If you have a question about pet end-of-life care, pet quality-of-life assessment, or mobile at-home euthanasia that is not answered on this page, please reach out to our team.
Your home is where your pet feels calm and secure. It’s also where you likely feel the most calm and secure as well. During one of the most difficult times you will face as a pet owner, veterinary homecare reduces stress and discomfort for your pet, and for you as well. You won’t have to put your pet in a carrier, and your pet won’t be faced with the fear and discomfort of travel or a busy clinic waiting room. This is especially beneficial if your pet is timid or nervous, or is suffering from a condition that makes transportation more difficult.
Homecare simplifies the complex end-of-life process and allows you to focus on being with your beloved companion until the very end. You can make them comfortable — on your lap, or in a favourite spot. You can give them their favourite treats, if they are able to eat comfortably. You can surround them with their favourite toys or blankets. If you wish, you can have your family or close friends present with you. And when the time comes to say the final goodbye, you yourself are already at home, in the place you feel most comfortable.
If you would like to learn more about the what happens during a humane at-home euthanasia appointment, you can read about the entire step-by-step Lifting Stars process on our What to Expect page. You can also reach out to our team directly to ask us any questions you may have.
Deciding when to say goodbye to our pet is a tremendous responsibility, and it is understandably one of the most difficult decisions we as pet owners have to make. Often, it can feel like we are doing the wrong thing no matter what choice we make. It doesn’t help that the only advice that people typically hear is: “When it’s time, you’ll just know.” If you are looking for an answer to this question, you know that this is not always true. In fact, it rarely is.
Many factors affect your pet’s quality of life and the bond you share with them. Is your pet’s pain adequately controlled? Can they breathe normally? Are they still enjoying interactions with you, with other animals, and with their environment? Are they tolerant of supportive care? Are you equipped with the financial and physical resources to provide them with an easeful quality of life? That last question can feel very challenging to include in your deliberations, but affordability is a very real factor for most pet owners.
You can find tools and guides to help you answer these questions on our Assessing Your Pet’s Quality of Life page. If you find you are struggling to weigh the answers to these questions, you can also reach out to our team. We can walk you through every step of the at-home euthanasia process and help you decide your next steps.
Understanding what will happen during your appointment can make the pet euthanasia process much less stressful, allowing you to focus on your pet, your family, and on saying goodbye in the way you wish. Read our What to Expect page for a step-by-step walkthrough of the entire at-home euthanasia process, from start to finish to aftercare. You’ll also find tips there about how to prepare, and how to reduce stress and anxiety for your pet as much as you can. If you have any further questions, reach out to our team and we’ll answer them as best we can.
You may also want to read through our Grief Resources page for additional support in coping with the loss for your pet.
Yes, you do need to make an appointment for at-home euthanasia appointments. If you can, it’s best to reach out to us with at least 1 to 3 business days’ notice so we can gather as much information as we can, including your primary veterinarian’s contact information so we can access your pet’s medical records. This ensures we’re fully prepared to provide the best care during this sensitive time. However, if your situation is urgent, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We will do our best to accommodate you and occasionally we can even make a same-day appointment.
If you would like to know more about what will happen once you make your appointment, read through our What to Expect page, or reach out to us with your questions.
Yes. All pets receive an initial injection for sedation and pain relief before the final euthanasia injection is given. This injection will help your pet relax and be as comfortable as possible, and will induce a relaxed and often sleep-like state before the final euthanasia injection is given. Our veterinarian will explain what is happening at every stage of the process, so you always know what is going on and what your pet is experiencing.
It is our goal to make the euthanasia process as peaceful and pain free as possible. To begin, our veterinarian will sedate your pet before administering the euthanasia medication. There is often a pinch when the sedation injection is given, that may or may not cause a brief stinging sensation. All pets vary in how they may react when the sedation is given. Our veterinarian will guide you in how to gently hold your pet when the sedation is given to help minimize any discomfort they may experience, but your pet may still have an “ouch” when the sedation is administered. Once the sedation takes effect, which usually takes three to ten minutes, your pet will be in a deep, sleep-like state and have minimal to no awareness when the final euthanasia injection is given. This allows them to experience a pain-free passing. We will always inform you about what is happening at every step.
