ASK ANYONE who’s ever made the decision to put a pet to sleep—it’s incredibly difficult and heartbreaking. When I was growing up, any family pets that were scratching on death’s door were taken to a veterinarian’s back room and never seen again. Thankfully, times have changed. As an adult, I’ve had two pets euthanized—both in the comfort of our home—and they were simultaneously peaceful and powerful experiences.
When it was time for our family’s 19-year-old cat—whose liver was quickly failing—to be put to sleep, we enlisted the services of a local in-home pet euthanasia service called Compassionate Care. The owner and founder of the business, Dr. Lori Gibson, spoke to me recently to share some of her background and talk about the importance of a pet passing in a comfortable atmosphere, surrounded by family.
Seven years ago, dissatisfied with pet euthanasia procedures of the time, Gibson decided to go into the business herself. Unlike the perceived sterility of a vet’s office, Compassionate Care focuses on carrying out the procedure in the home—preferably where the pet is comfortable and surrounded by family—and even provides eco-friendly crematory services, according to the family’s wishes. They are also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week—since death doesn’t always abide by business hours.
“When a pet passes, it’s a stressful situation,” Gibson said. “At-home euthanasia enables families and other pets to be there—which is important. Surviving pets also need closure, and to see the pet after it’s passed. We may not know how animals process death, but maybe they won’t think their companion just disappeared.”