An Australian woman who sent her pet ferrets' ashes to New Zealand to have them made into jewellery is now offering a reward for their safe return.
Both the memorial ring and the remaining ashes were lost in the post, and the ferrets' owner has spent the last three months trying to track them down.
But neither Australia nor New Zealand Post know where they have gone.
An example of the ring Melissa Burton wanted. Photo: Melissa Burton / Supplied
Melissa Burton's five ferrets Heartspark, Delilah, Khoshekh, Katya, and Kitbus were not just pets, they were family.
"We would take them to the park," she said.
"They love to dig, so sometimes we would go to the beach, and they'd dig in the sand.
"Our last boy, Bus, was particularly adventurous, and we used to take him on hikes or four-wheel driving. They just loved to get out, explore, sniff around, and see different places."
Burton was aware of how strange that might sound to New Zealanders, who would consider them pests, but said in her hometown they were popular companion animals.
"They're pretty big pets over here in Perth.
"There is a ferret society; they hold ferret races. We used to take them to the ferret show every year, so they've got little trophies and things at home for winning different categories.
"They used to have costume contests for the ferrets. They're really treated just like cats and dogs."
Heartspark and Delilah, Melissa's first two ferrets, died in 2013. Photo: Melissa Burton / Supplied
The ferrets each passed away over the last ten years, and when Kitbus died in March, Burton decided to have all of their ashes turned into a piece of memorial jewellery.
She wanted a ring with flecks of ashes displayed in it, but said she was unable to find any Australian jewellers that fit the bill.
Eventually she landed on a jeweller in Auckland and sent the ferrets' ashes over.
"They set the ashes in resin. The ring itself is gold, and with the resin we selected some red and pink tones, because those were the colour of all of the ferrets' harnesses."
The jeweller completed the work in the middle of June and sent the ring and remaining ashes back through NZ Post.
Australia Post told Burton the parcel had arrived in Perth just three days later.
But three months later, she was yet to see it.
"Both companies are blaming each other and not really taking any responsibility for this.
"NZ Post say it's arrived in Australia, so it's Australia Post's responsibility now, and Australia Post say they've never actually received it from New Zealand, so it's still an NZ Post responsibility."
At the end of June, Burton reached out to Australia Post through Facebook, and was told her parcel was last scanned while awaiting clearance with Perth customs.
In a later email, they said if the ashes could be found, they would be delivered as soon as possible.
If the ashes could not be found, Australia Post said it would be up to NZ Post to investigate.
But NZ Post then told Burton they had asked Australia Post to investigate.
Two of the ferrets. Photo: Melissa Burton / Supplied
Finally, at the end of August, NZ Post said their efforts had been unsuccessful, and had deemed the parcel missing.
"It's honestly just been like grieving them all over again," Burton said.
"There's been lots of lost sleep, lots of anxiety and panic. It's been a really rough few months.
Melissa was now offering a $250 reward for anyone who could help to find her ferrets' remains.
"I just want them returned home," she said.
Emily Lake, a glass artist based in Nelson, had been making memorial jewellery for the last 15 years and said it was growing in popularity each year, both for humans and their pets.
"Once you scatter your pet's ashes or your loved one's ashes, it's nice to have something that you can hold close."
Khoshekh, Katya and Kitbus (aka Bus). Photo: Melissa Burton / Supplied
While she was not the jeweller Burton had used, Lake sympathised with her loss.
"When you're struggling with grief, it is nice to have a small part of your loved one with you. It's not for everybody, I know that, but for those who do wish it, it does bring an immense sense of connectedness with your dearly departed."
Lake said sending ashes by post was fraught with difficulty and advised people to check the requirements carefully.
In a statement, a New Zealand Post spokesperson acknowledged the distressing situation, but said they had not been able to work out what happened to Burton's parcel.
They said that as a rule, sending human or pet remains through their tracked economy service was prohibited, with exemptions for some business customers like the Funeral Directors Association.
Although the item did not meet their terms and conditions, NZ Post had provided compensation as a one-off exception due to the distress caused.
An Australia Post spokesperson said they had worked closely with Burton throughout the investigation and apologised for the upsetting experience.
A New Zealand Customs spokesperson said they did not have any specific rules regarding the repatriation of human or pet ashes.
