Pet cemetery under investigation over 'squalid' conditions after bags full of rotting carcasses and piles of bones and ash discovered

By EUGENE COSTELLO and FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER Published: 12:46, 15 July 2026 | Updated: 12:55, 15 July 2026 A pet cremation business is being probed over 'squalid' conditions, with one witness describing a 'smell of death' from rotting carcasses, as well as piles of bones and ash scattered around the premises. Animal Funeral Services, based at Litfield House Farm near Kington, Herefordshire, is at the centre of the shocking claims after video emerged appearing to show dead animals inside an unlocked van and split bags containing remains. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) confirmed the business was served with a stop notice on July 9, which prohibits the use of animal by-products at the site while the investigation continues. Herefordshire Council said it was working with APHA, the RSPCA and other relevant agencies. The probe was prompted by dog groomer Jess Roberts, 30, who wanted to find out what had happened to her beloved rescue dog Teddy after he had been put down by her local vet and sent there. Roberts, from Bridgnorth, Shropshire, had rescued the dog from a Romanian kill shelter around 10 years ago. He lived with her until old age, dementia and arthritis severely affected his quality of life. After making the decision to put Teddy to sleep, she was told her veterinary practice had sent his body to Animal Funeral Services for cremation. But unable to settle her fears about what had happened to him, she travelled to Litfield House Farm with a friend. Animal Funeral Services, based at Litfield House Farm near Kington, Herefordshire, is being probed over 'squalid' conditions. Pictured: A pile of bags at the premises allegedly containing animal remains Piles of bones were seen scattered at the premises, which is now at the centre of a probe Piles of ash and bone are alleged to have been seen around the property The claims came to light after 30-year-old dog groomer Jess Roberts wanted to find out what had happened to her dog Teddy after he had to be put down 'As soon as we got out of the car, it was like a punch in the face,' Roberts said. 'The smell of death surrounded the whole property. It was the smell of rotting carcasses.' She estimated around 10 dogs were on the site and described seeing cats with matted fur roaming around the property. 'The place was filthy,' she said. 'Parts of it looked as though they had been closed off using pallets chained together. It didn't look right.' Roberts said some of the dogs were panting and appeared to be living in poor conditions. She and her friend called out for someone to attend to them. Animal Funeral Services had advertised itself as operating around the clock and refers on its website to memorial grounds that bereaved owners can visit. 'We were shouting for somebody because it said the business was open 24 hours,' Roberts said. 'We wanted to let the owners know the dogs were panting. Then I stumbled across the worst thing I have ever seen.' Roberts alleges she found bags containing animal remains around the site, including some which had split open. 'There were flies everywhere,' she said. 'There were bags that were split, with animals coming out of them.' She initially believed many of the yellow sacks contained clinical waste. However, she said that when she examined the scene and later reviewed her photographs and videos, it became apparent some contained animal carcasses. Roberts also described seeing cats playing in a pile of ashes containing what appeared to be fragments of bone. 'There was no care,' she said. 'There was no respect.' Her most disturbing discovery, she said, was inside a white van parked at the side of the road. The vehicle appeared to be unlocked and accessible to passers-by. 'Any child, dog-walker or anyone walking past could have opened it and seen what I saw,' she said. Inside the vehicle, Roberts said she saw sharps containers of the type used by veterinary practices, clinical-waste sacks and bags labelled 'individual cremation'. 'Those bags had dogs in them,' she alleged. 'Not every yellow bag had a dog in it, but the ones that said "individual cremation" did.' One photograph appeared to show part of an animal's head protruding from a bag.  Other material recorded at the site has been described as too distressing for Roberts to retain on her own phone. 'I haven't got the most graphic photographs because I just can't look at them any more,' she said. 'My husband has them.' After making the discoveries, Roberts and her friend contacted the police, the RSPCA and Herefordshire Council. She said the RSPCA initially told her the matter was the council's responsibility, while the council directed her towards the RSPCA. Police told her officers would attend, she said, but she waited at the premises for approximately four hours without anyone arriving. 'We didn't know what to do,' she said. 'We took photographs and videos. We called everybody.' Eventually, Roberts had to return home because she and her husband have children. 'I said: "I'm going back tomorrow, and I'm going to keep going back until I speak to this woman and find my dog."'  Business owner Rachael Slaughter seen with the remains of a dead horse at the farm An area at the farm appearing to contain bone and ash mingled with rubbish One photograph appears to show a cat close to a small pile of ashes on the ground She returned the following day with her husband, Charlie, where a confrontation with people associated with the business escalated into an incident. Roberts was subsequently arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently on bail.  