Choosing Between Water and Fire: The Complete Guide to Aquamation vs Traditional Pet Cremation in 2024
When facing the heartbreaking loss of a beloved pet, one of the most difficult decisions involves choosing how to honor their memory through aftercare services. In 2024, pet owners have more options than ever before, with aquamation emerging as a water-based alternative to traditional flame cremation. Understanding the differences between these two approaches can help you make an informed decision that aligns with your values and provides the closure you need during this difficult time.
What Is Aquamation?
Aquamation is a water-based alternative to conventional fire or flame-based cremation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis or bio-cremation. The process follows gentle flowing alkaline water solution to break down the organic material, leaving only the calcium phosphate remains of the teeth and bones. A combination of gentle water flow, temperature, and alkalinity are used to accelerate the natural process of tissue hydrolysis.
It usually takes around 18-20 hours for the whole procedure to complete, significantly longer than traditional cremation. At the end of the process, the bones of your beloved pet are turned into powder that is returned to you, similar in appearance to traditional cremation ashes but often whiter and finer in texture.
Traditional Pet Cremation: The Established Method
Traditional pet cremation has been the standard aftercare option for decades. During the process, the body is reduced to bone matter using intense heat and then further processed into ash using a cremulator, with the pet’s remains placed in a chamber that reaches temperatures of around 1,000 degrees Celsius. Temperatures for cremations must rise to between 1,800 and 2,000 degrees, and to reach and maintain that temperature, a single cremation uses the same amount of energy as 20 gallons of gasoline.
It can take 30 minutes to 2 hours for the pet’s remains to reduce to ash, and the cremains are then carefully collected by the crematorium staff. Pet owners can choose from different types of traditional cremation, including private, partitioned, or communal options.
Environmental Impact: A Clear Distinction
One of the most significant differences between these two methods lies in their environmental impact. Aquamation uses about 90% less energy and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by more than 90% compared to traditional cremation. The aquamation process is non-toxic, plus it produces 90% fewer greenhouse gases than fire cremation, uses only five percent of the energy of cremation and creates 10 percent of the carbon footprint, and produces zero methane gas, unlike burials.
The process uses no gas, creates far fewer emissions and is much gentler to the pets’ bodies than flame cremation, with no smoke, no emissions, and no smell. The water that remains after the aquamation process is not only benign but also beneficial for the environment, as it can be used as a rich, organic fertilizer for farmland, and the nutrient-rich liquid also can benefit the community’s wastewater plants.
Cost Considerations
Private cremation and aquamation typically cost between $100 and $300 more than communal cremation due to the additional steps involved in the process. Individual water-based cremation prices usually start from $300 for each pet below 50 lbs, with the price potentially going up to $450.00 for pets weighing up to 150 lbs.
Cost can be a significant factor in deciding between cremation and aquamation, as aquamation tends to be slightly more expensive than cremation due to the complexity of the process and the equipment involved. However, many pet owners find the environmental benefits and gentler process worth the additional cost.
What You Receive Back
An important consideration for many pet owners is what they receive after the process. The owners can get back 20% more of their animals’ remains than they would with traditional fire-based cremation. Unlike cremation, aquamation preserves 20-30% more remains, ensures no mixing with other pets, and avoids the harshness of flames.
Unlike traditional flame-based cremation, ashes from aquamation are softer and have a whiter color because they retain more minerals, are cleaner, and do not have carbon discoloration. This can be particularly meaningful for families who plan to keep the ashes or create memorial keepsakes.
Angel Oaks Pet Crematory: A Trusted Local Option
For families in the Houston area seeking compassionate pet aftercare services, Angel Oaks Pet Crematory has been serving the community with dignity and care. For over 30 years, the Angel Oaks family has been offering cremation services to Houston and the surrounding areas, with founder Jon creating the service after being unable to find the level of care, compassion, and professionalism he deemed necessary for his beloved family pets, with his goal being to give pet lovers a home-like, family-feeling they deserve.
The entire family strives to deliver the Angel Oaks values of Family, Quality & Transparency that Jon originally envisioned. Your beloved pet will receive the respect that we give our own and will be ready to return to you within 24 – 72 hours of service, with an Angel Oaks Family member explaining each step in the process with as much detail as you wish, and staff walking you through each step in the process.
Whether you’re located in Houston, Spring, The Woodlands, Conroe, or need pet cremation humble services, Angel Oaks provides comprehensive aftercare options with their unique tracking portal system, ensuring complete transparency during this difficult time.
Making the Right Choice for Your Family
If you’re choosing between pet aquamation and flame-based cremation, you might want to consider factors including environmental impact – if sustainability is a priority, aquamation offers a greener alternative – cost, as both methods are similarly priced, and personal preference, considering which process aligns more closely with your values and how you wish to honor your pet’s memory.
Some people gravitate toward aquamation for the ‘eco’ aspect, while for other people, it’s just emotionally gentler for them to think of their dog in water. Many clients prefer this method because it simply accelerates what would have occurred naturally in Mother Nature.
Both options provide respectful, dignified ways to honor your pet’s memory. The choice ultimately depends on your personal values, environmental concerns, budget considerations, and what feels right for your family during this emotional time. Whether you choose the established tradition of flame cremation or the gentler, more environmentally conscious approach of aquamation, the most important thing is that you’re making a decision that brings you peace and properly honors the special bond you shared with your beloved companion.