New Life Veterinary Hospital At Home Euthanasia Service

When the veterinarian and technician arrive, they will spend some time with you and your pet and assess their condition. Any additional questions you may have will be answered at that time. The procedure will be reviewed with you based on your comfort level.  You will sign a form to allow us permission to move forward. Depending on your pet, we will place an IV catheter and administer a sedative or move forward with administering a sedative via muscle. This will relax your pet and cause them to become very drowsy, sometimes even fall asleep.  This step is not optional and will not be skipped unless the veterinarian determines it necessary. After this takes effect, it can take up to 10-15 minutes, the veterinarian or technician will then place a catheter in a vein.  The veterinarian will then administer the euthanasia through the catheter. The veterinarian will then listen to your pet’s heart to confirm that they have passed. Throughout the entire process, you may be right there with your pet, comforting them and loving them. You will then be allowed time with your pet to say your final goodbyes.  The veterinarian and technician will then transport your pet with them if you have chosen cremation as an aftercare option.  A basket or wagon is utilized based on your pet's size and your pet will be covered with a blanket. 

Ideally, aftercare will be selected prior to our visit to your home.  During your phone consultation the team member will direct you to the proper resources to be able to make your selections.

Options for aftercare include:

• Private cremation - we take your pet back to the practice after euthanasia.  The crematory will pick your pet up cremate them separately.  Their ashes are placed in an urn for you to pick up from our practice.  
• Communal cremation - we take your pet back to the practice after euthanasia.  The crematory will pick your pet up cremate them with multiple pets and their ashes are not returned instead, spread on private property by the crematory service. 
• Home Burial - we provide a cardboard burial box if requested and you are able to bury your pet at your home if laws allow. 
• You may also arrange for a crematory to pick up at your home.  You will need to organize all of the logistics.  If we don't take the pet back with us to the practice it will be your responsibility to ensure the pet is picked up by the crematory you chose. 

Have your pet in a location where he/she is easily accessible and comfortable.  If you prefer them to be on a couch or on their favorite bed consider putting a trash bag under a blanket or a puppy pad.  After the euthanasia is administered your pet may lose control of their bladder. We don't want to force the pet to be in a location that makes them feel stressed. 

The appointment typically takes 30-45 minutes.  We make every effort to make this process as smooth as possible.  We are unable to stay for longer than 1 hour due to offering care to other pets in the community.  

If your pet has been under the care of a veterinarian with a chronic illness and euthanasia is eminent, your pet is a candidate.  If your pet has not been seen by a veterinarian within the last 18 months, your pet is not a candidate. If this is an emergency situation and your pet needs to be euthanized in a very short window of time, your pet is not a candidate for our at home euthanasia service.  We strive to make this process as smooth and peaceful as possible and the best way to achieve this is to make sure we are not in a rush to perform the euthanasia. 

We will not euthanize your pet if it is due to you no longer wanting it or behavioral issues of any kind.  We will refer you to a rescue for unwanted pets and the necessary resources will be provided for pets with behavioral issues.  If euthanasia is the only option for a pet with extreme behavioral issues those cases will be handled in our veterinary practice never at your home.  

Payment is expected the day before your appointment.  We can send a link via text, take a credit card over the phone, or you may visit the practice to pay in person.  Our team will not honor your appointment time if payment has not been received.