New Chatham business offers unique alternative for pet cremations

A Chatham-Kent business is offering an alternative for pet owners seeking cremation for their pet who has passed. CTV Windsor’s Chris Campbell reports.

A new business in Chatham-Kent is offering pet owners another option when it comes to aftercare for their animals, with the owner of Furever Aquamation saying the service is one of the first of its kind in southwestern Ontario.

Furever Aquamation officially opened in Chatham on April 7, offering aquamation — also known as water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis — for pets.

Nora Klinck, the business owner, said the process uses water and an alkaline solution instead of flame. The end result sees skeletal remains processed into a fine powder similar to cremated remains.

“It’s just a gentler option. It’s more eco-friendly and it’s an option,” said Klinck, in an interview with CTV News. “Currently in our area, pet families don’t have options other than burial or cremation and so, this allows them to have that choice.”

Klinck believes the next closest pet aquamation service is in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

“As a former pet owner, I realized at the time that there were only two options,” she said. “I became aware of the alkaline hydrolysis process, with the eco-friendly version, the gentle version, and it just really made sense to me to be able to offer our pet families a choice.”

Klinck said the business is focused on providing personalized care for grieving families, including transferring pets from homes or veterinary clinics.

“It’s very important to meet the families where they’re at,” she explained. “Some families want to bring their pet to me. Some families want to wait for me or leave their pet with their [veterinarian] at the clinic and I’m able to personalize their needs.”

Klinck noted that after the process is complete, the remaining water and alkaline solution are treated and neutralized before being safely returned to the wastewater system.

She added that while aquamation may not appeal to everyone, interest in alternative pet aftercare options appears to be on the rise.

“There seems to be a growing understanding and respect for the end-of-life process for pets because they are our family members,” Klinck said.

At Pet and Wildlife Rescue in Chatham, Myriam Armstrong, the executive director, said additional local options for pet owners are welcome.

“Options are always great,” Armstrong stated. “We’ve always offered the cremation here through one of our contractors and we’re always happy to not only have other options, but also have local options.”

Armstrong said some pet owners may also be drawn to the environmentally-friendly aspect of aquamation.

“Finding an option that’s eco-friendly is always a big bonus for everybody,” she said. “And also, not everybody likes to picture cremation. I feel like aquamation seems like a softer option.”

The Bereavement Authority of Ontario told CTV News that alkaline hydrolysis has become increasingly common in Ontario in recent years for human remains, noting the number of licensed facilities in the province has grown from two to eight over the last several years.

The authority said alkaline hydrolysis is regulated under Ontario’s Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act for human remains, but noted its oversight does not extend to pet aftercare services.

Klinck said pricing for pet aquamation starts at $345, varying depending on the size of the animal and whether families choose individual or communal aquamation.