It’s no secret that this is a difficult, complex, and highly personal decision. There are often many different factors to consider, beyond just whether a pet is still eating or drinking. If you’re struggling with this decision or have concerns about your pet’s quality of life, please consider a Complimentary Quality of Life Consultation. During our 10-15 minutes on the phone together we’ll discuss your concerns and whether a loving farewell may be the appropriate decision for your loved one.

Once you’ve scheduled an appointment, there’s nothing more you need to do other than love on and be with your sweet pet. I will give you a call prior to the appointment to confirm details and answer any questions you may have. When it’s time for the appointment, you are more than welcome to have some yummy treats on-hand to offer your loved one if he or she is still eating (even fun things that are typically off-limits, such as chocolate). It might also be helpful to spend some time thinking about any details you might prefer—such as who all you wish to be present, where your pet might feel most comfortable, whether you’d like to have music playing in the background, etc.

Although I have had the privilege of working alongside some amazing colleagues and technicians over the years, I choose to perform this particular service on my own. In my aim to make this experience as peaceful and comfortable as it can possibly be, I strive to minimize potential disruptions—including the number of relative strangers entering your home. I have found that when it’s just me, I’m able to foster a more intimate, less intrusive environment.

The first medication I give will be an intramuscular injection of sedation, which will provide your sweet pet with pain-relief and relaxation. This poke is the only part of the procedure your pet will feel and is comparable to the sensation one feels when getting a vaccine. This is a great time to love on, feed, and talk to your pet. Over the course of 5-10 minutes, your pet will slip into a very deep sleep. The final medication I give will be an overdose of an anesthetic which your pet will not feel. As such, it will gently slow your pet’s heart. The exact location of this injection will depend on your pet’s condition and position but will be given into the bloodstream either by way of a butterfly catheter or direct access. In most cases this process takes only a few moments, but I will let you know if I suspect your pet’s condition may result in a slower transition.

Because the euthanasia solution is an anesthetic, a pet receiving it will feel like someone going into surgery. If you’ve ever had surgery yourself, you’re likely familiar with the experience of an anesthesiologist asking you to count down from 10 as you drift into the deepest of sleeps. The only difference here is that an overdose is given, resulting in a painless slowing of the heart.

Although A Loving Farewell is not an emergency service, the nature of this care is such that oftentimes we’re looking at an appointment within the next few days rather than the next few weeks. That said, the more notice you can give, the better our chances of finding an appointment time that works for you. Because this is a solo-doctor practice, there may be times when my availability does not allow me to assist you in the time frame that your pet needs. In such cases, I recommend seeking help from an emergency clinic or another local veterinarian.

I understand the touch-and-go nature of this difficult time and simply request that you let me know with as much notice as possible if you need to cancel or postpone so I can open up my availability to other families in need. As such, there is no cancellation fee if you reach out ahead of your appointment. However, if you have me come out to your home for a euthanasia appointment and no euthanasia is performed, there will be a $150 professional house call fee plus any applicable drive fee to cover the time and supplies used in preparation for your appointment.

A Loving Farewell accepts cash, checks, and all major credit cards. We’ll get payment out of the way at the beginning of the appointment so that then we can just focus on your loved one.

Safety—yours, mine, and your beloved pet’s—is my top priority. I understand that some pets do not appreciate visitors to the home or dealing with strangers. Even pets that typically enjoy visitors may feel otherwise when struggling with deteriorating health. That said, for me to be able to help give your pet a loving farewell, I will need to be able to safely administer the sedation medication. If safety is at all a concern, I do have muzzles that can be used for the brief moment of giving this medication. In such cases, if you feel you are able to safely place a muzzle on your pet and hold/restrain him or her for this brief moment, then we could move forward with an appointment. However, in the event we are unable to proceed in a safe manner, the appointment will be discontinued and a full refund issued minus the professional house call fee of $150 and any applicable travel fee.

For small pets under 30 pounds, I will use a blanket to tuck them into a basket and respectfully carry them out to my car. For pets over 30 pounds, I do require the assistance of 1 able-bodied person to help me respectfully place the pet on the stretcher so that I can then use a blanket to get them all tucked in. Once they’re tucked in, I will carry one end of the stretcher while you support the other end. For pets 90 pounds or more, 2 able-bodied people are required to help with getting the pet onto the stretcher and out to the car. In my experience, the opportunity to serve as a pallbearer can be somewhat cathartic for families.

This is one of the most common questions I’m asked, and to be honest it’s a question I had myself when I first partnered with Lasting Paws of Flagstaff. From one pet parent to another, I can tell you that your beloved pet will be in the best of hands. Lasting Paws of Flagstaff uses a proprietary identification tag which stays with your pet throughout the entire process. Their hope and intent with this system is to provide you with the highest level of accountability, transparency, and comfort possible.

A Loving Farewell is solely an end-of-life practice and is proud to support local veterinary clinics. For other veterinary services, please seek one of Flagstaff’s full-service veterinary practices.