Your pets are part of your family. That’s why when they pass away, you want a solution that allows you to keep them close by and remember them. While cremation is a popular option for keeping your pet remains, new technology allows for a process called aquamation.
Keep reading to discover the benefits and challenges of aquamation versus cremation. When you’re ready to pursue aquamation for pets, contact Georgia Pet Aquamation.
What Is Aquamation?
Aquamation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, is a form of cremation that utilizes water mixed with chemicals (such as potassium hydroxide). After the process, Georgia Pet Aquamation returns the ashes to the family, where many choose to keep or scatter them.
The process involves the following steps:
- The doctor places the pet’s body in a stainless-steel pressurized chamber.
- The technician fills the chamber with the alkaline solution and water.
- They heat the chamber to about 650 degrees, which is less than half the temperature of traditional cremation.
- The technician applies pressure to the chamber, which, when combined with the alkaline chemicals, breaks down the remains.
- The doctor drains the chamber, purifies the water before releasing it back into the main supply, and returns your pet’s ashes in an urn or similar container.
Aquamation offers several benefits over flame-based cremation.
The Benefits of Aquamation
When deciding between aquamation versus cremation, consider the following benefits.
It’s Natural
When a person or pet dies, their body naturally undergoes the decomposition process through alkaline hydrolysis. However, the process normally takes about 25 years. Aquamation speeds up the natural process rather than relying on fire to destroy the remains.
It’s Eco-Friendly
Aquamation provides a green burial option that uses around 90% less natural gas. Because bodies require an excessive level of heat to turn to ash, traditional cremation uses a lot of energy. Aquamation also uses about 66% less electricity, reducing the process’s carbon footprint by 90%.
Finally, traditional cremation releases toxic chemicals into the air, including arsenic, cadmium, formaldehyde, mercury, and nickel. Because aquamation speeds up the natural process, it doesn’t pollute the air. If you consider sustainability important, aquamation is your clear choice over flame-based cremation.
It Retains More Remains
One reason people choose cremation is to preserve their pets’ remains, either to scatter later or display in a place where they can look on fondly. One major benefit of aquamation is that it preserves more cremation ashes. The average increase is 20% more of your pet’s remains.
Comparable Cost
Both aquamation and cremation have similar costs and are much cheaper than finding a casket and burial plot. The larger your pet, the higher the cost. Many facilities can handle animals as large as horses.
At Georgia Pet Aquamation, we provide several options for packages to help you transition during the grieving process. From picture frames to special containers for spreading the ashes, we’ll help you honor your pet according to your wishes.
Aquamation’s Challenges
There are two main challenges when considering aquamation.
Duration
Whereas traditional cremation doesn’t exceed six hours, depending on the size of the animal, Aquamation can last up to 20 hours. However, for most household pets, the process doesn’t require more than six hours. At Georgia Pet Aquamation, we pick up your pet’s remains from the veterinarian’s office and return their remains to you in 10-14 days, so you can focus on grieving.
Availability
Because aquamation requires large equipment, it’s harder to find in many areas of the country. Thankfully, Georgia Pet Aquamation serves the larger Atlanta area, including Forsyth County, DeKalb County, Cobb County, Fulton County, and Gwinnett County.
Why Choose Georgia Pet Aquamation?
Georgia Pet Aquamation is co-owned and managed by Drs. Charles Lobeck and Meredith Stallings-Pavlovsky. Together, they have over 20 years of experience in veterinary practice. They’re dedicated to offering compassionate service and reliable aquamation to help pet owners through the grieving process.
Through a series of local partners, including animal hospitals, pet transport companies, and mobile vet clinics, we can efficiently and affordably handle the complete process. When you choose aquamation, Georgia Pet Aquamation provides the best service.
Let Georgia Pet Aquamation Compassionately Handle Your Pet’s Remains
Once you know the difference between aquamation versus cremation, you can make the best choice for your family. From keepsakes for your pet’s aquamation to packages for spreading the ashes, Georgia Pet Aquamation is here for you through your grief.
Contact Georgia Pet Aquamation to schedule an appointment online. Our professionals are standing by to offer quality, compassionate services.
