When a pet dies, the world doesn’t pause just because your heart does. One moment you’re counting medications, refilling a water bowl, hearing familiar footsteps in the hallway. The next, you’re standing in a quiet room facing decisions you never wanted to make—choices about aftercare, memorials, and what comes next.
For many families, traditional flame cremation feels like the most familiar path. But as more people look for gentler, more values-aligned options, a different method is showing up in veterinary clinics and pet aftercare providers: aquamation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis. If you’ve heard it called “water cremation,” “flameless cremation,” or a water-based cremation alternative, you’re not alone—this option has a lot of names, and that can make it feel confusing at first. The good news is that the decision doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With clear information, you can choose what best fits your pet, your family, and your beliefs about what it means to return a body to nature.
Why families are even asking about alternatives
Cremation has become increasingly common in the U.S., and that cultural shift has changed what families expect after a death—more flexibility, more personalization, and more room to shape rituals that feel honest. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate in 2025 is projected at 63.4% (with cremation continuing to grow over time).
Even though that statistic focuses on human deathcare, it helps explain the broader trend families feel in real life: cremation has become normal, and with that normalization comes more curiosity about “what else is possible.” Aquamation is part of that conversation—especially for people who want a softer environmental footprint, or who simply want a process that feels less harsh than flame.
Aquamation, in plain language
Aquamation is the everyday term for alkaline hydrolysis—an approach that uses water, gentle heat, and an alkaline solution to break down soft tissue. The National Funeral Directors Association describes alkaline hydrolysis as an alternative to flame cremation that uses heat (and sometimes pressure) to accelerate natural breakdown, leaving behind a sterile liquid and bone remains that are processed into a fine powder similar to ashes.
The Cremation Association of North America also explains alkaline hydrolysis as a process that uses water and alkaline chemicals, with variables like heat, pressure, and/or agitation, and notes that—from a consumer standpoint—the process and results are similar to cremation.
If you’re searching for alkaline hydrolysis explained or how aquamation works, it may help to think of aquamation as an accelerated, carefully controlled version of natural decomposition—done in a contained, regulated setting instead of in soil over years.
What actually happens during the process
Families often worry that aquamation is mysterious or “too chemical,” but the steps are straightforward when you walk through them calmly. The pet’s body is placed in a stainless-steel chamber. Water and an alkaline solution are added, and the chamber is warmed and gently managed until soft tissue breaks down. What remains are the bones, which are then dried and processed into a fine, sand-like powder.
That detail matters because it answers the question families ask most: “Do we still receive ashes?” In practical terms, yes. The end result is still a form of “ashes” that can be returned to you and placed in the memorial you choose. As NFDA explains, the bones are processed into a fine powder similar to cremated ashes.
Some families notice that aquamation remains can look lighter in color than flame cremation remains—often closer to off-white or pale tones—because there is no combustion. Providers commonly describe that difference when returning remains, and it can feel surprisingly tender to people who want something that looks “clean” and calm rather than dark or gritty.
Why aquamation is considered more eco-friendly
No aftercare choice is emotionally easy, and “eco-friendly” doesn’t have to be your deciding factor. But for families who care about environmental impact—or who want their pet’s final chapter to align with how they lived—this is where aquamation stands out.
The National Funeral Directors Association notes that alkaline hydrolysis consumes less energy and emits fewer greenhouse gases than flame-based cremation.
If you’re weighing eco-friendly pet aftercare, it can help to translate that into what it might mean day-to-day: less reliance on high-temperature combustion, and fewer direct emissions from burning fuel. For many families, that feels aligned with a desire to “return to nature” in a quieter way—especially when the pet loved the outdoors, water, hiking trails, gardens, or simply lying in the sun.
Availability: where aquamation is offered (and why it varies)
One frustration families run into is that aquamation can be hard to find in certain areas. That’s not because it’s unsafe or experimental—it’s because legal rules and provider infrastructure vary by state, and not every pet aftercare provider has invested in the equipment.
Legal status is also changing over time. A consumer-friendly way to think about it is this: aquamation may be legal in your state, but still not practically available nearby. Some locations have no active providers even when regulations allow it, and some areas offer it through veterinary networks rather than standalone pet aftercare facilities.
If aquamation feels important to you, it’s reasonable to ask your veterinarian for referrals, call local pet cremation providers, and search specifically for availability and cost of aquamation in your city or state. And if it’s not available locally, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed your pet—it just means your choice has to fit the reality of access as well as values.
What you receive afterward and how memorial choices fit in
After aquamation (or flame cremation), the practical question becomes deeply emotional: what to do with ashes. Some families feel comforted by having their pet at home, while others prefer scattering, burial, or dividing remains among relatives.
If you want a central home memorial, you might start with pet urns designed specifically for animal companions. Funeral.com’s Pet Cremation Urns for Ashes collection includes many styles that work beautifully whether the remains come from flame cremation or aquamation, because the purpose is the same: a dignified resting place for your pet’s physical remains.