A preliminary appointment is not required before a home euthanasia visit. Our quality-of-life consultations are designed to assist pet owners who need help understanding how their pet is doing to help them plan or make a decision. If you have already made that decision, you can book an at-home euthanasia.
Absolutely. We encourage you to stay with your pet throughout the process, as being present together can provide comfort for both you and your pet. Our veterinarians can guide you in setting up a comfortable space for your pet’s final moments, perhaps with their favourite toys or comfort items. Some people sit next to their pet, and some keep them on their lap. The choice of where and how you want to be with your pet is yours.
Yes, your family members, including your children, can be present during your pet’s at-home euthanasia appointment. When it comes to kids and pet euthanasia, you will be the best judge of whether or not it is best for your children to stay for the procedure. For some children, it can be an important emotional experience, and can help them understand and cope with the loss. For others, it can be frightening or stressful. You know your kids best. If you would like additional resources for this decision, the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement has a succinct guide you can order that outlines key considerations for helping your children through the loss of a beloved pet.
Additionally, please review our own grief support resources for further guidance on the subject of children and pet euthanasia. These guides can help you decide whether your children are ready to attend the euthanasia appointment and help you prepare them if they are.
If having a good friend or friends at your side will be helpful and supportive for you, we welcome you to invite them. Consider ahead of time what kind of environment, atmosphere, and support network you want in your home during the euthanasia, for your sake, and for your pet’s sake. Having calm, compassionate, and loving emotional support from your friends during and after your pet’s appointment can be very helpful during a very difficult moment. Often, our friends love our pets too, and may be grateful for the chance to say goodbye. However, some people wish for quiet time alone with their pets during this experience. The choice of who, how many, or if at all is yours.
Saying goodbye to a much-loved pet is a difficult experience, and it’s also an experience that can vary greatly across families. However, in most cases, we believe that it’s better to explain what is happening to your children and family, rather than try to avoid discussions about saying goodbye to a family pet. We recommend being — kindly and gently — honest and upfront to your younger family members. We also recommend using plain language rather than euphemisms, as these can be confusing to a child. You can explain to your family that your pet has been diagnosed with a condition (including naming the condition) and that you cannot make it go away; tell them what you have done to try to help your pet, and explain that, despite your efforts, they are not experiencing a good quality of life, so you are helping them say goodbye as an act of love. You can also help your children say goodbye directly to your pet, giving them the space they need to feel sadness.
If you have other pets in your home, it can ease the transition to have them there during the at-home euthanasia. If they are excitable, anxious or aggressive, however, the best thing might be to keep them separate to keep the atmosphere calm for your departing pet. Allowing them to approach or sniff your companion after the euthanasia process can also help reduce prevent later confusion.
Our veterinarians are experienced with guiding families through the euthanasia process. If you have any questions about preparing your family, please reach out to us.
Yes, we can and often do provide owners with keepsakes of their pets. On request, we can provide a free fur clippings. Our veterinary practice also offers a selection of five basic urns as part of the private cremation fee. For an additional fee, we have custom urn options and paw print keepsakes and other pet memorial items available.
We have collected a number of tools, guidelines, and resources for assessing how your pet is feeling on a day-to-day basis. Visit our Assessing Your Pet’s Quality of Life page in our Resources section for advice and guidance on understanding your pet’s behaviour and well-being. If you feel you need further assistance, reach out to us to ask about an in home pet quality-of-life consultation from one of our veterinarians.
There are many options for emotional support resources after the euthanasia appointment. You are more than welcome to call our support specialists during our working hours, and they can help direct you to some helpful resources. In addition, you may also want to explore our Grief Resources page, which has several links to local professional counselling services in the Metro Vancouver area, free online grief resources, support groups, and other helpful grief supports. If you feel like you need additional support, please tell us. It can be easy to underestimate how difficult it is to lose a beloved pet, and how long the grieving process can take. It’s important to reach out to friends, your regular veterinary hospital, or professional counsellors if and when you need help. Losing a companion you loved is a difficult experience, and you should not dismiss the effect it is having on you. Please be gentle with yourself during this time.
