Understanding When It’s Time
Recognizing the right time is a shared journey. We’re here as your supportive team to address all your concerns. Feel free to reach out anytime by phone or in person.
Coping with terminal illnesses or old age, & unforeseen medical changes can feel like a roller coaster, with its ups and downs, good days and bad. Our goal is to ensure you’re confident in your decision, while bringing peace to your family. Before finalizing anything, your pet will undergo a thorough examination by our experienced veterinarians.
Euthanasia Procedure
Deciding to euthanize a beloved pet is one of the most heart-wrenching choices pet parents ever face. We’re here to provide unwavering support through this difficult journey. Our comfort rooms are designed to alleviate stress and anxiety, creating a comforting environment for your companion to rest peacefully. These spaces also offer privacy for family members, allowing them to express emotions freely.
The euthanasia process can vary based on the patient’s needs. Typically, we start by placing an IV catheter for vein access. A gentle sedative is administered through the catheter, causing your pet to drift into a deep, tranquil sleep. Followed by the euthanasia solution. Brain activity ceases swiftly, followed by breathing and then the heartbeat. Our veterinarians carefully monitor your pet’s pulse and may check for eye reflexes to ensure a peaceful passing. While you’re welcome to be present during the procedure, it’s entirely understandable if you prefer not to be. Some find comfort in being there to support their pet, while others choose to cherish their memories of their pet as they were.
Whether you want your children or other family members present or prefer a private moment, there’s no wrong decision. We’re here to respect your choices and provide the support you need during this challenging time. When you sense that euthanasia may be approaching for your pet, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We make every effort to prioritize euthanasia visits, ensuring that your pet receives compassionate care when it’s needed most.
Body Care Options
We offer several choices for aftercare, tailored to your family’s preferences. The first option is home burial. We assist by preparing the body and placing your pet in a zippered carrier. It’s important to check your city’s ordinances regarding home burials, especially if you reside within city limits, to ensure legality. Home burials typically require a depth of at least 4 feet. The second option is cremation without the return of ashes.
Alternatively, you can opt for a private cremation. With this choice, your pet is individually cremated, and you receive the ashes in either a wooden urn or a velvet bag. For a more environmentally friendly approach to receiving your pet’s ashes, there’s aquamation. Also known as alkaline hydrolysis, bio-cremation. Aquamation uses gentle water flow, temperature, and alkalinity to mimic nature’s decomposition process. If you find it challenging to decide on aftercare immediately after euthanasia, you can choose a body hold. This option allows your family the time needed to make the best decision for your pet’s final arrangements.
The Path to Healing
Please know that you are not alone in your time of loss. We want to help you on your path to healing. We understand that losing a pet or companion can be just as painful as losing human family. They are there for us every day and help make our lives worth living. It is normal to feel this loss deeply; it reflects how deep you felt the bond with your companion. There are many other resources available to you.
Here are only a few:
Pet Loss Grief Support, Rainbow Bridge & Candle Ceremony – Chat rooms and messaging boards with others who are grieving their own losses where you can help support others, world-wide candle ceremony, tribute pages, and reading material to help you get through your loss. https://www.petloss.com/
The Pet Loss Support Page – articles on pet loss, links to pet loss hotlines. https://www.pet-loss.net/
The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement – articles on pet loss, memorial ideas, trained grief counselors online, links to pet loss hotlines. https://www.aplb.org/
Best Friends – links to pet loss hotlines, book resources, and articles. https://bestfriends.org/pet-care-resources/grieving-loss-pet-resources-coping