Pet Aquamation

Aquamation is new to Bermuda but the science of alkaline hydrolysis dates all the way back to 1888. However only in recent years has it gained global recognition as being an Earth-friendlier option to direct burial and flame cremation.  Solace’s patented technology aims to be the first to get certified as carbon-negative,  pulling more carbon from the atmosphere than it generates.  

​Recently Bishop Desmond Tutu chose to be aquamated in South Africa bringing global attention to the benefits of making conscious choices in life that can make a positive impact towards healing the Earth after you’ve passed on.
Pet aquamation is legal in every State throughout the USA and is gaining popularity as the most eco-friendly, low carbon footprint choice for the final disposition of both human and animal remains. 

Solace Aquamation is focused only on companion animals and is proud to be Bermuda’s first dedicated pet aftercare service. 

Solace’s patent process uses 90% less energy than flame cremation and has less than  1/20 the carbon footprint.  There are no air emissions other than a small amount of water vapor.  Operating at a much lower temperature aquamation can take advantage of thermal solar energy to supplement heat during the process. We have  further improved on efficiencies by reducing what used to be a 20 hour cycle down to less than 4 hours using the same operating parameters of temperature and alkali as other water cremation equipment suppliers.

The liquid effluent from the process is a safe, sterile mix of nutrient-dense organic compounds and is often spray dispersed as hydrolyzed fertilizer to improve soil fertility and help build and maintain vital topsoil.  We support efforts to work towards a  nature-positive world view. Your choices in life can have a lasting, positive impact on healing the Earth by reducing carbon dioxide emissions. 

The most important thing to remember when a pet passes at home is to keep their body as cool and dry as possible and away from other pets. A cooler or bathtub with some ice is ideal for 12 – 24 hrs. 

Things to consider:

• As soon as possible, following the passing of your pet, it’s best to place pee pads, old towels/blankets, or plastic under the pet’s head and rear end as they may begin losing fluids.
• It is okay to wrap the body in your pet’s favorite blanket or place them in their bed. Alternatively, wrapping the body in a blanket or a towel that you do not mind getting soiled or disposing of and placing the body in plastic/pee pad lined box or tote will help secure the body until arrangements can be made.
• If there are items you would like to keep, such as a collar or ID tags, please remove them prior to releasing your pet into our care.
• If your pet passes outside our normal business hours, there is little risk to keeping the body for up to 24 hours in your home if your companion is kept cool and dry. 

We have chain of custody procedures in place that ensure that your pet is safely identified and tracked from the moment the body leaves your home (or vet’s clinic) until their remains are safely returned into your hands. We attach a unique numerical ID tag to your pet’s paw and this tag stays with your pet throughout the entire process. 

We place each individual pet in a special perforated bag designed to allow the aquamation process to proceed while securely retaining the  bone remains within the bag, completely separated from other animals. The bones and tag are then removed from the bag, dried and processed into smaller bone material with 100% of your pet’s remains returned within our Earth-friendly urns. Your pet’s bone remains do not co-mingle with any other pets during the entire aquamation process.

At this time we can process a pet as small as a goldfish and as large as a 100 lb dog. Regrettably our water chamber is not large enough to handle animals much over this weight but please feel free to reach out and check with us. 

Tributes are a bit like obituaries for pets. It’s a great way to honour your pet’s memory with a photo and a few words. If your pet had a quirky personality, and whose pet doesn’t, then a little humour helps the healing process. Tributes can be added or removed at any time. Feel free to add a photo and  few words of remembrance on our Tributes page.

Outside of having your vet administer a humane end to you pet’s suffering, we understand that it can be impossible to predict your pet’s final passing. If your pet passes at night they can be kept cool and dry for 12-24 hours. Our normal business hours are Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm.

With the Tranquility Aquamation service we aim to return your pet’s remains in approximately 10 business days. The Serenity Aquamation service returns in approximately 14 – 21 business days.