Home visits have many benefits and create much more personal experience for something as intimate as losing your pet.
- Comfort and Familiarity: Being at home is a familiar and comfortable environment for the pet, reducing stress and anxiety. They can be under their favorite tree, or on their favorite chair.
- Less Stress for Pet and Owner: Some pets do not tolerate car rides or vet visits and might feel more at ease in their home surroundings. Also, their families don’t have to go through the anxiety of getting their pet into the car or waiting in a lobby.
- Personalized Experience: At home, families can make it their own experience without being rushed. Some ideas families have done to make it “their day” include (but not limited to)
- Feeding favorite treats, or foods they couldn’t have before (chocolate).
- Surrounding the pet with their favorite toys and blankets.
- Creating a specific song playlist for background music.
- Having family members write letters, poems, or prayers to their pet and reading those to the pet.
- Privacy and Control: Being at home allows owners to have more privacy to openly grieve, tell stories, and can take their time every step of the way.
- Family Presence: In-home euthanasia also allows for all family members and pets to be present and say their goodbyes in a familiar and private setting. This may even help provide closure to other pets in the household.
*Each animal is different and respond to situations in their own way. Families know their pets best and it is their decision to have other pets present.
Ultimately, the decision of where to euthanize a pet is deeply personal and varies from pet to pet, and owner to owner. Both options have their own benefits, and the choice should be based on what is best for the pet and the family.