Home
Welcome
We understand just how much our pets mean to us — they are family. Owned and run by husband and wife, Michelle and James Bancroft, we are a family business dedicated to providing compassionate and dignified pet funerals and home euthanasia services across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and the North West.
Having experienced the heartbreak of losing our own beloved pets, we truly appreciate the depth of that loss. It’s this understanding that drives us to offer support and comfort to families facing one of the most difficult goodbyes.
What sets us apart is our background in the funeral profession. With this experience, we bring a level of care, respect, and personal service that reflects the deep bond you share with your pet.
We’re here to help — whenever you need us.
Michelle & James
About Us
Meet Michelle (and Wilson)
Michelle is a devoted animal lover with two Cockapoos, Wilson and Betty, and a cat named Jaxon.
With over 15 years of experience in a senior compliance role, Michelle also owns a doggy day care centre. Her expertise ensures that all aspects of the business, including individual pet cremation, meet the highest compliance standards.
The inspiration behind founding Rainbow Bridge came from a personal experience. After one of her cats, Milo, passed away, Michelle was unaware of her options. The vet hastily suggested cremation, but after a week, she had received no updates. It was only after 11 days that Milo was finally returned to her.
This distressing experience motivated Michelle to create a service that provides compassionate support to pet owners during one of the most difficult times in their lives, ensuring they are reunited with their beloved pets as quickly as possible—without long, uncertain waits.
Michelle has also earned a distinction in her accredited Grief Coach for Pet Loss training, equipping her with the skills and knowledge to support those coping with the loss of a cherished companion.
Meet James (and Betty)
James has a vast amount of experience in the funeral industry and has previously worked as a funeral director in Oldham and Prestwich. James also owns 3 doggy day care centres and, like Michelle is a true animal lover.
Having this experience allows him to truly understand and empathise with families experiencing loss and support them through the difficult process.
James' dog, Betty recently passed her ‘Pets as Therapy’ assessment and they often both visit poorly children in hospital to provide therapy to those in need, to help them through their illness.
James' personal experience with his own pets led him to recognise a gap in pet aftercare services.
This inspired him to create Rainbow Bridge Pet Funerals, a service dedicated to supporting those facing the loss of a beloved pet.
His goal is to provide unparalleled care and ensure that pets are reunited with their owners as quickly as possible.
Urns, Caskets & Keepsakes
Customer Comments
Michelle was amazing in the way she dealt with the situation, she came for my boy quickly and treated him with great care & we will forever be grateful. I paid for him to be cremated with his name & D.O.B on, his paw print and hair vial was free. Absolute fantastic service she got him back to us in good time aswell. It was a perfect 10/10 service we couldn’t deal with giving him a kiss one last time which she respected and took him to get him ready for us. We payed £150 in total & it was worth it with how quick and well she treated the situation & our boy. Thankyou!
Delia, Lion
Thank you for your support and service regarding Miley. You give me the reassurance that it was the right decision and was a speedy process to help miley reach the end of the rainbow 🌈 I think that was very important for myself and family to know that she wasn’t in pain and she fell asleep with full support from Bee the vet who also give us 100% support in what was going to happen. Thank you
Kevin, Miley
We can’t recommend Rainbow Bridge Pet Funerals enough! The support we have receive after the sudden devastating loss of our family dog has been amazing. Michelle and James were very professional and showed so much empathy towards myself and our family. Princess was our first family dog and we had never been through this before, my first point of call was the vets, but all they could do was get someone to ring me back in the evening. Myself and my sister searched online as we knew Princess deserved better, we found Rainbow Bridge Pet Funerals and Michelle has been absolutely amazing! We wouldn’t have wanted anybody else to take care of our Princess. We knew Princess deserved the best and she got exactly that and more from Michelle and James. As a family we hadn’t been through this before and didn’t really know what we had to do, but Michelle was amazing, kind, caring and helpful. James came to collect Princess the very same day. 48 hours later and Princess is now home and back exactly where she should be, with her family. You really have been with us through this terrible time and made it as easy as possible for my Family, nothing was too much to ask. Thank you so much for helping us through this awful time, this is why we recommend you to everyone. Thank you again so much for taking care of our softy baby❤️
Ellie, Princess
We lost our beloved Cavalier Dolly on Wednesday morning. My husband called Rainbow Bridge and spoke with James. He walked us through the process explaining every detail with so much care and understanding it made it a little easier to cope with. He collected her in the afternoon and we were reunited with her on Thursday. I can't recommend Rainbow Bridge enough. Not only the care shown to Dolly but also to myself, Mark and Dolly's brother Dougie.Thank you so much x
Emma, Mark & Dougie, Dolly
If I could rate Rainbow Bridge any higher I would. From start to finish the support they've given at such a difficult time has been incredible. Not only did they bend over backwards to meet our wishes, the speed, efficiency and communication was a major comfort. We'll forever be grateful to both James and Michelle and the vet who attended.
Paul, Summer
We can not recommend Rainbow Bridge Pet Funeral Services highly enough after the support they gave us last week after the sudden devastating loss of our beautiful ten year old Cockapoo, Bertie. James was not only very professional in his conduct, but also very empathetic and totally got what the loss means to us. He ensured that Bertie was cared for in a very caring and professional manner and that his ashes were returned swiftly to us. He kept in contact so that we knew what was happening during each stage. His brother, Ernie was very grateful too for the dog biscuits. A lovely touch to think about him. Bertie’s paw print arrived today. Another thoughtful touch, along with the fur clippings and vial of ashes, to help support us through our grief. Thank you for all of your help and support. We could not have asked for anymore. Totally recommend your services to others facing this horrific loss.
