time a little easier” Ruth explains. “Families tell us that the personal approach really makes a difference, and we are proud to provide a service that treats pets with the same love and respect they had in life.”  

Cherished Companion operates as a true family-run service, with Ruth and Paul personally handling every pet and family from start to finish. This continuity ensures that families never deal with call centres, rotating staff or unfamiliar faces. The service also includes free keepsakes, such as paw prints and fur clippings, with every cremation - an often overlooked but meaningful part of remembering a pet.  

The business is ICCM-accredited, DEFRA/APHA compliant, fully insured and licensed, and has earned a 5-star rating on Google. They primarily serve Glossop, Tameside, Marple, Saddleworth and the High Peak, but are happy to travel wherever they’re needed, building strong community relationships along the way.  

The inspiration for Cherished Companion came from personal experience. In 2022, Ruth and Paul, along with their daughters Abigail and Madison, lost their beloved eight-year-old horse Milo, to a short illness. The cremation service they used left them feeling upset and disconnected: “Paul went to collect Milo’s ashes and was met with an industrial gate and a cardboard box handed over with no sensitivity,” Ruth recalls. That experience sparked the idea for a more compassionate and personal service. “We knew there had to be a better way for families to say goodbye to their pets, and that’s how Cherished Companion began.”  

Operating out of their home in Glossop, Ruth and Paul have created a calming dedicated space for the service. Pets are transported with respect in specially designed baskets, and families are welcome to visit to spend time in a peaceful setting surrounded by fields before saying their final goodbye. Cherished Companion also liaises with local veterinary practices to arrange euthanasia when needed, taking the stress off owners at an already difficult time.  

Cherished Companion’s services extend to pets of all sizes - from dogs and cats to rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles and even hedgehogs, reflecting the business’s versatility and dedication to all creatures.  

Families can choose how they receive their pet’s ashes, with options including scatter tubes, urns, caskets, memorial jewellery and personalised portraits. Pricing is transparent and competitive, with no hidden fees. “Our ethos is simple” said Ruth. “Every pet in our care is treated as if it were our own. Being a small, local, family-run team allows us to give the personal attention that makes a real difference.”  

The service has quickly become a trusted option for the local community, and as Cherished Companion celebrates its first year, Ruth and Paul look forward to continuing to support people with compassion. Whatever size or breed, their mission remains the same: to ensure that every loved one receives the care and dignity they deserve. 

(Photo: Ruth, Paul, Abigail and Madison)