The Meadows
Established: 2018 / Location: Chichester, West Sussex / Business: Pet Crematorium
The team at The Meadows have always been animal lovers, with the business established on the Birkett family’s farm on the outskirts of Chichester. After deciding to move away from farming, a new opportunity presented itself for the remaining land and barns. After having developed strong relationships with local vets through their farm work, the family identified the need for a pet crematoria in the area, and the idea of The Meadows began to take shape.
“Animals have always been a huge part of my family’s life, and as lifelong pet owners ourselves we know how hard losing an animal can be. We are passionate about ensuring each and every pet is treated with respect and kindness, and that owners have the option to say goodbye to their beloved animal in a way which works best for their family.”
– James Birkett, Owner at The Meadows
The Meadows quickly developed a strong reputation, seeing the team grow to include two additional full-time members of staff, both of whom have veterinary experience. The team now work with a network of local vets, along with a euthanasia service, to ensure that families have access to a range of end-of-life options. Funerals and pet bereavement counselling are also available through chosen partners who know James and the team at The Meadows well.
“We are really proud to support families through such a difficult time – and love being able to help them understand the choices available when saying goodbye to their pets. For some it’s important to have individual time with their pet, whilst for others it’s important to plan a larger service to include family members and even other pets. We only offer individual cremations, giving us the ability to provide a very personal service to each of the families who come to us.”
– James Birkett
The Meadows is located in the wide-open spaces of the South Downs, and has a large viewing room and memory wall where owners are encouraged to share photos of their furry friends. The team’s professional and warm approach has created a loyal following from pet owners across West Sussex.
Working with Petributes
The Meadows heard about Petributes through recommendations with the company frequently referred to by vets, other pet crematoria and at trade shows. After making contact, James was impressed with the very personal service he received from the outset.
“We love working with Petributes and have always been impressed with the combination of great customer service and excellent product quality. The whole team will bend over backwards to help us ensure we have everything we need to support the families we look after.”
– James Birkett
The Meadows rely on Petributes for the supply of scatter tubes and a range of pet urns. The pawprint urns have been particularly well-liked by families and, together with all Petributes urns, are available in a range of sizes. Given the close proximity of The Meadows to Petributes HQ, James is a frequent visitor and has grown to know the team well.
“We appreciate that we’re dealing with people’s emotions and need to rely on the suppliers we choose to work with. The team at Petributes always offer the highest level of service to us, and we are very pleased to have found such wonderful business, who help us support grieving families, right on our doorstep.”
– James Birkett