For generations, pet owners have generally been presented with two choices after losing a beloved companion:
Burial.
Or:
Cremation.
And when most people hear the word cremation, they immediately think of one thing:
Fire.
For some families, that's completely acceptable.
For others, it isn't.
Some pet owners find the thought of their beloved dog, cat or other companion being exposed to intense heat and flame emotionally difficult.
Some simply don't like fire.
Some are frightened by it.
Some can't reconcile the image of burning with the gentle way they cared for their companion throughout life.
And some don't necessarily object to cremation itself.
They object to the idea that cremation has to involve fire.
If you feel that way, there is something important you should know:
Cremation Doesn't Have to Mean Burning.
There is another option.
It's called:
Cremation by Water.
Also known as:
Water Cremation.
Aquamation.
Or scientifically:
Alkaline hydrolysis.
Instead of relying on fire and combustion, Cremation by Water uses water, gentle heat, circulation and alkalinity.
And for families uncomfortable with flame cremation, simply discovering that another option exists can completely change how they approach their pet's aftercare.
Why Does the Idea of Flame Cremation Bother Some Pet Owners?
There's no single answer.
Grief is deeply personal.
But after speaking with families who have lost beloved companions, several feelings come up repeatedly.
1. Fire can feel too intense.
People understand intellectually that their pet has died.
Emotionally, however, the thought of placing the body of a companion they've loved for 10, 15 or even 20 years into an extremely hot flame-based cremation chamber can be difficult.
For some people, the mental image simply feels too harsh.
2. Fire itself frightens some people.
Fire carries powerful associations.
House fires.
Wildfires.
Burns.
Destruction.
Pain.
Those associations don't suddenly disappear because a beloved companion has passed away.
Someone who has always feared or disliked fire may understandably feel uncomfortable choosing a fire-based process for their pet.
3. Burning can feel inconsistent with how they cared for their pet.
Think about the way most people care for an aging or dying companion.
We lower our voices.
We make them comfortable.
We wrap them in blankets.
We hold them.
We stroke their fur.
We try to make their final moments peaceful.
Then suddenly we're asked to make an aftercare decision.
For some families, the concept of intense heat and fire simply doesn't feel consistent with the gentleness they wanted throughout their pet's final days.
4. Some people simply want something that feels closer to nature.
This is where many families find Cremation by Water especially meaningful.
Aquamation accelerates the same basic decomposition process that occurs naturally when a body returns to the earth. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) describes the process as mimicking natural decomposition through alkaline water, heat and movement. (AAHA)
For some people, water feels more natural than fire.
That's a personal judgment rather than a scientific one.
But when choosing aftercare for someone you loved, feelings matter.
Pet Owners Aren't the Only Ones Who Have Felt This Way
This isn't simply marketing language from the Aquamation profession.
Veterinarians and veterinary professionals have expressed similar feelings.
AAHA documented the experience of veterinarian Dr. Carmen Colitz, who chose Aquamation after her beloved cat, Mulch, died.
She explained that the thought of fire incinerating her cat's body felt “aggressive.” She instead chose Aquamation and described that experience as peaceful and kind. (AAHA)
That is significant.
Here was a veterinarian making the same emotional distinction many pet owners make:
It wasn't that she didn't want aftercare.
She wanted a form of aftercare that felt right to her.
AAHA also interviewed veterinary social worker Rebecca Baker, who works with grieving families. She reported that many people find comfort in the mental image of Aquamation's slower, gentler process and appreciate believing their companion's body was treated gently and respectfully. (AAHA)
So What Is the Alternative to Burning a Pet?
Cremation by Water.
At Soothing Streams Pet Services, Cremation by Water uses:
-
Water
-
Gentle heat
-
Circulation
-
Alkalinity
There are no flames used to cremate your companion.
There is no fire-based combustion of your pet.
The process instead uses water to accelerate natural decomposition.
AAHA recognizes Aquamation as an alternative to flame cremation and reports that it is legal for pets throughout all 50 U.S. states. (AAHA)
204°F Versus Temperatures Approaching 2,000°F
One of the easiest ways to understand how different these processes are is to look at temperature.
At Soothing Streams Pet Services, our Cremation by Water process operates at approximately:
204°F
Traditional flame cremation can operate at temperatures approaching:
2,000°F
That means Soothing Streams' water-based process operates at roughly:
One-tenth the temperature.
For families specifically uncomfortable with the intensity of flame cremation, that distinction can be enormously important.
It's not simply another kind of oven.
It is a fundamentally different process.
Water Instead of Fire
Sometimes the simplest explanation is the best one.
Traditional flame cremation uses:
Extreme heat + fire + combustion.
Cremation by Water uses:
Water + gentle heat + circulation + alkalinity.
Both ultimately allow families choosing private aftercare to receive their companion's processed mineral remains.
But they take very different paths to get there.
And families deserve to know that difference before making their decision.
Why Does Cremation by Water Feel More Natural to Some Families?
Because water is already fundamental to the natural decomposition process.
Aquamation essentially accelerates a process nature already performs.
AAHA explains that Aquamation mimics natural decomposition but speeds it up using alkaline water, heat and movement. (AAHA)
For families who struggle with the idea of burning their companion, that distinction can be comforting.
Instead of thinking:
Fire.
They can think:
Water.
Instead of combustion:
A natural process accelerated in a controlled environment.
What Happens to My Pet's Bones?
This is an important question because families often misunderstand what the word “ashes” actually means.
