In-Home Pet Euthanasia Services

We do not have regular business hours and availability is limited, but posted on the schedule link provided below. 

If able, we will. I may not always be available to answer calls or messages on an emergency basis. I will do my best to direct you to someone that may be able to help if I can't. 

We offer services to most animals in need, just reach out first to ensure we are able to facilitate this for your pet. 

It can be very difficult to know when to make the decision to say goodbye to your beloved pet. It can even feel like you are letting them down or giving up on them. In fact euthanasia is a selfless gift to allow them to no longer be in pain nor suffer. Pain and suffering can be difficult to assess especially in stoic animals. Here is a link to help you better assess pain. AAHA/AAFP Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats, www.aahanet.org/Library/PainMgmt.aspx

Many people have different beliefs and feelings on when it is time and you know your pet better than anyone, including us so there are some quality of life assessments available to help you gauge if you are thinking it is time. https://www.lsu.edu/vetmed/veterinary_hospital/quality_of_life_assessment.pdf

If you are still struggling with this decision, we can have more of an individualized discussion if you wish. 

We are dedicated to making the process as peaceful as possible. Once you and the Veterinarian have determined that this is the best choice, your pet will have a medication administered in either one or two separate injections under the skin, that results in deep sedation that can take anywhere between 5 and 30min. to take full effect as every animal is different. During the time it takes for your pet to reach this state, you and your family may remain with your pet and share a few quiet minutes of saying goodbye. Once your pet indicates they are sleepy enough, the final medicine will be given by a butterfly catheter as long as their veins cooperate and if not, there are many other options to make this still a peaceful process. You may bid your pet farewell, taking comfort in knowing it was calm and pain free.

***The information below is not legal advice.  If you have questions about local and federal law, please speak to your attorney.

Common pet euthanasia drugs carry a federal label stating they “are toxic to wildlife.  Birds and mammals feeding on treated animals may be killed.  Euthanized animals must be properly disposed of by deep burial, incineration, or other method in compliance with State and local laws, to prevent consumption of carcass material by scavenging wildlife.”

This means there can be federal penalties associated with wildlife deaths caused by consumption of improperly buried euthanized pets.  These penalties can be substantial if an endangered species is involved.  

Virginia laws do not specify a depth for burial, however the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA) recommends that pets be buried 3-5 feet deep.  “This depth allows for microbes to reduce the body while being deep enough to prevent most wildlife from reaching it. Additional cover like stone slabs are always helpful.”

Please avoid utilities and tree roots.  Find out what is underground ahead of time before you dig.  Damaging tree roots while digging can kill trees.  

Avoid flood planes.  Look for level or slightly elevated areas for a burial sight. 

Additionally, you must own the land or have clear permission for pet burial.   

To read more about home burial, please visit the CAETA blog entry A Pet’s Home Burial. 

If you have questions about aftercare alternatives to home burial, please reach out to us for additional information. 

** The only options that do not incur additional fees is Cash (must be exact as I do not carry change) or Venmo (@Raeann-Foster-1)

** I NOW ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CREDIT/DEBIT cards but there will be a 3% fee added to the total. 

** I accept Care Credit (plans have different fees from 3-12% of the total depending on which plan you choose) and you can apply here and pay here https://www.carecredit.com/go/672KHM/

** I accept PayPal (additional 4% added to total) Reach out for QR code for this option.