Our pets bring joy and enrichment to our lives. The responsibility of a pet owner starts with adoption, vaccines, food, water, proper housing, exercise, love and attention, but often ends in a difficult and emotional end of life decision. We see this as the final act of kindness for our pets in allowing a pain-free, loving, and compassionate environment where they can pass surrounded by people who care for them.
The process of coming to see a veterinarian when it is time to assess your pet’s quality of life and decide if it is time to ease their pain through the process of euthanasia is never easy. It does not get easier no matter how many times you are in this situation; being an advocate for your beloved pet means doing the right thing for them when the time comes.
Having gone through this process ourselves, we want to help you through the process from the exam to deciding on euthanasia and cremation options.
Things to think about prior:
- Would you like your pet’s ashes returned back to you?
- Would you like a plaster or glazed clay impression of your pet’s paw print?
- Would you rather prepay for everything, prior to this appointment, over the phone?
- Do you prefer an exam room you do not normally use?
- Would you rather have a house-call for this service? (Distance away and urgency may determine if this option is possible. Additional
house call and mileage fees will apply) - Would you or your children benefit from written materials on grieving and loss?
- (We have materials in our hospital, free of charge)
Resources available that can help guide owners in quantifying their quality of life:
Quality of Life Scale for Pets online calculator (journeyspet.com) (journetspet.com/pet-quality-of-life-scale-calculator) Quality-of-Life.pdf (utk.edu) (vetsocialwork.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Quality-of-Life.pdf) Video resources for clients: Honoring the Bond: Support & Resources for Pet Owners | OSU Veterinary Medical Center (vet.osu.edu/honoringthebond) Recognizing pain Cat Red Flags | Understand the Signs of Osteoarthritis Pain in Cats (feline osteoarthritis checklist) |
Our cremation services provider, Until We Meet Again, offers several cremation options as well.
You can visit their website: Home – Until We Meet Again
For Memorial items, we offer Spawts
You can visit their website: Spawts | Paw Print Impressions & Pet Keepsakes
Our provider also recommends AM Stevens Consulting, located in Surrey, for pet loss grief counseling (please call them to obtain rates for services). Scottsdale Veterinary Hospital staff and Paws to Remember staff can offer support and resources to help with the grieving process…you are not alone.