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Services » Aftercare

Aftercare of Your Beloved Companion

Heaven at Home offers a water-based cremation, also known as Aquamation, for your beloved companion. Once you are ready for us to take your pet into our care, our veterinarian will gently transfer them to their vehicle and bring them back to our Aftercare Center. You can rest assured that your pet will be treated with compassion and dignity, every step of the way, throughout the entire process. We will manage all the details through our Aftercare team and help you find the perfect way to memorialize your pet’s life story. Our staff is here to help you navigate, and where possible, plan in advance your pet’s final resting place.

The Heaven at Home Aftercare Center

Heaven at Home has expanded its Grand Rapids-based home euthanasia and hospice service to include the final disposition of client pets’ remains. Founder Dr. Laurie Brush originally wanted to give pet parents who use Heaven at Home services an environmentally-friendly option for water-based cremation, and now offers this option to all pet parents. Aquamation is a water-based cremation process that deploys alkaline hydrolysis. It is the same process that occurs as part of nature’s course when a body is laid to rest in the soil. A combination of gentle water flow, temperature, and alkalinity is used to accelerate the breakdown of organic materials. Cremains may be returned to pet parents in one of our many memorial urns, and/or memorialized in jewelry or fine art glass sculptures available through our partners.

Learn More About Our Aftercare Center Services

Download this brochure to learn more about our Aftercare Center Services, including types of Aquamation. Then talk to one of our caring, compassionate team members for help celebrating the life of your beloved companion. (Click on the image to download.)

We’re Here For You

We’ll help you understand your options to give your loyal companion a meaningful memorialization that will help you and your family heal. Our Aftercare Center team can also assist you with pet loss grief counseling referrals, as well as memorial gifts to keep your companion near and dear.

Home Burial Tips

Some pet parents choose a home burial for their departed. Popular spots include a quiet corner of a garden, near a bench, or beneath a tree in the backyard.

Before breaking ground, there are a number of factors to be aware of an consider, such as how deep the grave needs to be and what the local laws are where you live.

Download our PDF guide for help determining the best method and placement when giving your fur baby back to the Earth.

Remembering Your Beloved Companion

Pawpals

One way many of our families like to remember their companion is by having our visiting veterinarian take a paw imprint before final disposition. We’ve found Pawpals to be a lovely way to create a keepsake and this is included with our service.

Keepsakes

Additional, cremains-based keepsakes are available through a variety of vendors. Creating these types of keepsakes requires sending a small portion of your pet’s cremains to the vendor for integration into jewelry, glass artwork, and other statuary. We’re growing a collection of resources to refer you to in order to find high-quality keepsakes.

Grief Support for Pet Loss

Learn About the West Michigan Pet Loss Support Group

The West Michigan Pet Loss Support Group meets monthly to share memories and facilitate healing.

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Meet Me on the Rainbow Bridge: Coping with Pet Loss

This overview article discusses ways to cope with Pet Loss and gives links to additional books and resources.

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