Roberts said she initially approached Michelle Jenkins, a close friend of Rachael Slaughter, who owns and operates Animal Funeral Services. 'It became heated,' Roberts said. 'I wanted to know where my dog was.' Her husband subsequently spoke to Slaughter and Jenkins while Roberts questioned them about the memorial grounds, and the condition of customers' animals and ashes. Roberts said she repeatedly asked what had happened to Teddy. 'I said: "Please, just tell me where he is and I'll drop it. I only want my dog, and I know he is there."'  'But she didn't want to give me any answers.' Roberts also questioned Slaughter about how the animals arrived at the premises. 'I asked her: "What do the dogs come to you in? What kind of bags?" 'She said: "Individual-cremation bags." I said: "What is in the van?" 'She said there was nothing in it.' Roberts said she was not shown paperwork identifying Teddy or documenting his cremation. 'There was no paperwork, no administration, nothing,' she said. 'All I have is what I took photographs and videos of.' She also raised concerns about the accessibility of the cremation equipment. Roberts alleged the furnaces lacked an adequate protective barrier and that a member of the public could have approached them. 'Anybody could have walked up and opened the door,' she said. 'As someone who was once a teenager, I can't believe nobody has been hurt. Nosy children or teenagers could have gone straight up to it.' She said smoke was rising from the equipment and that piles of ashes around the site appeared still to be smouldering. As a professional dog groomer, Roberts fears that poor handling and hygiene could create a disease risk. She cited canine parvovirus, a highly contagious disease, as an example of why animal remains must be handled under controlled conditions. 'If even one dog had been put to sleep because of parvovirus and sent there, strict protective and sterilisation procedures would have been needed,' she said. 'I walked around wearing normal shoes and unprotected clothing and then came home. Luckily, my dogs are fully vaccinated. 'But it would only take one infected dog. Even a dog being walked past the house could potentially be at risk.' Roberts claimed she and the friend who accompanied her experienced chest problems after visiting the site, although there is no evidence their symptoms were caused by anything at the premises. 'We don't know whether we inhaled something,' she said. 'But the apparent lack of sterile conditions was frightening.' The RSPCA is not the statutory regulator of pet crematoria, although it may investigate the welfare of any living animals kept at the site.  APHA oversees premises handling and incinerating animal by-products, while the council and environmental authorities may have responsibilities relating to pollution, waste, planning, nuisance and public health. Since the allegations emerged, several veterinary practices in Herefordshire have sought to reassure customers about the cremation providers they use. Investigators are likely to explore what veterinary practices knew about Animal Funeral Services, what checks were conducted before animals were sent there and whether bereaved owners received the individual cremations for which they believed they had paid. Roberts said people had since contacted her with concerns stretching back many years. 'I can't believe it took one 30-year-old grieving woman to turn up and check,' she said. 'Where was the legislation? Where was the registration? Where was everybody?' She believes the business was able to present a convincing public image through its website and favourable customer reviews. 'Everybody trusted that the professionals above them were doing their jobs,' she said. 'It hid behind a professional-looking website and good reviews.' Despite the wider investigation, Roberts simply wants to know what happened to Teddy. 'My brain was flooded with horrible thoughts of him being somewhere he wasn't being treated properly,' she said. 'People are angry now because their animals were sent there. Some people have said it looked suspicious five years ago. But why did it take me and my dog going there before anything happened? 'Teddy is the reason this all came out. If it wasn't for him, none of this would have come to light. I want his picture to be used, so people remember why this started.' On its website, Animal Funeral Services states that it provides 'a dignified farewell.' According to DEFRA, crematoriums must ensure animal by-products are incinerated as quickly as possible and stored for a maximum of seven days. Any animal by-products not immediately incinerated must be stored in leak-proof, covered, and labelled containers. Herefordshire Council said in a statement: 'We are working with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, the RSPCA and other relevant agencies as part of the ongoing investigations and will take appropriate action within the council's responsibilities and powers.'  West Mercia Police said following the incident between Roberts and Animal Funeral Services personnel: 'We received a call around 3.40pm on Wednesday, 8 July with a report of an assault on Titley Station Road, Lyonshall. 'A 30-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently on bail.' Animal Funeral Services has also been contacted for comment.  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.