Pensioner 'heartbroken' as cat's ashes scattered without her knowing

Barbara Madge paid more than £200 for 18-year-old Jessica's ashes to be sent back to her home after the sick pet's cremation.

But the unsuspecting pensioner discovered the casket was mistakenly sent to Northampton and her cat's ashes scattered in a garden.

The 69-year-old from Willenhall said: "It's like she died twice. We are absolutely heartbroken that she hasn't come home. Nobody seems to care.

"I can't come to terms with it. I just feel like I have been kicked in the guts."

Mrs Madge and husband Michael, who have been married for 27 years, had lovingly cared for their black and white cat since she strolled into their garden 18 years ago.

The cat spent the past year battling renal failure before her health rapidly deteriorated and she was put to sleep at Lockwood Animal Hospital on July 31.

Former admin worker Mrs Madge recalled paying the Willenhall surgery for the casket to be returned to her Shepwell Green home but became concerned when Jessica's ashes were not delivered and chased the vets.

She said the Lower Lichfield Street practice called the couple last Friday, when they revealed Jessica's ashes had been scattered by Northampton-based Pet Cremation Services in its remembrance garden.

Mrs Madge said: "[They told us] there was nothing anyone could do because her ashes were mixed up with everyone else's.

"Nobody can put this right. I can't forgive them. I don't see why they should just sweep it under the carpet with a sorry."

The cat lover said the news left her distressed as the couple are unable to keep Jessica's ashes with the remains of their three other deceased cats.

Mrs Madge, who still cares for seven-year-old black cat Merlin, added: "I wanted her back home with the rest of the cats that we have had cremated.

"We had been discussing for quite some time either to bury them in the garden, or when our times comes to go, have a couple each with us.

"It sounds a bit morbid and a lot of people might think it, but it's what we wanted to do. I haven't got any children or close family and my cats were my family."

She said the experience was made more traumatic after being unable to find out who was responsible for sending Jessica's ashes to Northampton and is now calling for the decision-maker to be reprimanded.

Lockwood Animal Hospital operations manager Jean Bates said she could not provide an explanation but was sure staff had been 'careful'.

She added: "We are not happy about this. We have known this couple for 20 years. Our staff are quite upset about it because we had followed the procedures that we had to go through.

"All I can say is how sorry we are that it has happened. We are all animal lovers and we know how we would feel."