After either form of cremation, what families commonly call ashes are primarily processed bone minerals.
With Aquamation, the remaining bones are dried and processed into a fine mineral powder for return to the family following private aftercare. (AAHA)
And this creates another noticeable difference between Water Cremation and flame cremation.
Aquamation Ashes Are Generally Lighter and More Natural-Looking
Families are sometimes surprised by the appearance of their companion's remains following Cremation by Water.
Instead of the darker gray commonly associated with flame cremation, Aquamation remains are generally lighter in color. AAHA specifically notes this distinction. (AAHA)
They may appear:
-
White
-
Ivory
-
Cream
-
Off-white
-
Light tan
-
Natural bone-colored
One of the easiest ways to describe them is:
Think closer to the natural ivory or off-white color of teeth or bone than charcoal gray.
Exact coloration varies naturally from one animal to another.
For some families, the lighter, more natural appearance becomes another reason Water Cremation feels different.
Do You Get More Ashes Back With Cremation by Water?
Generally, yes.
AAHA reports that Aquamation can produce approximately:
20–30% more powdered mineral remains
than flame cremation. (AAHA)
At Soothing Streams, we generally communicate this conservatively and simply as:
Approximately 20% more remains returned.
For families who want as much of their companion's mineral remains returned as possible, that difference can be meaningful.
What About the Environmental Difference?
Some families object to flame cremation for emotional reasons.
Others also consider environmental impact.
AAHA describes Aquamation as an environmentally friendly alternative to flame cremation. Its reporting notes that Aquamation equipment operates electrically rather than through the fossil-fuel combustion associated with traditional flame cremation. (AAHA)
For environmentally conscious families, this can provide another reason to consider Cremation by Water.
Why Haven't More Pet Owners Heard About Cremation by Water?
This may be the biggest question of all.
For generations, cremation and fire became practically synonymous in people's minds.
Many families simply don't realize another option exists.
Even veterinary professionals sometimes encounter Aquamation for the first time.
Dr. Mary Gardner, cofounder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice and co-owner of Monarch Pet Memorial Services, told AAHA that veterinary clinics frequently have questions when they're first introduced to the process. She prefers the straightforward description “water-based cremation.” (AAHA)
That's also why education matters so much.
Families can't choose an option they've never been told exists.
What If My Veterinarian Only Offers Flame Cremation?
Ask questions.
AAHA's end-of-life guidance specifically encourages candid discussions between veterinary teams and families about how a pet's body will be handled and what cremation and burial options are available. (AAHA)
If you want Cremation by Water, tell your veterinary hospital you've chosen Soothing Streams Pet Services for your companion's aftercare.
If your companion passes away at home, you can contact Soothing Streams directly.
Don't assume the crematory routinely used by a veterinary clinic represents your only possible choice.
Which Pets Can Be Cremated by Water?
Cremation by Water isn't simply for dogs and cats.
Soothing Streams provides compassionate aftercare for many companion animals, including:
-
Reptiles
-
Other beloved companion animals
"I Love My Pet. I Just Don't Want Them Burned."
That sentence gets to the heart of this entire subject.
Choosing not to want flame cremation doesn't mean someone believes families choosing traditional cremation are doing something wrong.
It doesn't mean flame cremation isn't a legitimate form of pet aftercare.
It means:
Different families find comfort in different things.
For one family, flame cremation may feel completely appropriate.
For another, the thought of fire may make an already painful loss even harder.
Neither family needs to justify how they feel.
What matters is knowing the options.
Why Families Choose Cremation by Water
For families who are uncomfortable with flame cremation, consider the differences:
Water instead of fire.
Approximately 204°F instead of temperatures approaching 2,000°F.
Roughly one-tenth the temperature.
No burning of your companion.
Approximately 20% more mineral remains returned.
Lighter, natural bone-colored mineral remains.
A process that mimics natural decomposition. (AAHA)
And perhaps most importantly:
A choice.
Why Soothing Streams Pet Services?
At Soothing Streams Pet Services, our mission goes beyond performing Aquamation.
We're also trying to make families aware that flame cremation is not their only option.
Too many people learn about Cremation by Water only after they've already lost a pet.
Some tell us:
“I wish I had known this existed before.”
That's precisely why education matters.
If someone ultimately chooses flame cremation, we respect that decision.
But we believe every family deserves to know there is another choice before deciding.
Until Someone Tells You...
You may spend your entire life believing:
Cremation means burning.
Then one day your beloved pet dies.
Someone asks:
"Would you like your pet cremated?"
And suddenly you're confronted with an image you don't like.
Fire.
Extreme heat.
Burning.
You may think:
“I don't want that for my pet.”
But perhaps nobody tells you there's another way.
So we're telling you now.
Cremation Doesn't Have to Mean Fire.
There is another option.
Water instead of fire.
Approximately 204°F instead of temperatures approaching 2,000°F.
No burning.
Approximately 20% more mineral remains returned.
Lighter, natural-looking remains.
And a process that mimics what nature already does. (AAHA)
Gentle Cremation by Water
If you've recently lost your pet and the thought of flame cremation simply doesn't feel right, contact Soothing Streams Pet Services.
We'll explain Cremation by Water, Water Cremation and Aquamation, answer your questions and allow you to make the decision that feels right for your family.
From our Lawrenceville, Georgia facility, we're honored to serve pet families throughout Metro Atlanta.
Flame cremation is not the only option.
No-burn cremation. Just the gentle process of water.
Gentle Cremation by Water.