Northern Colorado animal crematorium accused of disposing of animals in landfill: Owner denies all charges

The owner of a Colorado animal crematorium denies allegations that his pets were dumped in a landfill

A popular and long-established pet crematory in northern Colorado is facing a lawsuit alleging that Precious Memories Pet Cemetery & Crematory fraudulently disposed of pets in landfills and mass graves against the owners' wishes.

The seven-page lawsuit, filed in Larimer County and obtained by CBS News Colorado, accuses the company of causing reputational and financial damage to at least two veterinarian offices in northern Colorado.

Samantha Jo Staggs, the crematory's director, told CBS News Colorado reporter Dillon Thomas that she thought the lawsuit was without merit.

"Some people grieve for their pets more than their family members because their pets are with them every day," Staggs said. "I take over 100 calls."

Staggs said her clients adore their deceased pets, which is why this lawsuit has hurt her company so much in recent days.

She said she has received death threats from concerned clients who believe the allegations in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit names Edwards Veterinary Care and Western Skies Animal Rehabilitation as the companies accused of wrongdoing.

The lawsuit accuses Staggs' company, among other things, of dumping pets in landfills and mass graves against the wishes of customers. The company is also accused of sending customers clay memorials with paw and hoof prints of the wrong animals that once belonged to the customers.

Thomas asked Staggs if she had ever misled clients and mishandled pet remains. The ensuing dialog took place in the context of whether Staggs had done what she was accused of doing without the clients' knowledge.

"Have you ever thrown pets into a mass grave?" asked Thomas.

"No," Staggs said.

"Have you ever misled anyone with the remains of your pets?" asked Thomas.

"No," Staggs said.

"Have you ever thrown a pet in a trash can or in a landfill?" asked Thomas.

"No," Staggs said.

"What do you think when you hear someone accuse you of that?" asked Thomas.

"I'm very upset about it. It's very damaging," Staggs said.

Disposing of some pets' remains in a landfill is common practice, Staggs said, but only with prior authorization and with the understanding of clients. One example, she said, is when a large animal, such as a horse, is too large to be cremated. Staggs said sometimes clients make a conscious decision to cremate part of a horse's body, such as the head and heart. The rest, Staggs said, is properly disposed of in a landfill.

She also said that some people deliberately ask to have their pets buried in a mass grave and her team will facilitate this.

Staggs gave CBS News Colorado a tour of the crematory and explained how her company is supposed to operate. She noted that each pet that dies is given two informational stickers that accompany its remains throughout the process. She showed how staff must record information about each animal's weight, name, owner and other data before and after cremation.

She said if someone received the wrong clay memorial or ashes, it was a mistake.

"There was no malicious intent," Staggs said.

CBS News Colorado contacted the veterinary clinics that filed the lawsuit and asked for an interview. Both clinics declined to comment in favor of their attorney. The attorney representing them sent a statement saying their lawsuit is based on the facts, but added that no one is available to be interviewed for this report at this time.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for damage to their reputation and financial loss.

Staggs said she is willing to speak at length with any concerned pet owner, and said she can guarantee she never misled anyone during the grieving process.

"I want people who see this to feel at ease and know that they will get their pet back and no one else," Staggs says.

Staggs told CBS News Colorado that one of the companies suing her is owned by a former employee who was fired from Precious Memories.

When contacted by CBS News Colorado for confirmation, an attorney representing the company made the following statement:

"I can state that this lawsuit has a factual basis and is completely unrelated to the labor relations issues."