This archive report was first published on 15 August 2019.
Pet Funeral Homes Offer Alternative to Traditional Cremation ¶
As pet owners, we often consider our furry friends to be part of the family. When they pass away, it can be a difficult and emotional experience. In recent years, pet funeral homes have become increasingly popular, offering a water-based alternative to traditional cremation, known as aquamation.
One such pet funeral home is Resting Waters in West Seattle, which was opened in December 2016 by sisters Joslin Roth and Darci Bernard. The facility uses a process called alkaline hydrolysis, or aquamation, to put pets to rest. This involves placing the animal's corpse in a nylon bag, followed by a multi-partition metal contraption and then a tank filled with heated water, potassium hydroxide, and occasionally sodium. The process breaks down tissue while preserving bones, microchips, and other important items.
According to Joslin Roth, the process typically takes about 19 hours and usually involves the submersion of several pets at once. The bones are then dried in a closet with a dehumidifier and delivered to pet owners in urns or whatever method they specify.
Resting Waters offers a range of after-life services, including creating a slide show featuring portraits of the pet, eulogizing the pet, and even taxiderming the paws. The facility's interior is cleanly appointed, with paintings of animals gracing the walls and cozy pet beds arranged beneath a desk.
One of the pet owners who used Resting Waters was Alexandra Manno, who had her dog Calle laid to rest at the facility. Calle had been with Ms. Manno since she was 16 and had been a constant companion throughout her life. Ms. Manno created a slide show featuring portraits of Calle and eulogized her dog before several guests, who were treated to snacks and wine.
Ms. Manno also taxidermed Calle's paws, which she said was a way of keeping her memory alive. She said, 'I was just obsessed with my dog, I'd had her forever.'
Resting Waters is not the only pet funeral home in the country. Jerry Shevick, who opened Peaceful Pets Aquamation in Newbury Park, California, in 2013, said that the pet death care industry is growing 3 to 4 percent every year, even through the last recession. He said, 'A lot of the spending increases are about people wanting better and more services and options.'
Ms. Roth said that the pet death care industry is the Wild West, with little regulation compared to the human death care industry. However, she said that the industry is becoming more popular, with more people seeking out alternative methods of pet cremation.
One of the reasons why pet owners are turning to pet funeral homes is because of the emotional response that comes with losing a pet. As Ms. Bernard said, 'Relationships with pets are way less complicated. Pets never really wrong you, and sleep at your feet every night.'
Ms. Krider, who had her dog Hunter laid to rest at Resting Waters, said that Hunter had been a constant companion after her divorce. She said, 'Hunter got me out of bed every day after a divorce and helped me meet new people.'
Ms. Krider's cat, Ferris, had been in a major funk since Hunter's death, but when Ms. Krider came home with Hunter's remains, Ferris began rubbing Hunter's remains incessantly, as if to say, 'My brother's home.'
Published on August 15, 2019.
