APEX AQUAMATION
A gentler way to say goodbye.
The bond we share with our pets is unlike any other. When it’s time to say goodbye, they deserve to be cared for with the same love, dignity, and respect they gave us throughout their lives.
Apex Aquamation provides compassionate water-based aftercare for dogs and cats throughout the Greater High Desert and surrounding communities.
Aquamation, also known as water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis, offers families a gentle, flame-free alternative to traditional cremation.
An Eco-Conscious Way to Honor the Love You Shared
Aquamation uses water, gentle warmth, and a small amount of alkaline solution to naturally accelerate the same process that occurs over time in nature.
Rather than using flame and extremely high temperatures, aquamation takes place gradually over several hours at a much lower temperature.
At the end of the process, only the mineral portion of your pet’s bones remains. These are carefully dried and processed into a soft, fine powder—similar to the ashes families receive following traditional cremation—and respectfully returned to you.
From the moment your pet comes into our care through the moment they return home to you, our goal is to provide dignity, transparency, and compassion every step of the way.
Caring for Your Pet After Goodbye
Losing a pet can leave you having to make important decisions at one of the most difficult moments imaginable.
You shouldn’t have to figure everything out alone.
Our role is to help you understand your options, answer your questions, and make the aftercare process as simple and peaceful as possible.
There is never pressure to make a decision quickly. Whether you are planning ahead or have recently experienced a loss, we are here to help you choose what feels right for your family.
Because they were never “just a pet.” They were family.
Why Families Choose Aquamation
Gentle
Aquamation uses water and warmth rather than flame or extreme temperatures.
Eco-Conscious
The process requires significantly less energy than traditional flame cremation and does not rely on combustion during the aquamation cycle.
Dignified
Every pet is treated with care and respect throughout the entire process.
More Returned to Your Family
Because the process is gentler on the mineral remains, families may receive a greater volume of remains than with traditional flame cremation.
Aquamation vs. Traditional Flame Cremation
| Water Cremation / Aquamation | Traditional Flame Cremation |
|---|---|
| Water-based, flame-free process | High-temperature flame process |
| Uses water, alkaline solution and gentle warmth | Uses combustion and very high temperatures |
| Process occurs gradually over several hours | Typically completed over a shorter period |
| Significantly lower energy use | Higher energy requirements |
| No direct combustion during the aquamation cycle | Produces combustion emissions |
| Often results in more mineral remains returned | High heat can reduce the amount of remains returned |
What Happens During Aquamation?
Your pet is gently placed into an individual, enclosed chamber.
The chamber contains primarily water along with a small amount of alkaline solution. The water is warmed and gently circulated, allowing the natural process to occur over time.
Once aquamation is complete, the remaining mineral bone material is carefully removed, dried, and processed into the soft remains returned to your family.
Throughout the process, your pet is treated with dignity and respect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is aquamation?
Aquamation—also called water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis—is a flame-free form of aftercare that uses water, gentle warmth, and an alkaline solution to return the body to its basic natural elements.
The mineral portion of the bones remains and is carefully prepared before being returned to the family.
How long does aquamation take?
The aquamation cycle itself generally takes 18-24 hours. Afterward, the mineral remains must be carefully dried and prepared before they can be returned to the family.
We will always communicate clearly with you regarding your expected return date.
How do I know the remains I receive belong to my pet?
This is one of the most important questions a family can ask.
From the moment your pet enters our care, identification and tracking follow them throughout the entire process. Multiple verification steps are used so that the remains returned to you are those of your pet.
Transparency and trust are extremely important to us, and we welcome questions about our procedures.
Why do families choose aquamation?
Families choose aquamation for many different reasons. Some appreciate the gentle, water-based process. Others are drawn to its reduced energy use and environmental impact.
For many families, it simply feels like a peaceful way to care for a beloved pet after goodbye.
Will my pet be cared for individually?
Yes. Each pet entrusted to Apex Aquamation is cared for individually and respectfully.
Our identification and tracking procedures are designed to maintain your pet’s identity throughout every stage of their care.
What can I do with my pet’s remains?
There are many meaningful ways to memorialize your pet.
You may choose to keep their remains in an urn, scatter them in a meaningful location where permitted, bury them, or incorporate a portion into keepsake jewelry or another memorial piece.
Our team can help you explore options when the time comes.
What do aquamation remains look like?
Aquamation produces a soft, fine mineral powder that is typically lighter in color than remains produced through flame cremation.
The color may range from off-white to light tan.
Can I send something with my pet?
Certain small items made from natural or organic materials may be appropriate to remain with your pet during aquamation.
Because not every material is suitable for the process, please speak with our care team before including an item. We will gladly help you determine what can accompany your pet.
Are the remains safe to handle?
The processed mineral remains can be kept in an urn, buried, scattered where permitted, or incorporated into a memorial of your choosing.
Their Life Deserves to Be Remembered
The final goodbye does not erase the years, adventures, routines, laughter, comfort, and unconditional love that came before it.
At Apex Aquamation, our responsibility is to care for your pet with dignity while helping your family honor the life you shared.
About Apex Aquamation
We Believed Saying Goodbye Could Be Different
Apex Aquamation was created from a very personal place.
We’re Cassie and Kenny Martin, and animals have always been a meaningful part of our lives. Living and running a small ranch of our own, we’ve had a front-row seat to the joy animals bring into a family—and also to how painful it is when the time comes to say goodbye.
Anyone who has loved an animal knows that they are never just “pets.” They become part of the rhythm of your home, your routines, your memories, and your family. When that life comes to an end, the decisions that follow can feel heavy, rushed, and overwhelming.
We began asking ourselves a simple question:
What if saying goodbye could feel more gentle, more intentional, and more personal?
That question led us to aquamation.
We were drawn to the idea of a water-based, flame-free form of aftercare that offers families another option—one centered on dignity, compassion, and respect. The more we learned, the more strongly we felt that families in the Greater High Desert deserved access to this kind of care close to home.
Apex Aquamation was born from that belief.
Our goal is not simply to provide a service. It is to create a place where families feel supported during one of the hardest moments of loving an animal. A place where questions are welcomed, where the process is explained clearly, and where every pet entrusted to us is treated with the care we would want for one of our own.
We know what it feels like to love an animal deeply. We know what it feels like to lose one. And we believe the final act of care should reflect the life and love that came before it.
Apex Aquamation
Compassionate Animal Aftercare
Honoring Their Lives. Always Loved.
Cassie & Kenny Martin
Owners, Apex Aquamation
Contact Apex Aquamation
Whether you have questions about aquamation, are planning ahead, or need compassionate guidance after the loss of a pet, we’re here to help.
We understand that reaching out can be difficult during an emotional time. Please feel free to call, text, or email us with any questions. We’re happy to explain the process, discuss your options, and help however we can.
Coming Soon Servicing the Greater High Desert Communities and Surrounding Areas. Owners: Kenny & Cassie Martin