Reflections on providing End of Life Care for Pets.

After visiting a family for in-home euthanasia for their loyal pet, I stop on the way home to reflect.

Sometimes, I visit a church and sit quietly for a few moments while I process my thoughts and emotions.

After losing a pet, it's important to slow down and allow yourself to feel the feelings.

Everyone processes emotions in their own way and in their own time.

Some people do well alone, others need company.

Some people will benefit from professional support from a qualified pet bereavement counsellor.

Others find solace in the free Pet Bereavement Support line staffed by Blue Cross volunteers.

If you know someone whose pet has recently died, do reach out to them and offer a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on.

Acknowledge their loss - for many, it is like they have lost a member of their human family, sometimes harder than that.

By offering a home visit service I aim to give families plenty of time during their last goodbye. I listen to the stories about the pet. Other animals in the house can be there, mostly they just sniff their dead companion and wander off. Occasionally their grief is displayed in a more dramatic way - laying over the body or pawing at their dead companion. I feel that allowing these behaviours to happen help the animals left behind to understand and begin their own grieving process.

I leave families in peace to privately say goodbye like this before we gently and respectfully wrap them and carry on a soft stretcher to the dog bed in my car. I then transport them to the pet crematorium of the families choice. Some families decide to bury their pet at home.

For some families having keepsakes made like paw prints, paw impressions, nose prints, fur clippings is helpful. I offer these at no additional cost. For other people the memories are all that's needed. Every pet touches hearts and will not be forgotten.