This is a very personal question, and the answer is going to be different for everyone. Consulting with your primary Veterinarian is a great place to start. We highly recommend that you use the link below to gauge your animal's quality of life and make the best decision for your animal.  

How Do I Know When It's Time?

This depends on your location and your aftercare choices. We have a pricing list on our website to help you get an idea of cost. Providing accurate information when you schedule your appointment will help finalize a cost for you. 

Pricing

All of the medications that are used during this procedure are either sedatives, pain medications, or a combination of both, so receiving these medications into the body is not painful. At most, patients feel the needle prick and injection (similar to a vaccine) when giving the sedation prior to the euthanasia procedure itself. My most common reaction, if any reaction happens at all, for this initial needle prick is either a small vocalization and/or a slight jump when the needle is placed under the skin.

If an in-home euthanasia appointment turns out to be the best option for you and your family, we will set up an appointment time where I will come to your home. Once I arrive, we will discuss your pet and make sure that you feel comfortable with the decision and steps moving forward. 

After discussing your pet and their health, I will create a sedation protocol tailored to your pet and administer it as an injection under the skin/into the muscle, or in some cases, start by giving medication by mouth. Usually, over about 10-20 minutes, these medications will take effect, and your pet will become drowsy, often acting like they are falling into a deep sleep. More medication is administered if needed to get them to that very comfortable place. 

Once they are asleep, we administer a different type of medication that will act as the euthanasia agent. This medication is commonly given through a vein, though there are many other methods that can be used (we can discuss these options and which one would be best for your pet at the time of the appointment).

There are multiple ways that we can check if your pet has passed at the end of the appointment. This includes checking for breathing, checking for a heart beat, and checking the eyes for something called a corneal reflex, or a “blink reflex”, when the eye is gently touched. 

This depends on your aftercare selection. 

• If you elect to have your pet privately cremated, we will leave your appointment with your pet and arrange transportation to the crematory, where they will create keepsakes before cremation. Within 24-48 hours of your appointment, a private driver will hand deliver your pet's ashes to your home, or the ashes will be shipped and on their way to you within 24-48 hours of your appointment. Hand delivery or shipping availability depends on your location.
• If you elect common cremation, we will leave your appointment with your pet after the euthanasia service. We will arrange transportation to the crematory, and your pet's ashes will be spread at a pet cemetery in Wooster, OH.
• If you elect home burial, your pet will stay with you after the euthanasia appointment.

If you choose a Private Cremation, a cherry wooden urn with custom engraving, a clay pawprint keepsake, and a clipping of your pet's fur will be included. If you choose a Common Cremation or you elect to keep your pet for a home burial, we can make foam pawprint keepsakes for you, which are available at checkout. There is more information on these options on the Pricing page.

We partner with Faithful Companion, which operates out of Twinsburg, OH. You can learn more about them by visiting their website faithfulcompanion.com

We can always discuss the possibility of traveling farther than my normal travel range, though this does depend on outside factors, including the weather, my schedule, etc. An additional fee may apply based on your location.

Due to my schedule, my working hours may change on a week-by-week basis, but I will do my best to accommodate every owner that I can. If you need an appointment outside of my working hours or on short notice, and it is something I can accommodate, an additional fee may apply based on the situation (late night/early morning, holiday, etc).