About Eternal Tides
Weclome to Eternal Tides, LLC - Fargo’s premier Aquamation service for beloved pets. Services will be available in September, 2024 for Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, and the surrounding FMWF region of Western Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota.
At Eternal Tides, we want to help you prepare for the inevitable bad day when you have to say “goodbye” to the animals you love. We offer aquamation services and much more.
Our Story
Founded in 2024, Eternal Tides emerged from a desire to offer the FMWF region a sustainable and compassionate option for pet aftercare. Recognizing the limited choices available to pet owners and the stringent legal requirements in Minnesota and North Dakota for pet aftercare, we aimed to fill a significant gap in our community. Most people believe that traditional flame-based cremation and pet burial are their only options, but we at Eternal Tides want to change that narrative.
Our journey began with the mission to provide an eco-friendly alternative to traditional flame-based pet cremation and burial. Cremation requires high temperatures up to 1600-1800°F; the intense heat uses around 28 gallons of fuel (roughly the same fuel needed by a typical SUV). Traditional cremation also produces quite a large carbon footprint releasing greenhouse gasses comparable to a 500-mile car trip. We at Eternal Tides believe that, while traditional cremation serves a purpose, we deserve a different option for the community: aquamation. We offer a gentle and respectful process that aligns with our commitment to environmental sustainability. As the only provider of aquamation in the region, we ensure that pet owners have access to a service that honors their pets while being mindful of the planet.
Beyond offering an innovative aftercare solution, we are dedicated to providing a space where pet owners can commemorate, mourn, and celebrate the lives of their beloved pets. At Eternal Tides, we understand the deep bond between pets and their families, and we strive to support our clients through every step of this difficult journey. Our facilities and services are designed to offer comfort and solace, ensuring that each pet is remembered with the dignity and respect they deserve.
Join us in our mission to create a compassionate and sustainable future for pet aftercare, where every pet’s life is honored and celebrated in harmony with nature.
Mission
We provide compassionate and environmentally sustainable aftercare solutions for cherished pets in the Fargo region.
We offer a gentle alternative to cremation through alkaline hydrolysis, ensuring a respectful transition for beloved companions.
We create a safe space for people to find comfort while celebrating life and reflecting on the enduring love shared with animals.
We envision a community in which body-aftercare decisions are guided by empathy, sustainability, and education.
We believe in a changed narrative that fosters forward-thinking and environmental stewardship.
We support grieving families with unwavering care for the people and animals who make our communities amazing.
Vision
Values
Empathy - We're in the business of helping others prepare for an inevitably sad experience, and we'll be ready to support both people and their companions when it matters most. We care for animals with dignity and respect. We welcome people with understanding and kindness.
Environmental Stewardship - Leave things better than you found them... Our planet is full of wonder and she continues to generously give. We are committed to taking less and giving more to the Earth. We will do the research and commit to mindfulness and action to protect that which has given us so much.
Education - Change begins with wisdom and knowledge. We want to show people what we do and WHY we do it. We will continue to seek education and share it with others.
Inclusion
We are deeply committed to inclusivity in every aspect of our work. We believe that all voices deserve to be heard and valued, and we strive to create an environment where people of all walks of life feel welcome and respected. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our services, and our community engagement. We actively promote a culture of empathy, understanding, and collaboration, where diverse perspectives and experiences enhance our ability to provide compassionate care.
We also recognize the importance of providing accessible and culturally sensitive aftercare options to our clients. We work to understand and honor the unique needs of every individual and family we serve, ensuring that all our clients feel understood and supported during their time of loss. By fostering an inclusive workplace and community, we hope to build a better, more equitable future for all.
About the Owner
Dr. Curtis Sullivan isn’t "that kind” of doctor. Rather, he earned his PhD in communication from North Dakota State University in 2019. Curtis and his partner, Abigail moved to ND in 2015 from Colorado with their pets so he could pursue his academic career. After successfully reading all of the things, writing all of the papers, and teaching a spectrum of COMM courses for NDSU, the two packed up again to head south to the great state of Arizona. He served as a faculty member for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University during the entirety of the covid-19 lock-down (what a time that was)… but AZ just never clicked for the Sullivans. Academia was certainly an exciting ride, and Curtis always felt “at home” with the Environmental Communication folks; it allowed him to learn about alternative aftercare opportunities in other places of the country. The life of a professor, however, was a little different in a world of online and hybrid teaching.
With a great opportunity BACK in Fargo for Abigail, the pair returned to the North in 2022. Curtis then began working with local nonprofits and businesses across the community through a position with the FMWF Chamber of Commerce, until the need to set out on his own took over in 2024. North Dakota and Minnesota provide a wonderful constellation of affordances, and the FM Area is an awesome place to be. Curtis and Abigail agree that this community is already ROCKIN’, and they just want to make something that is already great just a little better.
Curtis Sullivan, PhD
Animal Stewards
FLORA is the newest family member; she was adopted in September of 2023 and has been a tornado of excitement in our household ever since. She deeply enjoys drinking in all the smells possible; this need is only (barely) fulfilled with her daily walkies and weekly adventures. Our dogs have full winter regalia to survive the Fargo winters (including boots), so they get walked every day above -20°F - even if it’s a short one.
FRANKLIN is our resident “old man”, and he is pure canine perfection. He is in his twilight years, but it’s only slowing him down physically; he remains excited every day for his walk and then lavishes in rolling between each and every driveway. He has a big bark, but it rarely comes out. He is a sweet and kind fellow who loves playing and people. He looks tough, but this softy cannot handle thunderstorms; those big “booms” are simply too much.
Pollywog (Boots) is our oldest animal. Shortly after Abigail and Curtis met, Pollywog, then a wee kitten in Texas, leapt into their lives on a hiking trail. She had been abandoned and wanted everyone around her to know that she was IN CHARGE. She adopted Curtis quickly; many speculate that this is most likely due to his considerably larger size and ability to generate higher temperatures than Abigail. Polly remains the house supervisor.
Ripley has the best toe-beans in the world; we’re mostly sure that can be proven… mostly. Ripley is one of seven kittens (now cats) that Curtis and Abby got to meet on the day of their birth. Two months later, she left most of her siblings to join the Sullivan house. She is the most inquisitive and cute cat that ever did cat. When she wants to be snuggled - you SNUGGLE and don’t ask questions.
Jones is the big brother to Ripley (by birth) and to everyone else by choice. Jones enjoys outside, as it is the “best side”, but he also very much enjoys spending time with his adopted human, Abigail. He is a warm, friendly, and exceptionally brave cat; he is also incredibly cool… He is the dude of all dudes, and he knows it.
Lady Frances left us on March 1, 2024. She was simply the best. Curtis had the privilege of meeting Lady Frances in the summer of 2009, and they were instantly best friends, despite her being adopted somewhat on accident. Within the year, Frances (adopted in Colorado, where they lived) got to visit Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, and Indianapolis on a six-week road trip. She was Abby’s “first” dog when Abby and Curtis moved in together. She lived in Colorado, North Dakota, and Arizona and 9 houses across those states. She got to see more of the United States than many people get to. We miss her every single day.