For families who want something visually representative—especially when a pet had a larger-than-life presence—Funeral.com also offers Pet Figurine Cremation Urns for Ashes, which blend memorial sculpture and container in one piece.
And if your family is sharing the remains, or you want to keep only a portion at home, small cremation urns and keepsake urns can turn a painful choice into something gently practical. Funeral.com’s Pet Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes are designed for small portions, while the broader Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes and Small Cremation Urns for Ashes collections can also work for families creating multiple touchpoints of remembrance across households.
This is where keeping ashes at home becomes less of a “big decision” and more of a gentle practice. If you’re wondering how to do it respectfully—especially with kids, guests, or other pets in the house—Funeral.com’s guide on Keeping Ashes at Home walks through safety, etiquette, and the emotional side of home memorials.
Some people also want closeness without a visible urn. That’s where cremation jewelry comes in, and it can be just as meaningful for pets as for people. A small portion of ashes can be sealed inside a pendant, allowing you to carry your companion through ordinary days—walks that feel lonely, trips that remind you of them, mornings when the silence hits hardest. Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry collection and Cremation Necklaces collection offer options that range from subtle to symbolic, and the Journal guide Cremation Jewelry 101 explains how these pieces are made and who they tend to help most.
Cost, clarity, and the quiet role of planning
It’s normal to worry about cost, especially when grief arrives alongside unexpected veterinary bills. Pet aquamation pricing varies by region, provider, and your pet’s size, and it may be priced similarly to flame cremation or somewhat higher depending on local availability and equipment. Rather than trying to memorize a national average that won’t match your city, it’s usually more helpful to ask for a quote and clarify what’s included: private vs. communal process, return vessel, pickup/transportation, paw prints, fur clippings, or memorial packages.
Even when you’re planning pet aftercare (not a human funeral), the mindset of funeral planning can still help: slow down decisions, ask clear questions, and choose what fits both your heart and your budget.
If you’re also navigating arrangements for a person in your family—or you simply want broader context for end-of-life costs—Funeral.com’s guide on How Much Does Cremation Cost? is a helpful primer that explains how much does cremation cost and why quotes vary. While it focuses on human cremation, it’s a useful template for asking better questions and comparing providers with less stress.
Common concerns and misconceptions (and what’s worth asking)
Aquamation often triggers emotional reactions because water feels intimate, sacred, and symbolic—and because the phrase “alkaline hydrolysis” sounds clinical. Families sometimes worry about what happens to the water-based byproduct, or whether the process is “less respectful.” The reality is that alkaline hydrolysis is regulated and designed to be safe; as NFDA describes, the process leaves a sterile liquid (hydrolysate) and bone remains that are processed into a fine powder similar to ashes.
If you’re sorting through concerns and misconceptions, it can help to ask your provider a few calm, direct questions:
- Is this a private process for my pet, and how do you track identity throughout?
- What exactly will be returned to me, and in what type of temporary container?
- What are my urn and keepsake options if I want something more permanent?
- How is the hydrolysate handled under local rules?
These questions aren’t confrontational—they’re grounding. They give you a sense of professionalism and help you feel safe in your decision.
Weighing aquamation against other aftercare options
Choosing aftercare is rarely about one “best” option. It’s usually about the best match between your values and your access. Some families choose flame cremation because it’s available, familiar, and quick. Others choose home burial, pet cemetery burial, or aquamation because the method itself carries meaning.
If you want a compassionate overview that compares these paths side by side, Funeral.com’s article on Pet Aftercare Options Explained is a gentle guide to the decision—especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the number of choices.
And if your pet loved water, or you’re drawn to a nature-based ceremony, you may also find comfort in learning about water burial rituals for scattering and biodegradable urn options. Funeral.com’s guide to Understanding What Happens During a Water Burial Ceremony walks through how families create meaningful ceremonies around water in a way that’s peaceful and practical.
At the end of the day, aquamation isn’t “better” because it’s newer, and traditional cremation isn’t “worse” because it’s common. The most healing choice is the one that helps you live with the decision afterward—the one that feels like love, not like compromise.
Where urns and memorials still matter, no matter the method
Whether your pet’s remains come from flame cremation or aquamation, you may still find yourself searching for cremation urns for ashes, pet urns for ashes, and memorial pieces that feel like your companion. The container isn’t the love, but it can become the place your love returns to—morning coffee by a small shelf, a hand resting on a warm wooden box, a pendant held between fingers on a hard day.
If you’re choosing for a person as well, Funeral.com’s broader Cremation Urns for Ashes collection includes styles for home memorials, travel, and long-term placement. And if you’re splitting remains among family, keepsake urns and cremation necklaces can be part of a thoughtful plan that supports different grief styles without forcing everyone into the same ritual.
