About Home Euthanasia
Our practice is founded in the belief that every pet owner who chooses to put their pet to sleep, deserves to do so in the comfort of a relaxed and familiar environment of their own home. We want you to feel as comfortable as you can with your decision about a pet home euthanasia. By having an understanding of what to expect and how the process will unfold, we have found relieves the fear and anxiety and brings comfort knowing that your pet will be well cared for and handled with respect and dignity.
Personal Consultation
During a phone conversation, Dr. Morrison will be happy to discuss your specific needs regarding your pet to help you make your decision and come to a final conclusion if an appointment for a home pet euthanasia is right for you. She is also willing to come to your home and perform a physical exam and assess your pet's condition, make a recommendation or provide hospice care for the most comfortable last days of your pet's life until a pet euthanasia has to be performed.
In Home Appointment
Once at your home, Dr. Morrison will discuss with you the setting where you would like to have the euthanasia performed, who you would like to be present and what to do with other family pets. During this time, please feel free to express any special requests you may have for your pet's end of live transition.
She will also perform the typical duties of a veterinarian which includes a history gathering, a brief physical exam to determine the type and amount of sedation based on your pet's physical condition and review your preferences for "after care" as described in the After Care section below.
Sedation
After all questions have been answered, only then will we begin the process of putting your pet to sleep. It is our philosophy that your pet never experiences any pain or discomfort throughout the euthanasia process and therefore we provide a sedative. This sedation will put them into a peaceful, comforting and deep gentle sleep. For a dog euthanasia, this sedation will take full effect in approximately 20 minutes and for a cat euthanasia, it will only take approximately 5 minutes. To your pet, they will feel very relaxed and pain free and thus you will feel more comfortable seeing them in this state. This injection will be placed right under the skin.
Once your pet is sedated, many clients take this time to express loving words, say a prayer, read a poem or eulogy, express their love and appreciation for all they have meant in their lives...and to let them know it is okay to pass over. It is a wonderful final bonding and connection experience and aids in the acceptance of this phase of life.
Euthanasia
Once you and your loved ones have had a chance to say good-bye and you feel you are ready, we will proceed with putting your beloved pet to sleep. A second injection will be given and only takes a few moments to take effect. We will listen to your pet's heart and let you know when your beloved friend has passed away.
You can then take as much time as you need to grieve and to say any final words. If you have other dogs or cats, it often helps their understanding of what is going on by allowing them to see and acknowledge their companion's passing. Dr. Morrison has a special way of assuring your pet's healthy acceptance of their friend's transition and she's happy to assist you with your remaining pets.
After The Euthanasia
You can then take as much time as you need to grieve and to say any final words. If you have other dogs or cats, it often helps their understanding of what is going on by allowing them to see and acknowledge their companion's passing. Dr. Morrison has a special way of assuring your pet's healthy acceptance of their friend's transition and she's happy to assist you with your remaining pets.
If you have a pet over 40 lbs. , Dr. Morrison will require the help of an assistant. That assistant can be available at your home, but most clients prefer to help Dr. Morrison carry their pet to her vehicle which also helps them with their own closure.
After Care
If you choose to have your pet cremated, as part of our service, we handle the transportation of your beloved pet to the local crematorium, Entrusted Pet. If you'd prefer, you can make arrangements with a different crematorium on your own. There are multiple options for cremations; i.e. communal cremations, individual creations, private cremations and cremations with viewing so please refer to Services & Fees page for more detailed information.
When having your pet cremated, please allow up to 14 days for the return of their cremains (ashes). Generally cremains are returned within 7 days; however, this varies based upon the crematory schedule. We can arrange to have a courier personally deliver the cremains to your home for a delivery fee or if you prefer, Entrusted Pet will make contact with you to schedule a pick-up of your pet's cremains.
Memorials / Keepsakes
To honor the memory of your pet, your special relationship can be memorialized and celebrated in multiple ways:
- Ribboned Tuft of Fur -Ribboned Tuft of Fur
- Clay Paw Print / Picture Frame* - If you choose, we can arrange to have a clay impression made of your pet's paw print with a picture frame. This can be personalized with their name or decorations you choose. Arrangements can be made so that the delivery of your pet's cremains and your memorialized paw print can be delivered at the same time.
- Flower Memorial - Plant flowering perennials in your garden or at the park in honor of your pet so that every spring when they bloom you'll be reminded of and celebrate the beauty of your special bond with your beloved companion.
- Create a video memorial* A personalized video can be created from digital photos of your pet and your life together to serve as a lasting loving memory of your faithful companion.
- Family Pictures - We can arrange to have a professional personal photographer to come to your home prior to the Euthanasia to take some family portraits with your pet.
- Facebook Memorial - We have created a network of loving pet owners, a supportive group of friends and family who have shared a loss of their pet and find comfort in celebrating their pet's live by placing a photo and providing a bio, telling fun stories, and sharing things you love and miss about them. Below are detailed instructions for how to do create a personalized Facebook Memorial on Pet Home Euthanasia's Facebook Memorial Page.
