IN HOME EUTHANASIA | Pawprints Euthanasia

In Home Pet Euthanasia

We know how hard it is to decide to let a treasured friend go. When you've decided that it is time to say goodbye, our in home euthanasia service is there to help guide you and your pet through every step of the process. With Pawprints, you can talk with Dr. Allie every step of the way to ensure you are getting the best care possible.

It is our mission to make your pet's passing as peaceful as possible. Dr. Allie understands how impactful in home care can be. She has done euthanasia's under tables, inside boxes, outside in garden beds - really anywhere you and your pet would like.

Our euthanasia service includes a brief exam and discussion of your pet's current health, sedation to make your pet comfortable, a peaceful passing, and memorial items if desired including a custom clay pawprint, ink pawprint, ink nose print if possible, and a lock of hair. We take pride in including a custom clay pawprint with every euthanasia. Here you can see all of the possible clay colors offered as well as sample pawprints. Aftercare options are available for an additional fee and are listed here. All of our prices can be seen here.

What to Expect During Your Appointment

Appointments are scheduled with 2 hour arrival windows to make sure we never rush you or your family's goodbye and allow flexibility for urgent appointments. Most appointments last between 40 minutes to an hour. Our standard appointment blocks are:
- 7am - 9am
- 9am - 11am
- 11am - 1pm
- 1pm - 3pm
- 3pm - 5pm
- 5pm - 7pm
If you require a specific arrival time, please text us at (253) 391-4363 and we will do our best to accommodate.
If no appointments are available and you require a same-day appointment, please text us and we will do our best to fit you in.
We will do everything we can to arrive within your designated arrival window, but due to the unique nature of each euthanasia, we may be delayed. You will receive a text message/call (whichever you select when booking) notifying you when we are leaving our previous appointment and our approximate arrival time.
Once we arrive, Dr. Allie will explain the process and answer questions you may have.
Prior to the euthanasia, we will sedate your pet with an injection under the skin.
When your pet has reached an adequate level of sedation and you are ready, we will perform the euthanasia using an IV injection.
After the euthanasia, we will step out of the room so you can have a private goodbye if you wish.
If you have elected for us to handle cremation, we will carry your pet out to our car in a basket or gurney and transfer them to the local crematorium. If your pet is over 40 pounds we will require assistance moving to the car. If you cannot provide assistance please reach out and we may be able to provide an assistant.
If you have elected private cremation, you will be able to select one of our standard urn options at online booking. You will be directed to a memorial form page after you book your appointment.
If you have elected private cremation, the crematorium can hand deliver the ashes back to your primary care veterinarian or they can be shipped directly to you with signature required usually in about 1-3 weeks for no additional fee.
Complementary clay pawprints, inked nose/pawprints, and lock of hair are offered with every euthanasia. We create these after we have gone but before we transfer to the crematorium, except for home burials where we make these once your pet has passed. The pawprint needs to cure, so it will be mailed to you separately from us in 1-3 weeks.
We will notify your veterinarian of your pet's passing so they can update their records if you have provided one.

Frequently asked questions

Euthanasia

01
There unfortunately is no 'right time' with euthanasia. We all wish we had a crystal ball and could look into the future, but sadly that is not the case. In general there is usually a time when euthanasia is recommended as a pet's quality of life starts to suffer. Depending on the disease, this period can last months, sometimes hours. The key things we look for are changes in your pet that may indicate they are painful, stressed, or nearing the end. These often include decreased or no appetite, decreased or no interaction/engaging with you, difficulty or inability to rise or change positions, inability to get comfortable or constant stress, or any other changes that suggest their normal quality of life is suffering. For most people, you never will feel 100% ready, and often we tend to cling too long until it becomes an emergency. Our goal at Pawprints is always to support you through this process, as often making the decision to schedule the appointment can be the hardest part. Dr. Allie is always available to text before you schedule to ensure you feel as ready as you can be.
02
Dr. Allie has performed euthanasia's anywhere you can think of. Usually we suggest a location where you and your pet will be most comfortable and where you can be near your pet if wanted. We can be outside, inside, in the garage, in your pet's favorite bed or your bed, under the table - really anywhere. There is no need to worry about mess, once your pet is sleepy Dr. Allie will carefully and gently slide a blanket and potty pad under your pet.
03
04
This depends very much on your children's ages, maturity level, attachment to your pet, and parenting style. We welcome any children you would like to be present. Dr. Allie has children of her own and always tries to include them in the process and answer any questions they may have with age-appropriate answers. Sometimes kids want to stay the whole time, sometimes they would like to leave after the pet gets sleepy from the sedative, and sometime it's best for them to say goodbye before the process starts and stay in another room/with a relative until the euthanasia is over. One of our favorite ways to talk to your children about loss/euthanasia is through books. You can find a list of books and resources on pet loss for kids on our resource page here.
05
In general, if your other animals will not be distracting for you or interrupt the euthanasia process, we recommend that they be present. We find that this cuts down on the searching behavior that can happen with some pets after a friend is euthanized. They seem to understand a bit more that they have passed rather than just disappeared if they are present during the euthanasia. If your pets are too rambunctious or may be aggressive during the process, we ask that you keep them in another area until the euthanasia is complete. No matter where your pet is during the procedure, afterwards Dr. Allie likes to give your family some time alone to say goodbye. This is usually when we recommend letting your other pets say goodbye as well .

In Home Pet Euthanasia

What to Expect During Your Appointment

Frequently asked questions

How do I know it's time?

Where can we do the euthanasia?

How many people can be present/can I facetime/zoom?

Can/should our kids be there?

Can/Should my other animals be present?