Saying goodbye to your pet can be so hard. They have been at your side, through thick and thin for many years. You may have had them since puppy or kittenhood, or only for their twilight years. Dogs and cats become part of the family, always ready for some attention, a warm lap, food or a caress. Many family pets have been there since the children were small, helping bring them up. Pets listen without judgement, and are always pleased to see us. You are the centre of their life. They depend on you to be there for them. Pets in later life give us purpose and structure in our daily life. Losing them may leave us off balance and struggling. The pet can be gently released from their suffering, that suffering is then transitioned onto owners, leaving us to bear the burden of grief.
Letting go of that bond hurts, it really hurts. Taking the decision to have a home visit for peaceful euthanasia in the familiar surroundings of home, with the whole family (human and pet) present can soothe some of that hurt. Many of the families that I have helped by visiting them for peaceful in-home euthanasia are so grateful that their best friend didn't have to make that last journey to the vet clinic. Families are grateful for the time I spend with them (I allocate over one hour to my visits) and the gentle way my sedation protocols mean their pet gradually falls asleep, then deepens into anaesthesia before finally being released. I allow plenty of time after death for family members to begin come to terms with the absence of life in their pet. I quietly withdraw for a while so everyone can grieve openly without a stranger present in the room.
Euthanasia for our pets is hard enough, having it done at home makes that time a little more bearable for the family left behind, and I am sure the pets are grateful for the familiar surroundings.
Before leaving, I spend some time making the keepsakes the family wants - fur clippings, nose imprints, foot casts. For pets not being buried at home, owners often want to help me carry them to my car, for me to take them onto a local pet crematorium. I leave the family with aromatherapy blends to help with grief and there are booklists and signposting to counselling services on my website. My PAs, Lorraine and Helen are also available for a chat afterwards if needs be.
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