In-Home End-of-Life Care for Dogs and Cats in Surrey
In-home end-of-life care exists because for some animals, home is the only place that makes sense. A cat who has never travelled well, a large dog who can no longer manage the car, or a pet whose whole life has been measured out in one sunny spot by the window. In-home end-of-life care for dogs and cats in Surrey means we come to you, so that your pet’s last hours are spent somewhere entirely familiar.
If you would like to ask about this, call us on (604) 501-0077. There is no obligation in asking.
In-home end-of-life care is a scheduled home visit where a veterinarian assesses comfort and, when the family is ready, carries out humane euthanasia in the pet’s own surroundings. It avoids the stress of travel, allows the whole family and any other pets to be present, and includes help with cremation and aftercare arrangements afterwards.
Why Families Choose In-Home End-of-Life Care
The car journey and the waiting room are often the hardest part for an animal that is already frail. At home, there is none of that. Your pet stays in its own bed, or on the sofa, or out in the garden if that is where it is happiest, and the last thing it is aware of is the smell and sound of its own household.
It is easier for the people too. You can grieve in your own home rather than in a car park. Children can be there, or not, as suits them. Other animals in the house can be present, and many families feel it helps the surviving pets to understand what has happened.
If You Are Not Sure Yet
Many people call us while they are still deciding, and that is a perfectly reasonable thing to do. Asking what a home visit involves commits you to nothing at all.
It is often easier to have the conversation a little earlier than feels necessary, because it means the decision is made calmly rather than in a difficult hour. We can talk through how your pet is doing, what we would be watching for, and what we would be able to arrange and when. If the answer is that there is still good time left, we will tell you that too.
How a Home Visit Is Arranged
Home visits are arranged by appointment rather than at short notice, because the visit takes much longer than a clinic appointment and we do not want it hurried. Please call as early as you can so we can find a time that suits your family, whether you are in Newton or elsewhere in Surrey.
Tell us when you call where you are, how large your pet is, and anything we should know about access to the house. If your pet’s situation changes suddenly and a home visit cannot be arranged in time, we will say so honestly and make space for you at the clinic instead, where the same approach applies.
Preparing the Space
Very little is needed, and nothing has to be perfect.
Choose the spot where your pet is most comfortable and lay down a familiar blanket or towel. A room with a little space around your pet helps, so that everyone who wants to be close can be. Dim light and a quiet house are kinder than a tidy one. If you have other animals, decide in advance whether you would like them present or settled in another room, and either is a reasonable choice.
You do not need to move your pet for us. We will come to wherever your pet is lying.
What Happens During the Visit
We arrive, sit with you, and take time to answer anything you want to ask before we begin. Nothing moves faster than you want it to.
Your pet is given a sedative first and settles into a deep, peaceful sleep where it is lying, usually against you. Once you say you are ready, the final injection is given gently, and it works quickly and calmly. You can hold your pet right through, speak to it, or simply be nearby.
Afterwards we will stay as long as you need us, and we will not hurry you out of the room or off the floor.
Afterwards
We can take your pet into our care for cremation, arranged either communally or individually with ashes returned, and we will carry your pet from the house ourselves, wrapped in its own blanket if you would like. A paw print or a lock of fur can be prepared as a keepsake.
Home burial is restricted by municipal bylaws in Surrey, so please raise it with us beforehand rather than afterwards. If you would like us to point you towards pet loss support in British Columbia, we are glad to.
Good to know
Questions Surrey Pet Owners Ask Us
Which areas do you visit at home?
How much notice do you need?
What should I have ready?
