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Terms of Membership
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By completing your membership application, you'll be agreeing to the terms below.
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Membership Term is January 1 - December 31

CODE OF ETHICS

We, as a member of the International Association of Pet Cemeteries & Crematories engaged in the owning, operating, and developing pet cemeteries and/or crematories and other activities Incident thereto, and mindful of the duty which our Industry bears to the public, and for the purpose of proclaiming our ideals for the benefit and the protection of the public, our employees, ourselves and our Association, do hereby accept the following Code of Ethics of the International Association of Pet Cemeteries & Crematories.

 

We believe that in all of our business dealings the following to be fair and equitable principles and we subscribe thereto:

  1.  We pledge to uphold the highest standard, always striving to raise the level of the profession.
  2.  We will perform all services in a dignified manner showing the compassion, sympathetic understanding, and genuine concern required.
  3. We will respect the confidence of every family need.
  4.  We will provide adequate cemetery and crematory facilities, maintain them to the best of our ability, keeping in mind our cemetery/crematory reflects all pet cemeteries/crematories.
  5. We will not use any method of advertising, sales presentation or persuasion which conceals, evades, or mis-states a material fact.
  6. We will comply with all federal, state, local and provincial laws.  
  7. We will maintain our own Individual price policy. 
  8. We will maintain adequate burial, cremation and financial records.

 

STANDARDS AND OPERATING PRACTICES

 

  Article I – Cemetery/Crematory Practices

  1. We will not assume or otherwise “take over” another cemetery’s/crematory's agreements or contacts without the consent of the other cemetery/crematory.
  2.  We will not knowingly make any untrue statement regarding any other cemetery.
  3.  We will not issue any statement for publication which would purport to reflect the opinion or view of the Association without prior approval of the Association’s Board of Directors or its Executive Committee.
  4.  We will not use the name of the Association in any manner which would tend to promote discredit to the Association.
  5.  All cemetery/crematory rules and regulations will be fair and reasonable.

 

 Article II – Cemetery Care Funds

1. Recognizing the need of proper provision for maintenance of each cemetery, we shall have and maintain a plan for the cemetery’s preservation. For that purpose a care fund, or funds, shall be established and maintained.

Article III – Sanctions

  1. We will not do or omit to be done, directly, indirectly, or by subterfuge, combination, or secret agreement anything hereinabove specifically prohibited.
  2. Any member violating any prohibitory section of the code of Standards, or who may be found guilty of any other unethical practice, shall be subject to disciplinary action by the Association in accordance with Article IV hereof.

Article IV – Procedures For Ethics Violations

  1.  A Standing Committee known as the Committee on Ethics shall be maintained by the Association.
  2.  Any alleged violation or breach of this Code of Ethics and Standards shall be reported in writing to any officer of the Association who shall have the duty to refer the written allegations to the Committee on Ethics.
  3.  The Committee on Ethics shall initially review the written allegations to determine if it provides a basis for proceeding further.  If the Committee on Ethics determines that the written allegations require further investigations then it shall send a detailed statement of the allegations to the member or members involved requesting a written answer to the allegations within thirty (30) days.
  4.  Upon receipt of the response from the member or members involved, or if no response is received, the Committee may, if it so determines, proceed as follows:
    1.  Schedule a formal hearing before the Committee, with at least ten (10) days written notice thereof to both the complaining parties and the members involved.
    2.  At the hearing both parties shall be allowed time to present any pertinent material to the Committee and may be represented by counsel if they so desire.
  5.  At the conclusion of the hearing the Committee shall consider the material presented and make a determination as to whether any actions shall be taken against the offending member of members.  If the Committee determines that action would be appropriate, it shall make a written report to the Board of Directors.
  6.  The Board of Directors, upon receipt of a written report from the Committee on Ethics, shall advise the offending member or members in writing of the receipt of the report and allow the member or members an additional five (5) days to make a further presentation. At that time, the Board may proceed to discipline the offending member or members in any appropriate manner including expulsion from the Association if it so determines.

 

Responsibility of Membership

I agree with the principles of the International Association of Pet Cemeteries (IAOPCC) as outlined in the Code of Ethics and have so indicated by submitting a signed copy as part of this application.  I agree that if for any reason I choose to no longer remain a member of IAOPCC, I will return the Membership Plaque and will immediately stop using the IAOPCC logo in any manner or for any purpose, including removal of IAOPCC logo from my website.  I further understand that should I wish to sell a product or service to other members, I will need to reapply to become an IAOPCC Supplier Member. I further understand that a representative of this membership will be required to attend a minimum of one (1) Annual Conference within the next two (2) meetings presented by IAOPCC.

 

A membership in IAOPCC shall be granted, refused or rescinded of good and just cause by the IAOPCC Board of Directors.A change in proprietorship, partnership, corporation or society operating and maintaining a cemetery/crematory/ funeral home or a change in the designated voting member shall be reported forthwith to the IAOPCC home office.

