Founded in 2009 by Mike Harris, a third-generation licensed funeral director, Pet Passages was created to fill a deeply personal and emotional gap in the pet aftercare industry. After experiencing the loss of his own dogs, Luke and Hannah, Harris recognized a widespread need for dignified and professional services for pets at the end of their lives.

From that vision, Pet Passages was born—offering pet owners a respectful and caring alternative to traditional methods. The company is headquartered in Ontario, New York, and began franchising in 2016.

Pet Passages specializes in a comprehensive suite of services, including private cremations, pet funeral arrangements, grief support, and memorial merchandise. One of the franchise’s core strengths is its dedication to maintaining transparency and accountability through its proprietary Secure Passages™ tracking system, which ensures that families can follow their pet's aftercare journey with peace of mind.

What differentiates Pet Passages from competitors is its unique blend of funeral home professionalism and heartfelt compassion tailored specifically for pet owners. The company was the first to introduce services such as online pet obituaries and a virtual planning tool that allows families to make arrangements from home.

Training

Pet Passages provides several structured training programs to ensure Franchisees and their teams are well-prepared to operate the business effectively:

1. Initial Training Program: The Franchisor offers a mandatory training program lasting approximately 10.5 days at its headquarters in Rochester, New York, or another designated location. This is followed by 3 days of on-site training at the Franchised Business during its opening week. The Owner must be one of the attendees and successfully complete the program. Training includes operational procedures, customer interaction, use of equipment, and administrative tasks.
2. Ongoing Training: Franchisees and their employees may be required to attend additional training programs deemed necessary by the Franchisor. These include periodic conferences and advanced or refresher courses that may carry a reasonable tuition and materials fee. Franchisees are responsible for all travel, lodging, and related expenses during these sessions.
3. Additional Support and Resources: The Franchisor provides continuous updates, operational techniques, instructional materials, and advice. Franchisees are required to incorporate this information into their business operations in compliance with the franchising system’s standards.

Territory Protection

Pet Passages grants its franchisees a defined and protected territory, typically based on county lines and covering approximately 300,000 households. The exact size and scope of the territory are negotiated between the franchisee and the franchisor, taking into consideration factors like population density and market conditions.

Within this protected territory, the franchisor agrees not to open company-owned outlets or authorize other franchisees to operate. As long as the franchisee complies with the terms of the Franchise Agreement, Pet Passages ensures exclusivity within the assigned area.

However, the franchisor retains the right to accept online orders and service customers from within a franchisee’s territory through other means. Franchisees also have the option to purchase additional territories, with pricing adjusted based on household counts.