Samantha , Bertie
Thank you for the speedy return of our gorgeous little boy Bertie. We can not thank you enough for the care and professional service you have provided during this horrendous time for us. The vial of ashes and fur clippings are such a lovely touch as an added memory. We were so touched that you’d thought about his little white tuxedo and included some of that with his black curls. Thank you again for all that you have done. We will highly recommend you to all of our pet owning friends.
Sam, Andrew and Ernie , Bertie
Our Milo crossed the Rainbow Bridge in the early hours and we have been numb ever since. I searched and found Rainbow Bridge Pet Funerals and Michelle has been out of this world. I didn't know what I was looking for or what I was doing but she was kind caring and helpful and came the very same day. Thank you so much for helping us through this difficult time I would absolutely recommend. Thank you for taking care of our little penguin
Jamie, Milo
Michelle was amazing, answered any question I had no matter how small with compassion and respect. I was completely unaware how the process worked and everything was explained to me in such detail so I knew what was going on, Tinkerbell was with me for 18 long years and thanks to this company we only had to spend one night apart before she was reunited with me after her euthanasia. Michelle made such a difficult time a little bit easier to navigate, it brings me comfort to know Tinkerbell was treated with respect off this company right until the end. Thankyou.
Tia , Tinkerbell
Words cannot express how grateful we are to Rainbow Bridge Pet Funerals. Their caring, compassionate and professionalism was outstanding from the beginning when needed to completion of our beloved pets passing. They helped to levitate the painful process with a much appreciated touch of human kindness. Many thanks to both Michelle and James
Yvonne & Andrew, Coco
I had the privilege of knowing Michelle even before the launch of Rainbow Bridge Pet Funeral Services, so I was already aware of the deep love and care she has for her own furry family members — they are truly so much more than just pets to her. When the time came for us to say goodbye to our beloved Spock, who had been part of our lives for over 15 years, Michelle was my first thought, The support made all the difference. She approached everything with such empathy and respect, helping us through one of the hardest moments with genuine kindness. I can’t recommend her and Rainbow Bridge enough for anyone facing the loss of a beloved furry family member.
Philip, Spock
James was amazing from the first message, I was in total shock and he made the whole process bareable and showed such empathy, my little Biscuit is now back home where she belongs. I would have no hesitation in recommending this amazing company to help anyone who has lost a pet. Thank you for showing her such respect and kindness on her final journey.
Susan, Biscuit
From the moment we lost our precious furbaby Poppy, James and the team were professional and caring , keeping us informed every step of the way. Their experience around pet loss helped us as a family deal with the bewildering range of emotions and their kindness shines through. Poppy was treated with dignity and care, even down to how she was brought home to us. The personal touch always at the front of everything they do. Thank you for taking such good care of other darling girl.
Jane & Gary, Poppy
Excellent service, excellent staff, highly recommended.
Martin Clarke, Lennon
I have been so impressed with all aspects of your service and would absolutely recommend you to any pet owner. We were supported throughout and all our wishes were valued. Bee was so perfect to help Pipsqueak over the rainbow bridge. She was empathetic, kind and nothing was too much trouble. Michelle was so wonderful and helpful and the experience went from being scary and sad to being supported and loved. Thank you for everything you have done. (And Lottie and Minnie were thrilled with the biscuits. What a thoughtful addition).
Ruth, Damien, Robert & Maggie, Pipsqueak
Thank you for what you and Michelle did today for us. We couldn’t have asked for anyone better. You both was perfect x
Natalie & Mark, Dexter
I just wanted to express my thanks for the quick and professional and most importantly caring service you have provided us. This has been a very difficult couple of days for my daughter to come to terms with, but she now has a memorial shelf set up in her bedroom with Melodies ashes and importantly a way to move forward.
Tony & Lindsay, Melody
As a professional, I've attended many euthanasias, and the thing that stood out the most for me with Michelle and James was their genuine care. They waited for over an hour to retrieve Teddy, and there was not a moment where my client felt pressured. They were calm, reassuring and professional at every interaction. They returned Teddy home with the same love and care, and completed the most beautiful paw and nose prints I've ever seen.
Lu Etchells, Teddy
Great service from Rainbow Bridge. They helped sort everything out so quickly and helped with out pets passing in the most dignified way possible. We would 100% recommend to anyone, and the pricing was really good.
Austin and Marta, Jake
I wanted to thank you both for yesterday. You made my heartbreak easier because of your compassion, kindness and gentle manner with Holly. She looked so comfy and peaceful when you snuggled her up in her bed. She was such a gentle, loving and funny girl. I'm heart broken without her.
Lynn, Holly
Many thanks again for all you have done. We will never forget it.
Jenny & Nick, Lenny
Thank you to Rainbow Bridge for taking loving care of Charlie on his final journey and the beautiful way the memory keepsakes are presented. Thank you so much for everything.
Irene & Malcolm, Charlie
It was a beautiful touch with everything you did with Tasha's ashes and her paw print.
Nichola, Tasha