Located in Brooksville, Natures Pet Loss is offering pet owners a unique method of cremation known as aquamation.
Owner Joyce Moreau feels saying goodbye to a beloved family pet is never easy.
“It’s not just about the pet, it’s also about the “pet parents” and the grief they’re going through,” she explained. “I like to be here for the parents day or night.
Moreau, who previously worked in the human funeral industry, launched Natures Pet Loss more than 5 years ago. She said the popularity of pet cremations almost doubles annually as an ever-growing number of pet owners wish to give their animals a dignified and respectful send-off.
“Aquamation is a more compassionate and dignified process to take care of your loved ones than the traditional extreme heat of a 1600ºF flame cremation Florida State Law requires,” she said.
Aquamation was first developed as an eco-alternative to burial and cremation. With land for burials dwindling and conventional flame cremations that produce chemicals into our atmosphere, aquamation is now seen as the greenest method for after-life care, whether it be for pets or humans.
When preparing the body of a pet, Moreau’s professional staff first take clippings of the pet’s hair, fur or feathers and makes its paw print in soft clay, along with the pet’s name. The clay is then baked allowing it to harden and given to the owners to cherish. Aquamation can include any pet from 2 grams to 400 pounds — fish, mice, gerbils, hamsters, rabbits, reptiles, felines, dogs — any family pet member you can think of, including horses under 400 pounds.
Each pet also receives a custom stainless steel tag that stays with the pet at all times throughout the process to maintain the integrity of each pet and that no commingling takes place.
The process is called alkaline hydrolysis — a method that speeds up the natural way a body breaks down.
“The pet is put in a stainless steel container and placed into the aquamation chamber followed by warm water mixed with alkaline and heated to 202 F,”said Moreau. “This first step takes about 24 hours and the body breaks down to its natural by-products of amino acids, sugar, salt, peptides and bones.”
The next step is drying process. The bones are placed in an environmentally controlled room and air dried from two to seven days.
“We take extreme measures that each pet and only that pet keeps its integrity at every stage of the process,” said Moreau. “I personally guarantee that the pet remains are intact and not commingled.” (This is not the case with flame cremations — see Florida Statute 497.608)
Finally in the process, the remains are then broken down in another controlled environment and placed into the urn of the pet owner’s choice.
“With the aquamation process, we get at least 20 percent more remains than with a flame cremation,” Moreau said. “The entire process — from receiving the pet and giving back the remains to the owner may take anywhere from four to seven days.”
“We do not rush the process ,” she added, “Taking our time and caring for the family pet is extremely important to us.”
Another benefit of aquamation is that it does not destroy artificial implants like pacemakers, hip and knee replacements or prosthetics allowing them to be reused. Microchips and breast implants are also undamaged using the process whereas in a flame cremation, all would be destroyed or damaged beyond repair.
“What’s left from the whole aquamation process after only the bones remain is fertile water containing no DNA or RNA, making it completely sterile.
Natures Pet Loss center is staffed by Moreau and four technicians. There’s also a tastefully furnished viewing chapel where families can gather for a remembrance service.
The Natures Pet Loss shop and website offers a wide selection of funeral urns for both pets and humans. There’s also jewelry and keepsakes in all designs, materials and sizes. Very popular now are the biodegradable urns, planted with a small tree or shrub to complete the circle of life.
As the first privately owned facility in the US dealing with the public to feature aquamation, your beloved pet will receive the dignity, compassion and care it deserves from Moreau and her staff.
IF YOU GO
Natures Pet Loss is located at
646 W. Jefferson St. Brooksville, FL 34601
352.777.4990
352.661.0130
Website: petwatercremation.com
Facebook: NaturesPet Loss/
Also available 24/7 pick up and delivery
