The Batesville Planning Commission unanimously approved an application for a pet crematory that will be located on Hwy. 6W, and expected to begin accepting animals in early summer.

The crematory will be located at 529 Hwy. 6W, just after the overhead bridge driving west.

Batesville resident Troy Smith, who works in the funeral industry, presented his plan for the business to the Planning Commission this week. The city board usually accepts the commission’s recommendations at their next scheduled meeting.

Smith said he will install the necessary equipment this spring with a projected opening date in June. Named Companion’s Rest, the business will offer a full line of keepsakes and products associated with the passing of family pets.

“Funeral homes in Oxford currently offer this service and some in Memphis, but for our area there just aren’t any options,” Smith said. “There is a big need and funeral homes get calls every week about how to have their pets properly cremated.”

Smith said the crematory will not increase fire hazard at the octagon structure – a building that has held retail shops, hair dressers, and other businesses in the past. The cremation chamber adheres to all EPA standards and has an insulated stack that does not burn an open flame outside of the unit.