Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Rose, DVM.
Madison, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After completing veterinary school, I began working at a brick-and-mortar practice in La Jolla. I truly enjoyed my work and felt fulfilled helping local San Diego families and their pets. However, I noticed a significant gap in the mobile veterinary market, so I was inspired to start my own mobile veterinary service, providing the same high-quality care in the comfort of clients’ homes.
As a mobile veterinarian, I was often asked to provide palliative care and in-home euthanasia. Being able to provide care through the full life cycle of the animal was important to me, but I was still relying on third party cremation services, which is typical in the veterinary business.
My team and I firmly believe that the best care for a pet after passing comes from the same veterinary team that was responsible for care throughout their life, so I began to research pet cremation and discovered aquamation—an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fire cremation. Aquamation is a gentler process that uses water, heat and alkali solution to provide the same results.
Aquamation resonated with me deeply, as it aligns with the values I swore to uphold when I took my veterinary oath: to promote animal health, alleviate suffering, and protect public health and the environment.
As a result, Peaceful Waters Aquamation was born.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting any small business comes with challenges—from securing funding and business loans to finding the right commercial space and building a loyal clientele. However, with aquamation, the learning curve is particularly steep, especially because it was not being widely used at the time. It’s an intricate process that requires solving problems related to pet storage, tracking, ash drying, and packaging, all while ensuring the highest standards of care.
In the first years, each day brought a new challenge that required us to refine our process to what it is today. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have a dedicated and hardworking staff whose commitment and teamwork have been invaluable in overcoming every hurdle and putting our clients and their pets at the center of everything we do.
Seven years after founding Peaceful Waters Aquamation, I’m incredibly proud to still have the same exceptional team that started with me. The challenges I’ve faced along the way would have been impossible to overcome without the unwavering dedication and hard work of Kristine and Tonja. Their support has been absolutely essential to our success
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I own and operate Peaceful Waters Aquamation, a locally based pet aquamation facility in San Diego. Aquamation is an environmentally responsible alternative to traditional cremation, using warm water, alkali, and time to gently and naturally return beloved pets to the earth. It is the most sustainable and eco-friendly cremation method available.
At Peaceful Waters Aquamation, we take pride in offering a more personalized, boutique experience compared to larger pet crematories. We work closely with our clients to create unique and meaningful memorial items, including paw castings, custom resin ash necklaces, memorial services with flowers and professional photography, and even specialized taxidermy pieces. One of our most treasured offerings, handcrafted by our beloved team member Kristine, is an original paw print glass window pane—a delicate and timeless tribute featuring a pet’s paw print pressed between two glass panes, adorned with dried flowers.
Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond aquamation. We drive hybrid vehicles, minimize paper usage, and offer ethically sourced urns, including biodegradable scattering tubes and bamboo urns. Additionally, we plant trees in honor of the pets entrusted to our care, furthering our dedication to environmental consciousness.
At Peaceful Waters Aquamation, we believe that every pet’s farewell should be as unique and beautiful as their life. Our one-of-a-kind tributes provide pet owners with deeply meaningful ways to honor their beloved companions. These heartfelt offerings ensure that every farewell is as special and unique as the pet being remembered.
Our goal is to provide compassionate, personalized services that bring comfort and closure to pet owners, ensuring their memories are honored in the most meaningful way possible.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The heart of our success lies in the dedication and compassion of our team. I am incredibly proud to work alongside some of the most hardworking and kind-hearted animal lovers in San Diego. Their unwavering commitment to doing things the right way is evident in everything they do—whether it’s staying late to support grieving clients, providing care in a moment of need, or putting the needs of others before their own. When you walk through the doors of Peaceful Waters, you are met with genuine care, empathy, and love.
In addition, our success is also due to the unique range of memorial items and services we offer. From custom resin ash necklaces to paw print glass window panes and personalized memorial services, these one-of-a-kind tributes set us apart from others in the industry and provide our clients with meaningful ways to honor their beloved pets.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.peacefulwatersaquamation.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peacefulwatersaquamation
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peacefulwatersaquamation/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/29335761/admin/dashboard/
- Twitter: https://x.com/pwaquamation
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1Z34glhTP-MS-Ju1ozU2Ig
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/peaceful-waters-aquamation-san-diego?sort_by=date_desc
Image Credits
Carie Juaneza
