Ashes to ashes: The pet cremator on talking parrots and dealing with grief

Former garda turned pet cremator Eamonn Coady on the bizarre list of animals he has cremated 

Eamonn Coady at the Resting Pets Crematorium in Ballykinsella, Tramore, Co. Waterford. It is one of six pet crematoriums currently operating across the country. Picture: Noel Browne

“I’m not very well you know” squawked a pet parrot — over and over again. 

The bird, who possessed quite a vocabulary, spent most nights on his perch in the family living room, shouting aloud. However, on this occasion, he clearly had something to tell because the next morning his owners found him dead.