Losing a pet can be a difficult time for many, and Eric Blackmon hopes to help during the grieving process.

Blackmon’s family business “All Pet Cremation,” opened about six months ago.

It offers cremation for a variety of pets up to 500 pounds including dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and reptiles.

“When people lose a pet, it is often like they are losing a family member,” Blackmon said. “Our goal is to help people during their difficult time, because it is a painful process.”

Blackmon had the idea to open a pet cremation business in Alabama after his grandfather operated a similar business in Tennessee for 15 years.

“There are not many pet cremation businesses in Alabama, so we thought it would be a good idea to open one,” Blackmon said.

The business serves an 80-mile radius from Chilton County.

At All Pet Cremation, services include individual cremation for all pets, individual cremation viewing appointments, a showroom with a large selection of caskets and urns, visits to the crematory by appointment, advance planning available, pick-up and delivery from your home or veterinary hospital, delivery of the cremations to home or office, and free cremation service for canine police dogs.

Blackmon said at the completion of the services, individuals receive poems, cards, and a certificate of cremation.

“People can select what type of urn they would like to have,” Blackmon said. “We have different varieties available in stock.”

Blackmon said he also works with local veterinarians to cremate animals.

“We treat every animal with dignity and respect,” Blackmon said.

The business also has a viewing room for individuals who would like to watch his or her pet being cremated, Blackmon said.

“We have some people who would like to see the whole process, and we are willing to let that happen,” Blackmon said. “They can come and watch everything.”

Blackmon said a neat experience he had was putting together a special memorial for a state canine drug dog that passed away from old age.

“I was contacted about doing the cremation for the dog,” Blackmon said. “He had worked eight years in service. We were able to come up with a really neat memorial for the owners to have which included a picture of the dog.”

The business is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday by appointments only.

Blackmon said a website is currently under construction and he anticipates having that up and running within the next couple of months.

The business is located at 435 County Road 55 in Clanton. For more information, call (205) 217-2402 or (205) 294-2093.