Euthanasia

Our veterinary team would like to extend our deepest sympathies as you consider peacefully ending your pet’s life. As pet owners and animal lovers, we know firsthand how difficult it is to go through the loss of a furry family member. Our veterinary team is here to extend any advice and support you need to make the best decision for your pet and family. 

What happens after I’ve made the decision?

Before you make your final decision, our veterinary team can meet with you to discuss your pet’s overall health. For example, we’ll examine how their quality of life is being impacted by health issues or injury and discuss the best way to ensure their quality of life does not degrade further. Ultimately, the decision is up to you and your family but we want to make sure you have all the information you need. 

What happens to my pet after the procedure? 

When you book your euthanasia appointment, we’ll discuss your options for aftercare. Some of these include private/communal cremation, viewing and visitation. A private cremation means pets are cremated one at a time and you’ll receive your pet’s remains after the process. You’ll have the opportunity to select an urn for your pet. In addition, you’ll be provided with grief resources and a certificate of cremation. Communal cremation involves laying your pet gently alongside other pets in the cremation chamber. The remains of all the furry friends are scattered together. Since your pet’s remains won’t be returned to you, you can consider a personalized memorial item, like a paw print, to remember your pet. Depending on the cremation service, you can also choose to spend the last moments with your pet. We have an extensive network of services we can refer you and your loved ones. 

What grief support is available?

Grief is not a linear process and no two people experience loss in the same way. If you find yourself having difficulty dealing with the loss of your pet, our veterinary team is here to extend our support.  There are pet loss support groups we can refer you to, which can support you through this transition.

If you need someone to speak to, we highly recommend Mary Boldt. What she will do is a journey with anyone who is going through any type of loss and is unable to get past the hurdle of moving on. As a person who has experienced pet loss firsthand, she is a wonderful resource for transitioning through this difficult time. Mary can be reached at 604-521-4908.

What are some ways I can memorialize my pet?

Peartree paw prints create one-of-a-kind hand-painted paw prints from your pet’s individual paw. They can be personalized to meet your own specifications using a fur match or to a colour of your choosing. Our technicians take great care by getting a wonderful print in the clinic, we package and mail it to Peartree and contact you once the print has been returned to the clinic.