Deceased pets could soon be cremated by the council if a new service planned to launch next year gets the green light.
Gedling Borough Council is working on a scheme which would see it become the first public authority in the area to offer such a service, although there are private firms which offer pet cremation in the county.
Council bosses hope the scheme would work in a similar way to a normal undertakers, and that it could be up and running early next year.
Council leader John Clarke, who represents the Netherfield ward for Labour, admitted it was a ‘left-field’ idea, but said there had been demand for it from residents, and that he hoped it could provide a small income for the council.
He said: “We want something like this because we’ve had quite a few people saying they have had to travel quite far at a very difficult time.
“Pets are parts of our families, and if we want to dispose of them respectfully and properly then this can be a good service.”
The council has not yet released details of how much revenue it expects the scheme will generate.
It is now in the process of applying for the relevant licence to allow it to carry out the service.
Councillor Clarke continued: “I think the popularity will build, similar to people realising there’s a Gedling Crematorium and having as positive a message as you can expect of the facilities under obviously difficult circumstances.
“I’m sure it will raise a lot of eyebrows, but we know some people have been heading off as far as Doncaster.
“We’re doing what the Prime Minister wants us to do, being entrepreneurial and finding new ways of generating income. I think they call it blue sky thinking.
Mike Hill is the deputy chief executive at the council, and said: “We have got all the boxes ticked, and we now know what licenses we need to apply for.
“Realistically by the time we’ve got everything in place, it won’t be until January or February next year, but we do hope to be able to provide an update in June, when we can start buying equipment.”