A family gathered in the chapel of Pet to Nature Philippines for the last viewing of their departed dog, who will undergo aquamation this Wednesday. INQUIRER.net / Angeline Marcelino
MANILA, Philippines — Have you ever heard of aquamation? It is an alkaline hydrolysis that uses gentle flow of water and alkaline in decomposing a dead body.
According to Pet to Nature Philippines on Wednesday, a pioneer of pet aquamation in the country, the process is basically an accelerated natural decomposition.
“It takes 3 days to complete the whole process,” Sab Millan, Marketing Manager of the company, said in an interview with INQUIRER.net.
“Mas pinabilis po siya na natural decomposition ng body,” she added.
(It is an accelerated process of natural decomposition of a body.)
As explained by Millan, the process uses a gentle flow of water and alkaline to decompose a body naturally. The aquamation itself takes 20 to 24 hours.
The bones obtained after the process will then be finely ground until they become ashes, she noted.
Compared to traditional cremation, which many know, Millan mentioned that pet owners get more ashes with aquamation.
“You’ll get 20% more ash, compared to the traditional na fire ang gamit,” she said.
(You’ll get 20% more ash, compared to the traditional method which uses fire.)
Millan also added that the water used in the process, as well as the ashes obtained from aquamation can be used as fertilizers to plants.
Many pet owners prefer to have their departed pets that way, she said.
READ: Aquamation: Tutu’s chosen flameless cremation
“Marami pong naga-avail kasi gusto nila, nakikita pa rin nila, na nandoon pa rin yung pet nila [even in the form of plants],” she noted.
(Many avail the process since they want to still see their pets, that the pets are still there even in the form of plants.)
Although usually, cats and dogs undergo aquamation, Millan said that any animal can undergo the process—even the small ones such as birds and hamsters. She mentioned that they had also processed a pig and some reptiles.
“Aside from helping the environment, it is the cleanest and healthiest way of decomposing a pet,” Millan said when asked about the advantages of undergoing the process.
READ: Body composting takes root in US ‘green’ burial trend
Meanwhile, for Rin Estrella, a family of dog who’s about to undergo aquamation in Pet to Nature Philippines on Wednesday, aquamation is more environmentally friendly, based on her research. It is already their third time availing the process for their deceased pets.
According to Millan, the cost for aquamation starts at P5,000 to P6,000, depending on the package pet owners want to avail. She noted that the price varies depending on the pet’s size that will undergo the process.