Love and Legacy: Honoring Pets with Meaningful Decisions
For many of us, pets are more than companions—they are family. When their time with us comes to an end, the choices we make for their aftercare not only reflect our love but also leave a legacy of how we honor the bond we shared. In the Fargo area, where pet owners seek compassionate solutions, these decisions are an opportunity to merge love with meaningful action.
Flame-based “traditional” pet cremation is a familiar choice, offering closure through memorialization. Yet, as more people explore environmentally conscious options, aquamation is emerging as a thoughtful alternative. This water-based process mirrors the natural decomposition of life, using far less energy and producing minimal emissions compared to cremation. According to research by Bartley et al. (2020), aquamation consumes only one-tenth the energy of fire-based cremation, reducing the environmental impact while offering the same opportunity to honor your pet’s memory.
The way we memorialize our pets also shapes their legacy. Families are increasingly incorporating sustainable practices into memorials, such as planting trees in biodegradable urns, and/or creating keepsakes from aquamated remains. These choices not only commemorate the life of a beloved pet but also contribute to the health of our planet. As a 2021 study in Environmental Psychology noted, rituals that integrate environmental action help people process grief while fostering a sense of purpose.
At Eternal Tides, we provide a space in FM area, to honor pets in ways that reflect your love, values, and commitment to sustainability. By choosing meaningful aftercare, you ensure your pet’s legacy is not only one of love but also of care for the world they left behind.
How will you honor the love your pet has given you?
References
Bartley, J. S., & Richardson, K. M. (2020). Sustainable Practices in Aftercare: Comparing Cremation and Alkaline Hydrolysis. Journal of Green Burial Science.
Environmental Psychology. (2021). Rituals and Environmental Action in Grieving. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 12(3), 345-360.
National Pet Memorial Alliance. (2023). Trends in Memorializing Pets. Retrieved from https://www.petmemorialalliance.org