- Click on the Facebook button below and after you sign into your Facebook account you will be taken directly to the Pet Home Euthanasia Facebook page.
- Click on the "Like" button at the top of the page - this will allow a "Write On This Wall" box to appear.
- Type in your pet's bio, favorite stories and experiences, things you miss and love about them...
- Then click on the "Attach Photo" button and upload your favorite photo of your pet.
- Lastly, click "Share". This will post your memorial on the Pet Home Euthanasia page.
Note: Services denoted with an (*) are provided through separate services providers which can be coordinated through our company but paid directly to that service provider.
** Pricing provided on the Services & Fees Page *
Taking Time To Grieve
It's important to take time to go through the grieving process. Sharing your feelings with others is an important part of the healing process. Please take advantage of connecting with the Pet Home Euthanasia Network on Facebook as one resource. There are such resources as group Pet Loss Support Group meetings, animal chaplains, animal communicators and books on this topic. If you feel you need further support, you can also refer to these services:
Empathy and support for you, the pet owner is very important. You are not alone in your sadness. And If you need to share with other people who understand, please explore some of these resources. There are a number of grief support groups and counselors who specialize in pet loss counseling.
Need Someone to Talk to?
Companion Animal Association of Arizona. 602-995-5885. Staffed by volunteers who have lost a pet and have been trained in bereavement support. www.caaainc.org
Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement. Nonprofit association of concerned people who are experienced and knowledgeable about pet death. Provides pet bereavement counseling and public education to those interested in counseling others. www.aplb.org.
Delta Society provides information on the human/animal bond. Offers a bibliography of publications on pet loss and a list of pet-loss counselors, help lines, and support groups, at www.deltasociety.org under the health benefits section (pet loss and bereavement).
Memorials, Remembrances
Please contact: Monique Merola MSN, BSN, RN-C, at Furever Memories. She will come to your home before the euthanasia and help you gather photos and paw prints to design your own unique memorial shadow boxes, collages, paintings, and other remembrances.
Books
Please click on the picture to learn more about each book. You will be taken to Amazon.com where you can read customer reviews, sample pages, and order, if you desire.
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Paw Prints in Heaven:The book was created to bring a conforting perspective for pet owners who are grieving the loss of their dog. This unique story is written by the dog from heaven. |
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For children and teenagers: Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant. Will appeal to children from preschool to grade two. The simple, colorful illustrations take the child on a journey to Dog Heaven or Cat Heaven, places of warmth and happiness. |
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For children and teenagers: Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant. Will appeal to children from preschool to grade two. The simple, colorful illustrations take the child on a journey to Dog Heaven or Cat Heaven, places of warmth and happiness. |
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Tear Soup by Pat Schweibert. Recommended for ages four to eight, but it has been a comfort to people of all ages. |
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For Every Dog an Angel by Christine Davis and For Every Cat an Angel by Christine Davis. Beautifully illustrted small short books tell the story of the Rainbow Bridge Appropriate for a wide range of ages |
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For Every Cat an Angel by Christine Davis. Beautifully illustrted small short books tell the story of the Rainbow Bridge Appropriate for a wide range of ages |
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Just This Side of Heaven by Timothy Glass. It is a journey that celebrates life through loss. Moreover, it seems to be one book that manages to touch people in a healing way not only after the loss of a pet but also the loss of a human loved one. For more general information on this book, visit my website: JustThisSideofHeaven.com. |
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Goodbye, Friend by Gary Kowalski. Advice to get through the loss of a pet. Included are ideas for rituals and ceremonies, spiritual guidance and readings for solace. |
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Saying Goodbye to the Pet You Love by Lorri A. Greene, Ph.D. Written by a psychologist who is a leader in the field of pet bereavement, offers strategies for working through the grieving process. |
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Grieving the Death of a Pet by Betty Carmack. Written by a nurse and professional pet-loss counselor, the book draws from her experience of counseling people who have lost a beloved pet. |
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Pet Loss: A Spiritual Guide by Julia Harris. Helps readers to understand the many emotional reactions to the loss of a pet; assist children in coping with and recovering from their loss; and learn how different spiritual belief systems recognize and counsel pet loss. |
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Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates by Gary Kurz. This book can help you cope with the loss of a pet and tries to answer questions about pet afterlife |
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Three Cats, Two Dogs: One Journey Through Multiple Pet Loss by David Congalton. The author talks about how he transformed his anguish over the loss of several pets into a commitment to abused and abandoned animals. Offers solace and practical suggestions for coping with grief. |
Online articles
Getting Through Grief by Julie Axelrod of the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement. www.aldf.org
Various articles by Moira Anderson Allen, M. Ed. , on pet loss and bereavement. www.pet-loss.net/.
Best Friends has a Best Friends Network community for people dealing with pet loss. Visit the Prayers, Healing and Support community at www.bestfriends.org
