We have created this page to help you find a local home visit vet who can give your pet a dignified, peaceful euthanasia service in the comfort of your own home.
Over the years we have seen practices begin to struggle with providing this service due to staff shortages. We felt this resource would help connect both families, and veterinary practices, with caring professionals who are dedicated to making those final moments as stress-free as possible for you and your much-loved pet.
Many people prefer home euthanasia to taking their pet into the practice, especially when their pet becomes distressed when they go to their vet. Research also shows that many families choose not to return to the veterinary practice where their last pet was put to sleep as it holds too many painful memories for them. Although it is a more expensive option, home euthanasia prevents this from happening.
The meaning of euthanasia, which comes from ancient Greek, is “good death.” Depending on your circumstances, vets use different methods of euthanasia to alleviate the pain and suffering of your pet. Although making the decision is tremendously difficult, it is the last act of love you can do for your companion.
We have created a directory of home visit vets that you can contact and discuss your wishes with to find the right fit for your needs.
We do not receive any payment for adding vets to this site, we only ask them to agree beforehand to:
One of the vets we are currently working alongside to provide Home Euthanasia to pet owners is Lambert Animal Care. Lambert Animal Care is an independent family-owned business created by Veterinarian Fred Lambert to cater to families who require Home Pet Euthanasia. Fred has three decades of experience in private practice and established two successful Veterinary Surgeries.
After many years as a Veterinary Surgeon, Fred is still passionate about helping families give their pets a peaceful send-off in the loving environment of their own homes. It is increasingly difficult to book Home Euthanasia with busy Veterinary Surgeries and so Fred set up Lambert Animal Care to enable owners to still have that option.
“Having used Lambert Animal Care for my dog, Fred Lambert also took Misty to Dignity for me as I was too distressed to go myself. They were amazing and phoned me back when I could speak to them without crying too much. Nothing was too much trouble and they talked me through the process. I felt at peace knowing she was treated with great care and cremated with someone present.”
We work alongside Forget-Me-Not Petcare, founded by veterinary surgeon Nancy Montoya, to offer home euthanasia services to pet owners.
Forget-Me-Not Petcare is an independent veterinary practice based in Fleet, Hampshire. Nancy found the need for an essential service to provide compassionate home euthanasia for beloved pets 24/7, including outside of regular business hours. Bringing a wealth of experience, having spent three years in general practice followed by four years working as an emergency out-of-hours veterinarian in Surrey, Nancy is offering a great amount of help to the local service.
For Nancy, the utmost priority is ensuring pets can pass away peacefully in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded by loved ones.
There are various options for you to choose from when the time comes…
1. Individual Cremation via Dignity Pet Crematorium. Our vision is to bring complete peace of mind to pet owners by providing a caring, respectful and compassionate individual cremation service. Find out how to arrange your pet’s individual cremation and personalise your service here. You’ll be guaranteed your pet’s ashes back, and only theirs. You have the following options:
– Arrange to bring your pet to us after euthanasia.
– Arrange for your vet to bring your pet to Dignity or have us collect them from your vet.
– Arrange for us to collect your pet from your home either immediately after euthanasia or later the same/next day.
2. Communal Cremation – This is usually arranged directly with your vet where they will take your pet with them after euthanasia and they will be cremated alongside other animals. Their ashes will be buried in a permitted area. How this service is performed varies widely according to the service provider so please ask how your pet will be treated beforehand.
3. Home Burial – Some people take great comfort from burying their pet in their own garden. Although the rules are fairly relaxed, we would suggest you first consider how you would feel when you move home and have to leave their remains behind. We offer an exhumation service as many people can’t bear to leave them behind. It is also quite difficult to bury a large pet deep enough to avoid attracting scavengers and it is best to protect the gravesite immediately after burial for this reason. If you are considering Home Burial, we recommend you read this informative article written by Dignity Owner, Kevin Spurgeon.
Please use the map below to find the nearest home euthanasia vet to you. Their prices, opening times and service will vary so please take the time to find the right vet for you.
PLEASE BE AWARE NOT ALL VETS OFFER DIGNITY AS THEIR FIRST CHOICE
IF YOU’D LIKE US TO LOOK AFTER YOUR PET PLEASE CONTACT US AND LET YOUR CHOSEN VET KNOW WHEN ARRANGING THE HOME EUTHANASIA SERVICE.
It is important to know that once a pet has been euthanised, a number of bodily functions can occur. These are completely natural and nothing to be concerned about:
It is fine to keep your pet with you for 24 hours after their death to give you and your family time to say a private goodbye. You can place personal objects with them if you wish, such as toys, treats, cards, photographs, or flowers. We suggest covering them with a favourite blanket when you are not in the room with them. You can keep them longer in cool weather if you wish, however if you notice their body deteriorating you should arrange their cremation / burial immediately. Placing a rolled-out plastic liner with a puppy pad or an old towel / paper roll underneath their head / backside is a simple way of containing and disposing of anything that happens after death.
Besides feelings of sadness people often experience various emotions such as guilt, anger, shock & denial and depression when loosing a pet. Sadly most of us have to make the impossible decision to put our pet to sleep. Even though it is the last act of love we can offer our pet and is made in their best interests we tend to looks for ways to question our decision and can have feelings of guilt after the event.
