Breaking the Mold: Rethinking Pet Aftercare Choices
Navigating pet after care is difficult. Making hard choices with a financial aspect are made even more difficult when a beloved companion animal is involved. For many people, the default choice for aftercare is “traditional cremation”, which is the primary method most people select without much thought. Perhaps people choose flame-based cremation because it’s what they’ve “always known,” perhaps they select it because they can’t bury their animals, or perhaps they select it because they simply do not know about other options. But… what if there were other opportunities for everyone?
Doing things the way we think they ought to be done based on cultural norms is often “just fine…” But, the world is always changing and all of us have new opportunities to explore new ideas. Challenging the status quo can feel daunting, and going “against the grain” is even more difficult when grief is involved. According to research on decision-making, people tend to rely on familiar patterns when under stress or emotional strain (Kahneman, 2011). In these moments, breaking free from habit requires courage and a willingness to explore alternatives that may better reflect our values and priorities.
Aquamation, or alkaline hydrolysis, is one such alternative and it is a new alternative to cremation in the Fargo region. This gentle process uses water and potassium hydroxide to return an animal’s remains to the earth in an environmentally sustainable way. Compared to “traditional” flame-based cremation, aquamation uses 90% less energy and emits very little exhaust pollutants (Cremation Association of North America, 2023). Choosing aquamation not only honors the bond you shared with your pet but also demonstrates a commitment to a healthier planet.
As more people learn about aquamation, we’ve seen how embracing this alternative can be empowering. It allows pet owners to align their aftercare choices with their values, breaking the mold of tradition and opening the door to a more meaningful goodbye.
It’s never easy to rethink long-standing practices, but the effort is often worthwhile. By exploring alternatives like aquamation, you may find that breaking the mold leads to greater peace of mind—and a legacy of love that truly reflects your connection with your pet.
Are you ready to reconsider what feels “traditional” and explore options that honor both your pet and the planet?
References
Cremation Association of North America. (2023). Environmental Benefits of Alkaline Hydrolysis. Retrieved from https://www.cremationassociation.org
Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Slovic, P., Finucane, M., Peters, E., & MacGregor, D. G. (2004). Risk as Analysis and Risk as Feelings: Some Thoughts about Affect, Reason, Risk, and Rationality. Risk Analysis, 24(2), 311–322. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0272-4332.2004.00433.x