This is possible, but we strongly recommend that an outdoor euthanasia appointment take place in a private and serene space, for your sake and for your pet’s sake. This is important to help you honour the peaceful transition of your beloved companion, and to keep your pet’s stress to a minimum. Appropriate areas include your own private yard or a space where you have permission to ensure confidentiality and comfort. Our aim is to create a quiet, intimate environment away from public view or any potential disruptions for your pet and your family during this heartfelt goodbye.
We schedule up to one hour for a euthanasia or quality-of-life consultation appointment, from start to finish. We understand that sometimes a full hour is not needed, while other times a little more time is required. Our goal is to help give you, your family and your pet the time you need without feeling rushed, while also keeping our doctors on schedule for the other families we are helping each day. If you have any special timing requests or concerns, please reach out to us, and we will try to accommodate your needs as best we can.
We partner with Gateway Pet Memorial Services in Surrey to provide you with comprehensive cremation options, including delivery services. We offer two options for cremation: private or communal cremation. If you select private cremation, your pet will be cremated separately, and their ashes will be made available to you. (Visit our Pet Cremation page for information about timelines and how to receive the ashes.) If you choose communal creation, your pet will be cremated with other animals and their ashes will be spread in a private country meadow in the Fraser Valley.
We don’t recommend the burial of pets that have been humanely euthanized by your veterinarian. The medication used for euthanasia is potentially fatal to wildlife and harmful to the environment. The medication can take several years to become benign once your pet is buried. Cremation deactivates the harmful medication immediately.
If you wish to bury your pet, it is your responsibility to check with your local municipality for up-to-date regulations on burial for euthanized pets. Please ensure that you follow these regulations. Pets can only be buried on private property that you own or have permission to use. If you are interested in arranging for the burial of your pet, please let us know in advance.
Lifting Stars Veterinary Homecare is based in Vancouver, BC, and serves clients across most of Metro Vancouver. Our service areas for humane at-home pet euthanasia include Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Surrey, and Langley. Please refer to our Pricing and Payments page for fees, and hover over your neighbourhood on the map at the bottom of this page for information on travel fees.
You can find all of our fees on our Pricing and Payments page. For additional travel fees, hover over your neighbourhood on the map at the bottom of this page. If you would like to receive a detailed estimate from our support specialist, tell us about your situation using our “Request a Visit” form — you don’t need to book an appointment (just click the button that says you are only looking for information).
There are lots of reasons you might want to cancel your at-home euthanasia appointment with our veterinarians — some logistical, some emotional, some medical. If you need to cancel, we will understand. However, we do ask for a minimum of 24-hours’ notice for cancelling or rescheduling appointments so that our doctors and support team can effectively plan and we can help all of the families who need us. There is no charge for cancellation if you contact us to cancel within more than 24 hours of your appointment. For any appointments that are cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours there is a cancellation fee. If you have questions about how and when to schedule your appointment or how to cancel if necessary, reach out to us and we’ll be glad to answer them.
The most efficient way to book your appointment is by filling out our online Request A Visit form or to call our support specialists at 778-840-5438. Our team is available to answer your calls from Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you call or email outside of those hours, we’ll respond to you as quickly as we can.
We can sometimes accommodate urgent requests, but to ensure that we have a veterinarian available, please make your appointment in advance if possible, though we say this with the understanding that a pet’s well-being can and often does change unexpectedly. The more time you give us to plan, the better we can assist you, but we also know that advance notice is not always possible. We will always try our best to accommodate you.
Lifting Stars Veterinary Homecare is not an emergency service. If your pet is in a state of emergency, please contact your regular veterinarian or your local veterinary emergency clinic.
Our standard doctor’s hours for at-home veterinary appointments are:
Monday to Friday: 9 am to 5 pm
Evenings and weekends: Limited availability, call for details
Statutory holidays: Limited availability, call for details
