Discovering a Gentle Alternative: A Death Doula’s Conversation with Dr. Anna Simpson Evans on Pet Aquamation
Exploring New Paths in End-of-Life and Advanced Care Planning
As a death doula, I spend a lot of time helping people explore body disposition options, from traditional burial to green burial, cremation, and aquamation. But when it came to pets, I realized I had never heard of any alternatives beyond burial or traditional cremation.
So when I met Dr. Anna Simpson Evans, an emergency veterinarian from Connecticut who’s now shifting her focus toward end-of-life care and aquamation for pets, I was immediately intrigued and honestly relieved to learn there’s a gentler, more sustainable way to honor our animal companions too.
What Is Pet Aquamation and Why It Matters
Aquamation, also called alkaline hydrolysis or water-based cremation, uses a warm flow of water and natural alkali to return the body to its simplest form, the same way nature would, only faster and in a controlled setting. The process uses about 90% less energy than flame cremation and produces no harmful emissions. What remains are soft, pure ashes that can be returned to families or scattered according to their wishes.
It’s not only environmentally friendly but also beautifully symbolic — a return to the elements through water.
Dr. Simpson Evans is currently in the process of opening her practice, Tranquil Touch, which will serve families in western Connecticut. I had the privilege of chatting with her about her journey from emergency medicine to this emerging form of pet aftercare.
Q&A with Dr. Anna Simpson Evans of Tranquil Touch
1. You spent years in traditional veterinary medicine. What drew you into the end-of-life side of things, and specifically into offering aquamation?
As an emergency veterinarian, I have managed patient care at all phases of life, from birth to end of life and everything in between. We care for patients with minor injuries all the way through to life-ending traumatic events. We perform life-saving surgeries, treat cancer, manage patients with multiple chronic illnesses, and help establish palliative care for patients when nearing their final days.
I’m acutely aware that we’re often assisting pet owners through some of the most difficult decisions they’ll ever make. Saying goodbye to a pet is the loss of a family member. I’ve always taken this responsibility incredibly seriously, understanding that it’s often one of the worst days in a person’s life. I’ll do everything I can to make that process as peaceful as possible.
2. You’ve been part of so many goodbyes. How has that shaped the way you think about death, for both pets and people?
I think about this a lot. I can’t count how many times a pet owner has said, ‘I wish it could be this easy for people.’
The ability to provide a painless and peaceful passing is one of the greatest gifts we have to give in veterinary medicine. It’s one of the greatest acts of love, to take on the pain of saying goodbye so that our pets can be at peace. It’s made me think a lot about the options available for our human family members and how that differs from the pet euthanasia experience.
3. When it comes to aftercare, many families don’t realize they have options. What made aquamation stand out to you?
I love the idea of aquamation. As a much more eco-friendly alternative to cremation, this gentle process speeds up the natural decomposition process with minimal environmental impact, using approximately 90% less energy than flame cremation and with a very similar end result.
The remains are a creamy white color since there’s no flame, and the material is sterile. Bacteria, viruses, medications, and even cancer cells are broken down during the natural process. Owners can choose to have the remains returned or scattered, depending on their wishes.
4. From your vantage point, how are end-of-life and body disposition usually handled in vet settings? What do you wish could change?
In emergency medicine, euthanasia is often a decision owners haven’t prepared for. Although we aim to make the process as peaceful as possible, the setting is still an exam room in a medical facility.
Eventually, I’d like to expand Tranquil Touch to provide palliative and comfort care at home, to preserve quality of life for as long as possible and help families plan a peaceful time and place to say goodbye.
Even in a clinic, I’ve always been committed to treating each pet and family with respect. After a pet has passed, it’s important to handle their body gently and with care. Even though they may not be aware anymore, we owe them that respect.
5. What do you hope Tranquil Touch brings to this space, for families and for other veterinarians?
My hope is that pet owners feel more empowered to be involved in end-of-life decisions, and to be better prepared so they can have the experience that best suits their emotional needs when saying goodbye.
About Dr. Anna Simpson Evans + Tranquil Touch
Based in western Connecticut, Tranquil Touch is the vision of Dr. Anna Simpson Evans, DVM, an experienced emergency veterinarian creating a gentler, more sustainable approach to pet aftercare.
Through Tranquil Touch, Dr. Simpson Evans plans to offer compassionate, water-based cremation (aquamation) that honors the bond between animals and their humans. The process is eco-friendly, using a fraction of the energy required for traditional cremation and releasing no harmful emissions.
Although Tranquil Touch has not yet opened for services, the practice will serve families across western Connecticut.
📍 Website: petaquamationconnecticut.com
📧 Email: TranquilTouchCT@gmail.com
Gentle Aftercare and Compassionate Endings
Closing Thoughts
I’ve known about aquamation for people for a while, but until I spoke with Dr. Anna, I hadn’t really thought about what that could mean for our pets. This conversation reminded me that death work — in all its forms — keeps evolving, and that compassion can take so many shapes.
Her vision for Tranquil Touch feels like a small but meaningful shift toward gentler, more conscious endings for the animals we love.
