Pet water cremation is still fairly new to Australia, and it can be hard to make a conscious choice for the good of the planet at a time when you’re grieving. To help you decide, we’ve put together a simple and honest guide about pet water cremation, what it is, and how it works.
Hopefully, it can serve as a reassuring fact sheet because this is a gentle and respectful form of cremation that helps the planet too. And the result can be faster and more efficient than flame cremation, offering you peace, and the comfort of having your pet’s memorial back at home sooner.
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What is Pet Water Cremation?
Water cremation isn’t just for pets, but the fact it’s an option here in Australia for our beloved companies should be celebrated. It offers a clean, environmentally friendly, and straightforward way to memorialise your pets without fire cremation.
The process is one of pressure, heat, and chemical reactions that mimic natural decomposition, similar to, but faster than, after traditional burials.
Pet water cremation is sometimes referred to as aquamation, aqua cremation or hydro cremation, but they are all forms of pet cremation by water, rather than flame cremation.
Environmental Benefits of Pet Water Cremation
Pet water cremation came out of a desire for the funeral industry to be more sustainable. The traditional methods of cremation have a high carbon impact, and in modern times, that’s not something any of us want on our conscience, especially when we’re trying to do the right thing for our pets.
By heating water in pressurised containers, and creating ashes chemically, rather than by burning, there is no carbon released as a gas into the atmosphere, the process is generally a more controlled method of producing memorial ashes.
Water Cremation vs flame cremation
The end results are largely similar to flame cremation, and the processes take about the same amount of time. Choosing between the two isn’t easy, especially at a time when you just want to be left alone with your thoughts.
Read our full guide If you need more information about the difference between pet water cremation and flame cremation for straightforward answers on the benefits of each.
The Process of Pet Water Cremation
Water cremation works by heating water to above boiling (160°C), but preventing boiling with a pressurised chamber. With 5% potassium hydroxide added to 95% water, in the heated and pressurised chamber, natural decomposition is sped up.
The results are ashes, similar to fire cremation, through a process that mimics twelve years of natural decomposition into just over four hours.
The process is gentle and respectful to your pets, and the companies providing the service are doing so with empathy and compassion, as well as a drive to make their own industry more environmentally friendly.
How long does pet water cremation take?
One of the hardest things about losing a pet is the wait during the cremation process. It is heart-breaking not having them with you, and the longer it takes, the harder it gets to properly grieve.
Pet water cremation takes about the same amount of time as flame cremation, but as it’s still a relatively new arrangement for memorialising loved ones in Australia, there are shorter waiting lists, and the whole process is generally done in under a week.
Receiving ashes from pet water cremation
Once your pet has been cremated, you will receive the ashes back in an urn of your choice. There are dozens of options of urn styles, with personalised options and wonderfully ornate choices to do justice to the memory of your treasured pets.
Before sending your pet for cremation, whether water or flame, check with the crematorium whether they can use an existing urn.
Source: The Royal Gazette
Pet Water Cremation Services in Australia
There aren’t many pet water cremation services in Australia yet, but those that are, are passionate and knowledgeable about what they do, having led the industry into its early stages.
Some offer multiple cremation options, including flame cremation, but their drive towards water cremation as an environmentally friendly alternative is clear.
You can find contact details and information about some of the leading pet water cremation providers in Australia below.
Blue Leaf
Blue Leaf was one of the first companies in Australia to offer pet water cremation, with a focus on providing gentle cremation processes that were both gentle to your pets, and gentle to the planet.
Blue Leaf will collect pets from up to 60 km away, operating seven days a week, and offer a range of engraved urns to accompany your pet’s ashes.
- Location: Yangebup, Perth
- Contact details: 0419 580 369
- Website: Blue Leaf
Paws to Heaven
Paws to Heaven can be contacted by phone, text, email, or online because they know it can be hard to talk about your loss. Their services include urns and other pet memorials in addition to water cremation, but they are dedicated to providing peaceful, natural cremation to as many pet owners as they can.
- Location: Brisbane
- Contact details: 0478 103 318
- Website: Paws to Heaven
Pet Water Cremations
For bereaved pet parents in Adelaide, Pet Water Cremations offers Water Cremation, or Aquamation, either for pet owners directly or with veterinary contracts, ensuring the most straightforward process for those of us dealing with the loss of a pet.
If you’re fortunate enough to have a vet registered with water crematoriums already, the entire process of water cremation should be smooth and considerate at every stage.
- Location: Adelaide
- Contact details: 0419 032 904
- Website: Pet Water Cremations
Pure Souls
Pure Souls offer aqua cremation but also a personal service. They have 24/7 helplines, whether you’re waiting for your pet’s cremation or simply enquiring in advance.
If you’re reading this prior to the loss of a pet, you’re doing the right thing. Preparing in advance, and getting the information you need now can make a hard decision much easier when it’s time.
- Location: Brisbane
- Contact details: 07 35194990
- Website: Pure Souls
Ripple Aquamation
Ripple Aquamation is based in Perth. Their caring team will make sure you have all the information you need ahead of your pet’s water cremation, whether it’s about the process, timings, or how to memorialise them afterwards.
- Location: Perth
- Contact details: 0478 782 782
- Website: Ripple Aquamation
Paws to Remember
If you’re in Canberra, there’s a wonderful local crematorium, specialising in pet water cremation that will make you feel like family right through the process.
Their environmentally friendly and affordable cremation services are designed to be lightweight on the plans and your emotions, keeping the whole process simple and stress-free, so you can focus on reliving happy memories when it matters most.
- Location: Canberra
- Contact details: 0414 107 355
- Website: Paws to Remember
Resting Waters
Resting Waters, based in Victoria, is a family-owned crematorium run by a family of pet lovers. They know, just as much as you, how important this process is to get right, and how significant care and respect are at this time.
For gentle cremation and gentle care, get in touch with Resting Waters whenever you need them.
- Location: Victoria
- Contact details: 0422 953 789
- Website: Resting Waters
Summing Up Pet Water Cremation
There’s no easy way to sum up a topic like pet water cremation because I know that, right now, you’re probably reading this at a time when you need nothing more than a hug.
But, the companies above provide genuine care and support, and will always make sure you have the information you need to do the right thing by your pet.
If pet water cremation feels like the right decision for you, then I hope we’ve helped. But for now, just take the time you need to be with your thoughts and enjoy the most precious memories of your pets.