NORCROSS, GA (January 21, 2016)

For the first time in metro Atlanta there is a gentle and environmentally friendly way to take care of your pet after he or she passes away thanks to Heavenly Paws Pet Aquamation.

Until now, this natural, water-based cremation technology has been available only at veterinary colleges and other large institutions.

“As a pet parent and pet advocate, water cremation, or Aquamation, is how I want my pets to make their final journey,” said Randy Stewart, Owner and Founder of Heavenly Paws. “I wanted to bring this cleaner and gentler method of aftercare to our community to take care of our pets when they pass away. We and our pets are mainly water so what’s more natural than to leave the world in water?”

“The process creates remains that are much like sand and can be returned to the owner as a memorial,” said Dr. Alida Baroco of Town Center Animal Clinic. “In large metropolitan areas like ours, where space is limited and regulations may prohibit burial, water cremation is a great aftercare choice, now that Heavenly Paws has made it available to the general public.”

Heavenly Paws employs a patented process specifically designed for pets. Aquamation, or alkaline hydrolysis, is an accelerated version of what takes place in natural decomposition. A combination of gentle water flow, low temperature, and alkalinity is used to quicken the natural course. Similar to conventional cremation, the mineral ashes are returned in an urn.

With water cremation, there are no toxic emissions, no contribution to greenhouse gases, major savings on energy and a carbon footprint that is only one-tenth of traditional cremation.

Until now, Aquamation has been used mainly by institutions including the University of Georgia, UCLA, the Mayo Clinic, Duke University, Colorado State University, Texas A&M, the U.S. Government to name a few. The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine has been operating two Alkaline Hydrolysis systems for over ten years.