As cremation increases as an alternative to body burial, there is now another choice that is gaining in popularity around the world, called aquamation, or alkaline hydrolysis.
The process is not only available for humans, but also is becoming popular for pets.
Although the closest funeral home that offers aquamation for humans is in Booneville, Mo., Heartland Pet Aquamation is close by in Kansas City.
The owner/founder Jarrod Hammond started the business in 2020, and faced some challenging hurdles in starting his new business due to the impact of COVID.
“Aquamation was first introduced in 2005, and has been growing every year since, Hammond said. There are more pet aquamation facilities in operation because there are often legal updates required for states to issue permits for human aquamation practices. I think the biggest public uptick in interest came when Archbishop Desmond Tutu chose aquamation for himself.”
The World Health Organization has recognized alkaline hydrolysis as a more ecologically-sustainable method of interment. Cremation has increased from 1958, when it was at 4 percent, to 56 percent in 2020. It is expected that aquamation, which is now legal in 28 states, including Missouri and Kansas, will also soar in popularity as more and more people find out about it.
Aquamation is a gentler process than cremation. It uses water instead of fire to break down the body. No fossil fuels are burned and there are no direct emissions of harmful greenhouse gases or mercury. Plus, 20 percent more ash is preserved for the family.
For more than 25 years, alkaline hydrolysis has been employed for the final disposition of human remains at several premiere medical facilities, including the Mayo Clinic and UCLA Medical School.
After a pet owner chooses aquamation, Heartland Pet Aquamation places the pet in a private cradle in the company’s specialized equipment.
“After the body is placed in the equipment, alkaline salts are added (I use KOH/ potassium hydroxide, which is also used to make hand soap), the machine fills with water, and a heating element keeps the water warm while a motor circulates the water throughout the tank,” Hammond said. “The combination of warmth, alkalinity, and moving water accelerates the natural breakdown of organic tissue, such that all the organic material is reduced to base amino acids, salts, peptides, and sugars. The resulting solution is completely sterile, and all that remains are inorganic materials, primarily in the form of bone.”
The solution is drained, and the remains are dried before being processed into the familiar powdery ‘ashes’ to be returned to the family in the urn of their choice.
The end result is the same as flame cremation, but is achieved without fossil fuels, fire, or air emissions. The energy input is 90% lower, which significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the operation. The water used is comparable to the amount used to bathe a pet. One cycle of the machine saves about as much CO2 as a 500-mile car trip.
“It’s a very energy-efficient process, and I think that strictly in terms of carbon emissions it’s an ideal substitute for flame cremation,” Hammond said. “I think it’s important to recognize that the lion’s share of fossil fuel divestment is about changing industrial practices and social infrastructure, than about individual choices, and when it comes to the funeral industry this is one of the best options.”
As far as handling the sadness and grief that pet parents are experiencing when they bring in their beloved animals for aquamation, Hammond said his role is to provide aid and comfort during times of loss, and most of the time the important skill is listening.
“Pet families share lots of stories with me about their favorite memories with their loved ones, the heartache and uncertainty that comes with aging pets, and tragic mishaps that took their pets sooner than expected. There’s no roadmap for grief, but the main thing most people need is reassurance that it’s OK to embrace those difficult feelings and take the time to process whatever comes to them as they grieve.”
While most of the animals brought in are dogs and cats, Hammond has also cared for many bunnies, guinea pigs, bearded dragons and a few surprise cases such as a pig, a pigeon, and a ball python. He has used the aquamation process on about 1,500 animals so far. His equipment isn’t large enough to process a horse, but just about any other animal is possible.
“Many families express that they are not comfortable with the idea of burning their loved ones, and aquamation provides a gentle, eco-friendly alternative,” Hammond said.
Aquamation takes about one day, after which, time is taken for the remains to dry before processing them into ashes. Most pets will be available to return home within one week.
Hammond believes that aquamation will quickly become more popular than cremation when more people find out about it.
“Judging by the reviews, my business has received, and the general feedback I get when talking about the process with people, I (perhaps a little radically) think it will almost completely replace flame cremation within my lifetime. Cremation rates have been steadily increasing for over a 100 years, and I think the combination of fossil fuel divestment and the gentle image of the process will help drive adoption.”
For any items which are in suitable condition, he donates blankets, beds and carriers to animal welfare organization, KC Pet Project on behalf of families who don’t wish to keep the ones they bring in with their pets.
For people who are unfamiliar with, and inquire about aquamation, Hammond said it’s an unusual conversation to start, but once the topic comes up people have lots of curiosity.
“I love seeing the concept and the benefits click when I tell people about it; it doesn’t take very long for someone to go from knowing nothing about it to being an enthusiastic advocate. I like to think this process is a gentler way to deal with animals, but really it’s up to the families to decide. The overwhelming feedback from my clients has been appreciation for the gentle nature of the process, and the relief of not having to think about burning someone they love.”
Hammond used to work for Cerner doing consulting for their medical imaging software. He was laid off at the end of 2019 during the first major round of layoffs that preceded the Oracle acquisition.
“I traveled the very traditional path of getting a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, followed by medical software implementation, then pet aquamation, Hammond said.
Since he used to travel almost full time when he worked for Cerner, he couldn’t have pets since he wasn’t home very often.
“ I grew up with many dogs and cats, and have been waiting for my kids to be mature enough to have a pet in the house,” Hammond said. “They currently can’t decide between a dog or a cat.”
Although it’s very hard to see pet owners grieving over their beloved animals, he said providing service to families during some of their saddest times is an incredibly humbling experience.
“Providing service to families during some of their darkest hours is an incredibly humbling experience. The sense of gratitude that families share with me is immeasurable, and bringing closure to such a raw emotional journey is something I find profoundly rewarding.”
He also advises people that it’s easier to decide in advance, than it is to research your options on burial, cremation or aquamation when you are still dealing with the immediate grief of death.
“I highly recommend Caitlin Doughty’s YouTube channel, ‘Ask A Mortician,’ for general death-care topic research,” Hammond said. “I am very confident that anyone comparing their options will find aquamation to be their preferred choice. I try to make the choice simple by being affordable, transparent, and always on-call. At the end of the day, though, my job is to help people make the best decision for themselves and their situation, and putting the needs of those families first is the most important way I can support them.”
For more information go to: heartlandpetaquamation.com