When this application is processed and is accepted, your name, location, and email address will be entered in the Membership Directory and listed on the IAOPCC web site.You will receive an IAOPCC Membership Plaque upon your attendance to your first Annual Conference for you to display as long as you remain a member of IAOPCC.

 

 Terminology (Definitions)

This terminology was approved by the general membership of the 2011 Annual General Meeting of the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories (IAOPCC), and also from a joint IAOPCC and Cremation Association of North America (CANA) Pet Cremation Standards Committee. The term “Individual,” used to describe multiple pets that are cremated with the intended return of each individual pet’s cremated remains to an authorized agent, is currently one of several acceptable terms for IAOPCC members, including “Partitioned,” “Segregated,” “Individually Segregated” and “Segregated.” This particular term is being used only to make the relevant standards understandable and consistent. No definitions of burner position were part of the original discussions with the IAOPCC and CANA. These definitions have been inserted due to changes in the IAOPCC Pet Cremation Standards, approved by the IAOPCC Board of Directors in March 2013.

Authorized Agent(s) – The person(s) legally entitled to order the cremation of the remains.The authorized agent may be acting on behalf of a client, e.g., when a veterinarian works on behalf of the client.

Client – The owner of the pet, who may be the authorizing agent or who may engage someone(e.g., a veterinarian) to act as authorizing agent.

Cremated Remains – The remaining bone fragments after the cremation process is completed.
Note: the term “cremains” may also be used; the preferred term is cremated remains, but both are in
common use.

Cremation – The mechanical and/or thermal or other dissolution process that reduces remains to bone fragments. Cremation would include the subsequent processing and pulverization of bone fragments.

Cremation may occur under any of the following methods:
Communal Cremation – To cremate several pets in a cremation chamber at one time with no regard for keeping pets separated. This process allows for the co-mingling of cremated remains. No cremated remains are returned to the client. (Note: this may be described as “mass”, “group” or “combined” cremation; the preferred term is communal cremation).

Individually Partitioned Cremation - More than one pet is placed in the cremation chamber and cremated at the same time with some form of separation between pets such as trays, refractory bricks, or space; the pet's location in crematory is documented and cremated remains are returned to the client. (Note: Other terms include "individually separated", "segregated and individually separated" (S.I.S), or "individually-partitioned" cremation; in every case the consumer and the Authorizing Agent must be informed that more than one pet may be cremated simultaneously.)

Private Cremation – Only one pet is placed in the cremation chamber and cremated, with the cremated remains returned to the client. Private cremation may include viewing of the cremation by the client.

Private cremations can occur in a cremation machine with multiple cremation retort chambers.

Cremation Chamber – The enclosed space within which the cremation process takes place.A cremation retort chamber is specifically the space where the body is placed.

For a cremation machine with multiple cremation retorts, each must have: its own individual door(s); ideally, burner controls for each particular retort chamber; an integrated or designed method of cremains retrieval from each, individual retort chamber; and a manufacturer designed and engineer certified, permanent, fixed, immobile wall for each side of retort chamber that does not have a loading/unloading door.

 Cremation Burner Locations

1. A Top Burner – A top burner crematory employs one or more flames that originate from the ceiling of the cremation chamber.
2. A Rear Burner – A rear burner crematory employs flame originating from the rear of the crematory chamber towards the front of the crematory chamber.
3. A Bottom Burner – A bottom burner crematory employs flame originating from beneath the crematory under the pet toward the ceiling of the crematory chamber. The cremated remains fall through a grate into the collection area.
4. A Side Burner – A side burner crematory employs flame originating from the left and right sides of the crematory chamber, aimed across or toward\ the floor of the crematory chamber.

 

Cremation Container
The container in which the animal remains may be delivered to the crematory to be placed in the cremation chamber for cremation. Cremation containers, if used, should meet the following standards:
1. Be composed of a suitable combustible material;
2. Be sturdy enough for handling with ease;
3. Ensure protection to the health and safety of

Crematory Authority – The legal entity or the authorized representative of the legal entity who conducts the cremation.

Crematory or Crematorium – The building that houses the cremation chamber.

Holding Facility – An area designated for the retention of remains prior to cremation within the crematory facilities that shall:
1. Comply with any applicable public health laws;
2. Preserve the dignity of the remains;
3. Recognize the personal integrity and health of the crematory authority personnel operating the cremation chamber.

Holding Vault – A place to store or hold remains; usually a walk-in cooler or freezer, or chest freezers.

Remains – The dead animal remains prior to cremation.

Processed Remains – The end result of pulverization, where the residual from the cremation process is cleaned leaving only bone fragments reduced to unidentifiable dimensions.

Securely Closed or Sealable Container – Any container in which processed remains can be placed and securely closed or sealed so as to prevent leakage of processed remains or the entrance of foreign materials.

 

 

 

 

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 PET OWNERS PLEASE NOTE:  Former members are not entitled to use the IAOPCC membership logo. Please be sure to check our Membership Directory and verify that the Cemetery/Crematory is in fact a current member in good standing and not just borrowing the logo, or you may  contact the Home Office directly at 1-800-952-5541 or info@iaopc.com .