A letter from Passing Paws
Pet Aquamation
in Los Angeles
A gentle farewell by water instead of flame — with the same care, the same keepsakes, and your pet’s ashes hand-delivered back home.
a gentler goodbye, by water
Area
Serving all of Los Angeles County
Arrival
Typically at your door within 2 hours
Hours
Phones answered 8am–8pm, every day
By water, not flame
What is pet aquamation?
Aquamation is a gentle, water-based alternative to flame cremation. Instead of fire, your pet rests in warm water combined with a mild alkaline solution — the same natural process that happens in the earth, simply given a little help. Over several hours, the water gently returns the body to its natural elements, leaving behind the soft mineral remains of the bones. Those remains are carefully dried and returned to you, just as ashes are after a flame cremation.
You may also hear it called water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis — they are all names for the same process. There is no flame involved at any point, which is often the first thing families want to know.
Also called water cremation · alkaline hydrolysisWhy families choose it
Why do families choose water instead of flame?
Families choose aquamation for two reasons, usually said in the same breath: it feels gentler, and it is easier on the environment. Water instead of fire is a quieter idea to sit with, and for many people that simple difference brings real comfort during an already hard week. And because nothing is burned, aquamation uses no flame and less energy — a smaller footprint, for families who care about that.
There is no right or wrong reason. Some families feel certain the moment they hear the word water; others simply want the option explained plainly, with no pressure either way. We are glad to do either — and if it helps, we can talk through both choices on the phone before you decide anything.
What it costs
What does pet aquamation cost?
Aquamation at Passing Paws is $449, flat. That price includes home pickup, an aromatic cedar urn, a clay paw print with a gold display stand, and hand delivery of your pet’s ashes back to your door. There are no upcharges of any kind — no weekend fees, no weight-based pricing, no mileage fees, nothing hidden. The price we quote on your first call is the price you pay.
Cremated together; ashes are not returned
Flame cremation; your pet, cared for alone
A gentle, water-based alternative to flame
- Home pickup — we come to your home or your veterinarian’s office, typically at your door within 2 hours
- Individual aquamation — your pet, cared for alone, and the ashes returned are solely theirs
- Aromatic cedar urn
- Clay paw print with a gold display stand
- Personal hand delivery of the ashes back to your home
If a private, individual service is not what your family needs, communal aquamation is also available — call us at (626) 340-0000 and we will walk you through it. We accept card payments, Zelle, checks, and cash.
From your first call to the homecoming
What happens, from your first call to the day we return
From your family’s side, aquamation looks exactly like a private cremation — the pickup, the cedar urn, the clay paw print, and the hand delivery are all the same. The only difference is what happens gently, out of sight, in the middle.
-
The call
Call or book online
You call (626) 340-0000 between 8am and 8pm, any day of the week — or book online anytime at app.passingpaws.com/book -
The pickup
We come to you
We come to your home or your veterinarian’s office, typically at your door within 2 hours -
The aquamation
Cared for individually
Your pet is aquamated individually, and the ashes returned are solely your pet’s -
The keepsakes
Prepared with care
We prepare your pet’s aromatic cedar urn and a clay paw print with a gold display stand — both included in the price -
The homecoming
Hand-delivered home
A member of our team hand-delivers the ashes to your home, typically within 2–3 weeks — never shipped, never handed to a courier
We care for pets of every size, from small birds and hamsters to dogs over 100 pounds, throughout Los Angeles County.
An honest note
Will the ashes look different? Honestly, a little
Yes — and we would rather you hear it from us than be surprised. The remains returned after aquamation are a little finer and lighter in color than flame-cremation ashes — closer to a soft, pale sand than a gray ash — and there is usually slightly more of them, because the gentler process preserves more of the mineral remains.
Many families find them beautiful. They can rest in any urn or keepsake, including the cedar memorial urns, biodegradable urns, and memorial jewelry in our keepsakes collection, exactly as flame-cremation ashes would.
Finer & paler than ash · a little more of themWhen you’re ready
How do I arrange aquamation for my pet?
Call us at (626) 340-0000 — we answer the phone from 8am to 8pm, every day of the week — or schedule online anytime at app.passingpaws.com/book, even in the middle of the night. If your pet has passed at a veterinary office, we can pick them up there directly; if they are at home, we will come to you.
And if you are not yet sure whether aquamation or flame cremation is right for your family, that is a completely normal place to be. Ask us anything — comparing the options costs nothing, and no one here will ever rush you toward a decision.
A few honest answers
Common Questions About Aquamation
Is aquamation the same as water cremation?
Is aquamation better than cremation?
How much does pet aquamation cost in Los Angeles?
How long does pet aquamation take?
Do I get my pet’s ashes back with aquamation?
Available Across Los Angeles
We Come to You
Home pickup in every community we serve — choose your city for local details.
Questions About Aquamation? Just Ask
We’re happy to explain the process plainly — no pressure, no jargon. 8am to 8pm, every day.