After Losing His Dogs, Founder Created a Franchise for Compassionate Pet Cremation Services and Funerals
Pet Passages founder and CEO Mike Harris, a third-generation licensed funeral director, understood the importance of compassionate care for the deceased and their loved ones. In 2008, when he suddenly lost his two Rottweilers, Hannah and Luke, he discovered a vastly different situation with end-of-life care for pets. Professionalism, compassion and respect were lacking – and so were laws and regulations governing pet cremation services.
Harris decided families and their beloved pets deserved much better. “I wanted to honor and memorialize the lives of Hannah and Luke in the same fashion as we would for any family member. Therefore, they were the inspiration for Pet Passages,” he says.
Harris launched his first business offering pet cremation services and funerals in 2009. Franchising since 2017, Pet Passages now has 19 locations in 13 states, four more in development and others in the early stages.
His wife, Andrea Harris (pictured with Mike below), who serves as vice president, says Pet Passages pioneered the processes and protocols that other pet after-care services now follow. “We don’t just follow best practices – we create them. And we’re not stopping. We continue to set the standard by continuing to raise the bar.”
As pet ownership increases worldwide, so does demand for compassionate and professional end-of-life pet care. The global pet funeral services market, estimated at $1.97 billion in 2024, is expected to increase at a combined annual growth rate of 11.45% by 2030, according to Grand View Research.
Ideal Pet Passages Franchisees
Pet Passages franchise owners come from a variety of backgrounds and share an interest in providing compassionate care for pet owners in an underserved industry. “We love to help franchisees transform their own experiences of loss into a positive path where they can comfort and guide pet parents in their communities,” Andrea says. “We look for those who are organized, detail-oriented, can multitask and follow the system with integrity. Lastly, we look for those who have a desire to grow their businesses.”
The Harrises prefer franchisees who will be owner-operators. “We chose the franchise model because we truly believe that during this difficult time, on-site ownership is better than having a manager. An owner is more vested in their business, and that compassion is going to show through,” Mike says.
Franchise Owners Like Family
“We’ve discovered another passion of ours is helping people create a business,” Andrea says. “To be able to have the freedom of owning your own business and create that legacy for your children has become our second passion.”
The Harrises and their corporate team do extensive vetting with prospective franchise owners to make sure their goals and values are aligned. That fit is important because franchise owners have become like family, not only with the Harrises, but with other franchise owners, and they all support each other.
Franchising was always the goal for Pet Passages. “Every community deserves access to this incredible service, so we are currently looking to expand to every state and Canada very soon,” Andrea says.
Pet Passages Franchisees Share Experiences
Catherine Lemoine
Pet Passages Franchisee since 2023, Lafayette, La.
Catherine Lemoine had 25 years of experience working with companion animals and their owners prior to investing in Pet Passages, including managing two pet crematories, serving as a veterinary technician and working in an animal shelter. “After seeing the direction that the industry was taking while managing the two pet crematories, I knew I wanted to align myself with a company founded on respect for the service we provide, while continuing to provide the technology and support that allows me to compete with the larger corporations currently entering the industry,” she says.
Pet Passages Support and Training: Lemoine met Mike Harris in 2013, and credits him with teaching her “just about everything I know about the business side. He was instrumental in getting us started in a business, which none of us had any experience running.”
A Typical Day: Lemoine starts by catching up on paperwork, then oversees the packaging and preparing of intakes and completed cremations. She also spends a lot of time doing marketing. “In a sensitive, grief-based industry, clients are looking for familiarity and faces they can trust,” she says.
Advice for Prospective Franchisees: “Having familiarity with the veterinary industry is helpful, as well as a very open and understanding mind because pet owners love their babies and expect the absolute best for them.”
Plans for Scaling: “My whole state is grossly underserved in pet cremation services and funerals. I currently have people who will drive three or four hours for my service because there isn’t any in their area, so it would be my dream to bring Pet Passages to them.”
Jaime and Mark Barnes
Pet Passages Franchisees since 2024, Billings, Mont.
Jaime and Mark Barnes (above with daughter Emma) had lengthy careers in other industries prior to investing in Pet Passages. She was an operations coordinator for FedEx Ground, and Mark was and continues to be a human resources manager with Ortho Montana, an orthopedic clinic. They learned about Pet Passages after the death of their dog, Shotsey, in 2021.
“We didn’t have any intention of starting a business, but after coming across Pet Passages, we decided to look into it more,” Jaime says. “We liked the concept of the pet funeral home, pet cremation services offering a 72-hour return, more memorialization options and website. No one here offers what Pet Passages does. We feel blessed to be part of the Pet Passages team!”
Pet Passages Support and Training: “Before and after opening, we received support from both Mike and Andrea. Our questions were answered and our concerns were taken seriously. The two-week training at the corporate office in Ontario, N.Y., was very helpful in teaching us how to run the entire business. We felt prepared when the time came to open,” Jaime says.
A Typical Day: Jaime runs daily Pet Passages operations, while Mark continues his work with the orthopedic clinic, ultimately planning to transition into full-time work with the franchise. Their daughter, Emma, helps out when her school work allows.
Advice for Prospective Pet Passages Franchisees: “Have a good sense of business and financial knowledge. We believe that a franchisee should be a pet lover so they can truly understand the bond between humans and their pets,” Jaime says. “Compassion for another person in their time of need goes a long way.”
To learn more about franchising opportunities, visit the Pet Passages website.
