The In-Home Euthanasia Process
Imagine a peaceful and loving end-of-life experience for your cherished pet, free from the stress of car rides, waiting rooms, and unfamiliar surroundings. Our mission is to make this process as gentle and comforting as possible. Family and friends are welcome to be present to honor your pet’s life and provide a calm and loving farewell.
Our goal is to provide your beloved pet with a gentle, loving transition and to give you and your family the space and support you need during this difficult time.
1. Arrival and Discussion
Upon arrival, our compassionate veterinarian will address any questions or concerns you may have. This is an opportunity to discuss the euthanasia process and complete the necessary paperwork.
2. Final Moments Together
You will have time to spend precious moments with your pet, offering comfort and saying goodbye. Whether you choose to be present for part or all of the process, we are here to support you.
3. Sedation
To ensure your pet is completely at ease, we will first administer a gentle sedative. This allows your pet to drift into a peaceful sleep, free of discomfort, before the final injection is given.
4. Aftercare Options
If cremation services are chosen, we will transport your pet to the crematorium. You are welcome to send your pet’s favorite blanket or toy with them for their final journey.
5. Veterinary Notification
As a courtesy, we will notify your family veterinarian of your pet’s passing so their records can be updated.
In-Home Euthanasia Cost
The cost for in-home euthanasia for pets up to 100 pounds starts at $600. Additional fees of $250 may apply for pets weighing 100 pounds or more, aggressive pets, exotic animals, extended travel distances or time, and appointments scheduled on holidays, weekends, or evenings starting at 6 PM or later.
Cremation & Aftercare Services
Kindest Farewell offers professional cremation services to support pet owners during the difficult time of saying goodbye to their beloved companions. We provide both private and communal cremation options, ensuring respectful and gentle handling of your pet.
If your pet passes away at home, Kindest Farewell offers retrieval and transportation services. Standard service is available Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, for $350. Additional fees may apply for after-hours or weekend services, immediate assistance, longer distances, or services on evenings, weekends, and holidays.
A Note About Home Burial
If you wish to keep your pet’s remains, aftercare arrangements are your responsibility. For those considering a home burial, it is essential to check your local town by-laws or other relevant regulations. Please note that we do not provide home burial services or advice regarding its environmental impact.
Private Cremation
With private cremation, your pet will be the only animal present during the cremation process, ensuring the cremated remains you receive are exclusively those of your beloved companion. The ashes will be returned in an urn of your choice, and a personalized paw print can be provided upon request.
From $380
Communal Cremation
For communal cremation, your pet will be gently cremated alongside other cherished animals. Please note that cremated remains will not be returned with this option.
From $260
Pet Hospice and Palliative Care
Dr MacDonald’s passion for dignified, compassionate end-of-life care stems from her clinical experience—seeing many owners unprepared for their pet's passing in the critical care setting and her own personal experience providing comfort care at home. She created this service to ensure all pets can live comfortably and pass with dignity.
Understanding the Services
Pet Hospice Care focuses on optimizing a pet's comfort and minimizing distress at any stage of illness. The goal is always to help the pet live well by managing symptoms and improving quality of life, regardless of whether a cure is possible. We seek to increase comfort and minimize distress for pets with any illness.
Pet Hospice Care is the dedicated delivery of palliative care from the time of a terminal diagnosis through the advanced stages of a life-limiting illness until the end of life. This involves a collaborative partnership between the family and veterinary team to create and modify a tailored comfort plan. The focus fundamentally shifts from attempting to cure disease to proactively managing symptoms and preserving dignity.
Understanding the Services
HPC provides invaluable support for pets and their families in a variety of circumstances:
- Progressive or Terminal Illnesses: Pets with conditions such as metastatic neoplasia, end-stage kidney or heart disease that is no longer responding to treatment.
- Declining Quality of Life: Older pets experiencing significant decline due to age-related issues, such as uncontrolled pain from arthritis, decreasing appetite, confusion, or house soiling.
- Need for End-of-Life Guidance: Families needing support and professional guidance when a pet's end of life is expected within days to weeks.
- Refocusing Care: Owners who have decided to move from aggressive treatment to focusing exclusively on comfort care.
The Comprehensive Consultation
Our consultation is designed to create a personalized, proactive, and compassionate plan for your pet’s final chapter. We view this process as a partnership, ensuring you feel prepared and supported every step of the way.
What to Expect During the Consultation
The discussion covers four essential areas to build your custom end-of-life care strategy:
1. Defining Goals and Concerns: We start with a thorough assessment of your pet's current condition and your understanding of their prognosis. We then clearly define your primary goals for your pet’s remaining time—whether it's maximizing mobility, eliminating pain, or prioritizing social interaction.
2. Resource Mapping and Support: We openly discuss the emotional, time, and
financial budgets you have for care. This allows us to create a sustainable plan tailored to your family's needs when saying good bye.
3. Optimizing the Comfort Plan: We review all current treatments and make strategic adjustments (additions or subtractions) to proactively improve your pet’s quality of life and the ease of caregiving for you. The focus is always on maximizing comfort and minimizing distress.
4. Creating the End-of-Life Plan: We develop a clear plan for the final stages. This includes discussing the process of a peaceful euthanasia and providing guidance on what to expect during a pet's final day, ensuring a serene and dignified farewell.
Aquamotion / Aqua Cremation
Kindest Farewell is proud to offer Aquamation a gentle, environmentally friendly final resting
option for your beloved pet.
Aquamation, or water cremation (scientifically known as alkaline hydrolysis), is a quiet, water based, eco-friendly alternative to flame cremation that uses a solution of water and alkali to dissolve a body over several hours. It is the same gentle process that occurs naturally in the soil.
Private Aquamation
0 – 49 lbs: $349
50 – 99 lbs: $399
100+ lbs: $489
Communal Aquamation
0 – 49 lbs: $260
50 – 99 lbs: $285
100+ lbs: $310
Service Areas
We proudly serve a wide range of areas in both Connecticut and New York. In Connecticut, our services are available in Fairfield County, Litchfield County, and New Haven County. In New York, we serve Dutchess County, Nassau County, Orange County, Putnam County, Rockland County, Suffolk County, and Westchester County.
