For many pet owners, the loss of a pet can be compared to that of losing a family member. A loss like that is felt by everyone, young and old alike. To serve those families in the Florida Keys, a new Paws and Remember Pet Loss Center and Crematory has opened in Tavernier, FL.

In the Florida Keys, most good ideas start sitting under a Tiki Hut, and TJ Hayes and Steve Turner, while reminiscing of old times, both graduates of Coral Shores High School, class of 1986, tossed around the idea of starting a pet cremation service here in the Keys. Turner, who already is in the business in Ohio, challenged Hayes to start to process of getting permits and finding a location. In 2012 Hayes began the process of retaining the necessary permits, which was not an easy task, and found a building in Tavernier with the correct zoning to house the machine. In January of 2015, Paws and Remember of the Florida Keys was born.

Kevin Champion, born and raised in the Redlands, moved to Key Largo in 2002 and has known Hayes since. Champion manages the business, from sales to the actual cremation and spends most of his days driving to Key West, and North to South Dade County and the surrounding area, servicing their clients. Paws and Remember prides itself on the quality of its products as well as the extremely fast turnaround. With memorialization products that are tailored to the needs of the pet owner and their pets – from cats and dogs, to exotic species, birds and more, Paws and Remember provides families with personalized, affordable options that allow families to memorialize their pet in a loving and personal way.

“We saw there was little in the way of service for families that lose their pets in the Keys. We are proud to be the only pet memorialization service in the Florida Keys,” said Kevin Champion of Paws and Remember. “All of us here at Paws and Remember are pet owners and lovers ourselves, so our compassion and understanding is something we pride ourselves on.”

Paws and Remember of the Florida Keys has partnered with multiple vets in the South Florida area. For more information you can contact your local veterinarian. If you do not have a relationship with a local vet, please feel free to contact them: www.pawsandremember.com or (305) 699-9576.