Home Euthanasia

Compassionate and Understanding At Home Euthanasia For Your Pet

Few places feel as safe, secure, and comfortable as their home, for your pet. Visits to a veterinary clinic are often accompanied with stress and anxiety. Most owner's prefer that their pet's last moments are as stress and anxiety free as possible, and remaining in your family's comfortable surroundings during this tough time allows your pet and you a peaceful, quiet, less stressful transition. Being able to grieve in the privacy of your own home is far preferable to waiting in a busy veterinary clinic. Your other pets will also know their companion has passed. In home euthanasia for your pet is a caring and humane loving gift that you can give to your beloved friend who has given you a lifetime of friendship.

The Process

Call to schedule an appointment and the receptionist will gather information such as your name, address, phone number and your pet's name, sex and weight, give you an estimate of the cost and process the bill via credit card. We insist on pre-paying so that you have one less stress during euthanasia. Once scheduled you are set. You can also talk to a veterinarian if needed.

Arrival & Preparation

At the appointed time the doctor and assistant will arrive, greet you and your pet and discuss your reasons for euthanasia and any available diagnostic or treatment options if you so desire. You will need to sign a euthanasia authorization form. The doctor and assistant will then place an intravenous catheter so they have access to a vein. Sedation may be needed in rare instances or you can request sedation.

Euthanasia

Once everything is in place, and you are ready, our doctors will administer the euthanasia solution. Our doctors will listen to your pet's heart and will let you know when your pet has passed. This is a peaceful painless process.

Cremation & Memorials

The Pet Hospital of Penasquitos uses Peaceful Paws for cremation. Our doctors can take your pet's body after you have chosen either a private cremation, where you receive your pet's ashes, or a communal cremation where you do not receive any ashes.

Owner After Care

You may keep your pet's body and arrange for your own cremation services or for home burial on your property, if local ordinances allow it. It is recommended you bury your pet with at least 3 feet of soil above it.

Pet Loss Support

We know losing a member of your family is difficult and traumatic and dealing with the loss of a special companion is never easy.   There is a normal grieving process that everyone must go through, although we all experience and deal with grief in different ways. You are welcome to call or to stop by to talk to Dr. Boyer about your feelings. As well as resources that you may find helpful in the San Diego Area and throughout the United States.

Pet Loss Support Hotlines

San Diego County Pet Bereavement Program
2058 Oxford Ave. Cardiff, CA 92007
(760) 436-6798  Fax: (760) 436-6798 
www.petbereavement.com
Contact: Lorri Greene, Ph.D.
The San Diego Pet Bereavement Program offers support and counseling for those pet owners who have lost or are anticipating the loss of a pet. Free telephone consultations and low cost counseling is available by a licensed psychologist.

Pet Loss Counseling, Center for Effective Living
9815 Carroll Canyon Rd., San Diego, CA 92131
(858) 566-3333
Contact: Meg Kaufman, MFCC
Meg Kaufman is a marriage, family, and child counselor in private practice. Her specialties include bereavement counseling, especially for animal loss. She works with children, adolescents and adults and is available to speak to groups concerning the loss of a pet. Her background includes counseling in schools, hospices, outpatient psychiatric facilities and in private practice. She is also a certified animal lover!

Pet Loss Support Group
San Diego Humane Society and SPCA
5500 Gaines Street, San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 299-7012 x 2311  www.sdhumane.org
One weekend morning and one weekday evening session per month
The Pet Loss Support Group is open to those ages 12 and up, including pet parents who are considering or preparing for euthanasia. Thanks to support from the San Diego Pet Memorial Park, sessions are free. Donations are appreciated.

Chicago VMA
www.chicagovma.org, 630-325-1600

Colorado State University, Argus Institute
http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/vth/diagnostic-and-support/argus/Pages/default.aspx, 970-297-1242

Cornell University
https://www2.vet.cornell.edu, 607-253-3932

University of Illinois
http://vetmed.illinois.edu, 217-244-CARE (2273) or 877-394-CARE (2273)

Michigan State University
https://cvm.msu.edu, 517-432-2696

P&G Pet Care, Pet Loss Support Hotline
888-332-7738

University of Pennsylvania, Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital
http://www.vet.upenn.edu/veterinary-hospitals/ryan-veterinary-hospital/services/grief-support-social-services, 215-898-4556

University of Tennessee
www.vet.utk.edu/socialwork, 865-755-8839

Tufts University
http://vet.tufts.edu, 508-839-7966

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
http://www.vetmed.vt.edu, 540-231-8038

Washington State University
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu, 509-335-5704 or 866-266-8635

BOOKS

Saying Good-bye to the Pet You Love Lorri Greene, PhD and Jacquelyn Landis, New Harbinger Publications, 2002. Also see San Diego County Pet Bereavement Program

Coping with the Loss of a Pet
Christina M. Lemieux, Wallace R. Clark, 1992

Living Through Personal Crisis
Ann Kaiser Stearns, Ballantine, 1984

Maya's First Rose
Martin Scott Kosins, Open Sky Books, 1992

When Your Pet Dies: How to Cope with Your Feelings
J. Quackenbush & D. Graveline, Simon & Schuster, 1985 (out of print check library)

Especially for Children:

Lifetimes
B. Mellonie & R. Ingpen, Bantam Books, 1983

Oh, Where Has My Pet Gone?
Sally Sibbett, B. Libby Press, 1991

Pet Loss: A Thoughtful Guide for Adults and Children
H.A. Nieburg & A. Fisher, Harper & Row, 1982 (out of print - check library)

The Tenth Good Thing About Barney
Judith Viorst, Aladdin Books, 1975

WEB RESOURCES

Delta Society - www.deltasociety.org, counselors, groups, websites, memorials, articles, and a comprehensive bereavement directory
Pet Loss Help - www.petlosshelp.org, memorials, articles, pet stories, reference links

Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement, www. APLR.org, Free groups, websites, memorials, articles

HealthyPets.com (AAHA) dealing with the loss of a pet