Euthanasia and Aftercare
Making the decision to euthanize your beloved pet can be a very difficult thing to do. Whether it’s due to old age, a serious illness or disease we are here to support you and your family through this process and help make these final decisions as easy as possible. We truly believe this is the final gift you can give your pet.
First Step
Call and speak with our customer care team. They will help to guide you in booking an appointment at an appropriate time for your family. This may be to schedule the euthanasia or just to discuss euthanasia with the Veterinarian
The Procedure
We have an exam room designed specifically for this purpose with a couch to help provide comfort for you and your family so you can spend as much time as you need with your pet before and after the procedure. The doctor will first come in and discuss what to expect and when you are ready, the doctor will place an I.V. catheter and administer a sedative which will help your pet relax and minimize stress before the injection. It is your choice if you’d like to be present for the procedure, this is a very personal choice and we will support the decision you are most comfortable with.
Aftercare Options
Aftercare options include cremation or taking your pet home for burial at your cottage or a Pet Cemetery. If you choose to cremate you have the choice between “communal” cremation and “private” cremation.
Communal cremation – Your pet is cremated with other pets and you will not receive their ashes back.
Private cremation – Your pet is cremated individually and you receive their ashes back in an urn of your choice with their name engraved on the front. There are several urn options which are included in the cost of this cremation. Specialty urns and clay paw prints are available at an additional cost, see the link below to view options. We use Gateway Pet Memorial, for more information please visit their website www.gatewaypetmemorial.com.
Please let us know if you would like us to do a complimentary ink paw print impression on card stock and or take a clipping of hair for you to keep.
Grieving
Our pets are our friends, family members and companions. The bond between a person and a pet is a special one. The loss of a family pet may result in a variety of emotions: denial, guilt, anger, sadness, shock, pain and other feelings. It is important to remember that people respond differently to the loss of a pet. For a complete listing of pet loss support material including: online communities; grief and bereavement resources; pet loss support groups; pet memorial; suggested pet loss books and other online reading materials, please visit the OVC Pet Trust website at www.pettrust.ca/petlossresources.