In August 2020, 32-year-old Maiken Hovden from Sogndal had to kill her 15-year-old dog, Sharon.
Hovden had not reflected on what she wanted, but when Sogn Dyreklinikk showed a brochure with alternatives from Dyrekrematoriet Nordfjord, the choice fell on cremation and a small piece of jewelery with the dog’s ashes.
– Several months passed and I did not hear anything more. I called the animal clinic to hear if the jewelry would be sent directly to me, or if I had to pick it up somewhere, she tells Dagbladet.
The case was first mentioned in Sogn Avis.
LOST HOPE: Maiken Hovden no longer believes that the Nordfjord Animal Crematorium has the ashes of her dog. Photo: Private
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Have been waiting for a year and a half
The general manager and owner of the animal clinic, Ingjerd Bøkenes, contacted the Nordfjord Animal Crematorium. There, the general manager could inform that the jewelry was just around the corner.
– It is now over a year and a half ago, and I still have not received the jewelry with the ashes after my dog.
Hovden is desperate, but says that she still lives in the hope of getting back a small piece of the dog she was so fond of.
– Do you think the crematorium has taken care of one and a half year old ashes?
– No, I do not think so. I doubt it. I cling to hope, but I no longer believe there is any ashes after Sharon.
Read the answer from the animal crematorium further down in the case.
WAS KILLED IN 2020: Maiken Hovden has been waiting for a year and a half for Sharon’s ashes. Photo: Private
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– In the beginning it went smoothly
In 2019, Sogn Dyreklinikk entered into an agreement with Dyrekrematoriet Nordfjord. Owner, general manager and veterinarian Ingjerd Bøkenes was happy to be able to use a local company.
– The animal crematorium’s general manager came to our clinic with brochures and products. He wanted to cooperate, and so did we, she says, and continues:
– In the beginning it went smoothly. We received urns and ashes in return very quickly, in addition to various products that the customers had ordered. All in all, a good collaboration.
Then the corona pandemic came fully to the country. Bøkenes says that they showed understanding that things took much longer than before.
– We struggled to get equipment ourselves, so we showed understanding that the crematorium struggled immediately, but when it started to approach a whole year …
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Waited a year for a cardboard box
Bøkenes says that one of her customers is still waiting for a cardboard box with her deceased cat’s ashes. In the spring she has been waiting for a whole year.
– The corona puts an end to too much, but not to a cardboard box. Our customer has been waiting for almost a year to be able to bury the cat in his own garden.
That was when it started to rain for Bøkenes. Now she has lost count of how many emails and phone calls she has taken to the crematorium.
– Something was up. We have called from the clinic several times, without getting an answer. But, if I call from a private number two minutes later, he picks up the phone right away.
– What does he say when he first answers?
– He is so upset, lies down flat and says he will sort it out. He has said that he will call everyone who is waiting for ashes, and we have given him a list of orders, names, dates and contact information for customers. Yet no one has heard anything.
DESPAIR: Owner and general manager of Sogn Dyreklinikk, Ingjerd Bøkenes. Photo: Private
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– A great mystery
Bøkenes says that it is the animal clinic that has paid for both cremation and products. This means that Dyrekrematoriet Nordfjord’s money is on hold at Sogn Dyreklinikk.
– We have not received any bill from the crematorium on the jewelry or the cremation that has been done, so if it is not delivered it is we who have to pay back to the customers, she says, and adds:
– It’s all just a big mystery.
In addition to the aforementioned Maiken Hovden, there are three other customers from Sogn Dyreklinikk who are still waiting for ashes or products from the crematorium.
Hovden thinks it is all disrespectful of Dyrekrematoriet Nordfjord, but says that she will still use the jewelry if it should actually appear.
– Killing an animal is extremely painful. If I finally get the jewelry sent, I hope they are so honest that they do not send with ashes that are from another animal. I expect it to be my dog.
Missed the cat Buster
Ann-Christin Strømsrud from Kjølsdalen killed the cat Buzter at Eid Veterinærkontor on 20 October 2021. Like Sogn Dyreklinikk, they also had an agreement with Dyrekrematoriet Nordfjord.
She was told that the kitty would be returned to the family in an urn six weeks later.
WAITING: Martine Strømsrud Nes (9) is impatiently waiting for the cat Buzter’s urn. Photo: Private
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Nevertheless, Strømsrud and her three children are still waiting for Buzter, who has been part of the family for 19 years.
– I’m waiting and am pretty desperate. We do not know where our cat is, and the kids think Buzter is gone. Eid Veterinary Office does not get a hold of the crematorium’s general manager.
– Where’s our cat? Is he burned or is he still lying in a freezer? I have a thousand questions, but no answers. I do not know what to believe anymore, she says to Dagbladet.
She says that her daughter Martine recently wrote a poem about the deceased cat.
– I have never shed so many tears. Buzter has been everything from a best friend to a psychologist for me. It hurts not to know. I have been so attached to him, says Strømsrud.
– Feared the worst
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority will follow up
Bente Sande in the Norwegian Food Safety Authority was contacted by Strømsrud when she began to worry.
When asked by Dagbladet about what the Norwegian Food Safety Authority does in such cases, Sande says that they will follow up the business with supervision, and assess the relevant conditions – such as collection and tracking.
– Animal crematoria are approved in accordance with the Animal By-Product Regulations pursuant to the Food Act. As an approved facility, there are requirements in the regulations that must be met and such facilities are supervised on an equal footing with others that are subject to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s regulations, says Sande.
BECAME 19 YEARS OLD: The Strømsrud Nes family is waiting for the urn with the ashes of Buzter. Photo: Private
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General manager apologizes
After repeated attempts, Dagbladet has managed to get hold of the crematorium’s general manager. In an e-mail sent on Friday afternoon, the man writes that he apologizes, and assures that all the ashes have been taken care of.
«Will first apologize to everyone who has had to wait too long for the ashes or product from Dyrekrematoriet Nordfjord. I’ve been too bad at keeping in touch with my clients, it’s not the way it should be.
What is absolutely certain is that no animals or ashes have disappeared. Everything is taken care of and is registered as accurately as possible.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is inspecting now, a visit that was scheduled a short time ago, they will then see that everything is in order.
It has been challenging to bring in goods during this corona period. The urn manufacturer stepped down production of urns for animals when the corona arrived. But this does not excuse the fact that I have not been present enough, by phone or email, for my customers.»
In addition, the man states that he has agreed to meet the aforementioned Ann-Christin Strømsrud on Friday afternoon to hand over Buzter’s urn.
– I cling to the hope that he does what he has promised now, Strømsrud concludes.
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