Water Bridge Aquamation fills a need in the pet industry
By Kastle Waserman // Photo Courtesy Waterbridge Aquamation
THE LOSS OF A PET is always heartbreaking but determining what to do with their remains is often just as difficult. Pet owners in Denver have limited options: fire cremation, two pet cemeteries or a backyard burial if local regulations allow it. Owners often opt for cremation, but the idea of burning your beloved pet’s body can be upsetting. Now there is another choice: water cremation. Soaking a body in a solution that breaks it down organically is a relatively new player in the death industry, though the process has been around for more than 100 years. In the early 2000s, water cremations started gaining popularity for humans. Now, Water Bridge Aquamation offers it in Denver for pets. Founded by John Moody, who spent 15 years as a funeral director and nine years as a funeral home manager, pet water cremation was a way to bring his experience to the pet industry, which he felt lacked understanding and empathy for grieving pet owners. “I wanted to offer something transparent, more planet-friendly, and allow pet families to feel supported and partake in the process,” he said.
The aquamation process involves placing the pet in its own chamber within a vessel filled with 95 percent water and 5 percent alkali. The vessel is then heated and gently circulates the solution for 20 hours to allow a natural process of decomposition. What remains is the skeletal system, which Moody blends into a powder similar to ash and returns to the owner along with a gallon of the solution containing the pet’s organic matter. The rest of the solution is donated to farms as a fertilizer called Earth Glow. Owners also receive a clay paw print, two nose prints, a fur clipping in a glass jar, and a choice of a bamboo or biodegradable urn.
Water Bridge Aquamation prices its services competitively to match fire cremation. They also offer on-site euthanasia or pickup from a home or vet. Moody strives to make the location a comforting space for pet owners to say goodbye. “They can have as much time as they need,” he says.
Studies suggest that grieving the loss of a pet can be as traumatic—if not more so—than the loss of a human loved one. Moody agrees. He says he’s not immune to the difficulties of these moments. While he is strong for pet parents, he occasionally goes behind a closed door to have a cry. “Hearing the stories of these pets can be really emotional,” he says. Moody’s own animal companion is a 13-year-old chihuahua terrier named Ramone, who serves as house greeter and comfort support for people who come in.
In addition to considering the needs of pet families, Moody feels planetary health is also a priority. Water cremation has a small environmental footprint, using only about 10 percent of the energy of fire cremation, produces no greenhouse gas emissions, and creates a safe liquid byproduct farmers can use in agriculture. Moody plans to go solar so it will use no electricity at all.
While he admits it can be difficult to deal with the emotions of grief-stricken pet parents as well as his own, Moody feels it’s empowering to be a guiding light for people going through a tough time. “I think any funeral director will tell you it’s one of the most fulfilling jobs in the world. It just feels good to help people.”
WATER BRIDGE AQUAMATION 2364 S. Broadway Denver 720.343.3838 waterbridgeaquamation.com
