If you're reading this article, chances are you're facing one of the most difficult moments a pet owner can experience.
Whether your beloved companion is approaching the end of life or has recently passed away, you're likely asking questions such as:
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What happens after my pet dies?
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What are my cremation options?
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Do I have to use my veterinarian's crematory?
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Can I choose my own pet aftercare provider?
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What is Aquamation?
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What's the difference between private and communal cremation?
The good news is this:
Today's veterinarians increasingly recognize that pet aftercare is an extension of the compassionate care they provide throughout a pet's life.
The focus is no longer simply on euthanasia.
It's about caring for families before, during, and after they say goodbye.
The Veterinary Profession Is Changing
For many years, most pet owners simply accepted whichever cremation option their veterinary hospital offered.
Few people knew they had a choice.
Today, that is changing.
Veterinarians, veterinary organizations, hospice specialists, and pet aftercare providers are working together to improve transparency, communication, and the overall experience families receive after losing a beloved companion.
The conversation has expanded beyond:
"Who performs the euthanasia?"
to include:
"Who cares for my pet afterward?"
That question matters.
Dr. Mary Gardner Has Helped Lead That Conversation
One of the best-known voices in veterinary end-of-life care is Dr. Mary Gardner, DVM.
Most veterinarians know her as the Co-Founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, one of the nation's largest providers of in-home veterinary hospice and euthanasia services.
What many pet owners don't realize is that Dr. Gardner also founded Monarch Pet Memorial Services, a veterinary-owned pet aftercare company in South Florida dedicated to Aquamation (Cremation by Water) and companion animal memorialization.
According to Monarch's website, its Aquamation facility is the largest in North America, reflecting Dr. Gardner's belief that aftercare deserves the same level of compassion and professionalism as every other stage of veterinary medicine.
That combination of experience gives Dr. Gardner a unique perspective.
She has cared for families before euthanasia...
During euthanasia...
And afterward through pet aftercare.
Why Pet Aftercare Is Part of Veterinary Medicine
One of the strongest messages coming from today's veterinary leaders is simple:
Pet aftercare shouldn't be treated as an afterthought.
Families remember the final experience with their companion for the rest of their lives.
That experience includes:
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Compassionate communication
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Respectful transportation
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Transparent tracking
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Memorial keepsakes
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Return of their companion's remains
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Ongoing grief support
In other words...
The quality of aftercare often becomes part of the family's lasting memory of their veterinarian.
You Have More Choices Than You May Realize
One of the biggest misconceptions is that your veterinarian decides where your pet goes after euthanasia.
In reality...
You have the right to choose your own pet aftercare provider.
If your pet passes away:
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At home...
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At your veterinarian's office...
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At an emergency hospital...
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During hospice care...
...you may request the aftercare provider you prefer.
Many families simply don't know that option exists.
Understanding Your Pet Aftercare Options
Today's families generally have several choices.
Private Cremation
Your companion receives individual aftercare, and the mineral remains are returned to your family.
Communal Cremation
Several companions are respectfully cared for together, and individual remains are not returned.
Cremation by Water (Aquamation)
Instead of using fire, Aquamation uses:
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Water
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Gentle heat
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Circulation
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Alkalinity
At Soothing Streams Pet Services, the process uses water heated to approximately 204°F.
Traditional flame cremation can approach approximately 2,000°F.
These are two fundamentally different approaches to aftercare.
Why More Families Are Choosing Cremation by Water
Every family has different reasons.
Many appreciate knowing:
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There is no burning involved.
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The process uses water instead of fire.
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Aquamation generally uses significantly less energy than traditional flame cremation.
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Mineral remains are generally lighter and more naturally bone-colored.
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They have another option they may never have known existed.
There isn't one universally correct choice.
The important thing is understanding you have a choice.
Questions Every Pet Owner Should Ask
Before choosing any pet aftercare provider, consider asking:
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Is my pet individually tracked?
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Can I choose private aftercare?
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What memorial keepsakes are available?
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Can I receive a paw print or nose print?
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Will my pet remain with your facility throughout the process?
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What is your turnaround time?
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Do you offer Cremation by Water?
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May I choose your facility even if my veterinarian uses another provider?
An ethical provider should welcome every one of those questions.
Why This Matters
The veterinary profession has evolved tremendously over the past decade.
Hospice care has grown.
Quality-of-life consultations have improved.
Grief support has become more widely recognized.
Now...
Pet aftercare is receiving the same thoughtful attention.
Leaders like Dr. Mary Gardner and others have helped move the profession toward recognizing that families deserve compassionate guidance not only before euthanasia—but afterward as well.
Resources for Families
If you've recently lost a beloved companion, we've created species-specific guides to help answer many of your questions.
Please consider visiting:
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My Hamster Died. What Do I Do Next?
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My Rat Died. What Do I Do Next?
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My Parrot Died. What Do I Do Next?
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My Bearded Dragon Died. What Do I Do Next?
Until Someone Tells You...
Most people assume cremation automatically means fire.
That's understandable.
It's what most of us have always known.
But today...
There is another option.
Water instead of fire.
Approximately 204°F instead of temperatures approaching 2,000°F.
No burning.
A gentle alternative that many families are only now discovering.
Gentle Cremation by Water
At Soothing Streams Pet Services, we believe pet aftercare should reflect the same compassion families experienced throughout their companion's life.
Whether your companion was a dog...
A cat...
A rabbit...
A bird...
A reptile...
Or one of the many extraordinary small animals that become part of our families...
Every life deserves dignity.
Every family deserves choices.
And every goodbye deserves compassion.
Gentle Cremation by Water.