Frequently Asked Questions

Your Questions, Answered

What does in-home euthanasia cost?

A house call euthanasia visit includes gentle sedation, the euthanasia procedure itself, one paw print impression, and keepsake fur clippings. The visit typically lasts between 30-60 minutes. This costs $400. Private cremation with the pet’s cremains returned in a beautiful hardwood urn is $300-400 depending on the size of the pet. It takes about 2-3 weeks for us to hand-deliver the urn home. Communal cremation (where no cremains are returned) ranges from $150-200 depending on the size of the pet.

What happens before an appointment?

We know that it's difficult to make the decision to euthanize your beloved pet. Your regular veterinarian is your best resource for helping you determine when "it's time". Once you've made the decision that it's time for euthanasia, you can go straight to our website and make an appointment request for a specific time that works for you. Once we receive your request, we will contact you to chat about your pet and confirm or adjust the time based on what else is on the schedule that day. Once you've confirmed your appointment with Angel Wings staff, you will receive information via email on how to prepare for our visit as well as an invoice that you can pay securely online if you'd like. Dr. Sara will call you again on the day of your appointment when she's on her way to give you an estimated time of arrival and to address any additional questions or concerns you have prior to her arrival.

How should I prepare for our visit?

It's a good idea to have a plan for where you will want to settle with your pet. For most larger pets, this is on a bed or on the floor in a living area where they are comfortable. Some smaller pets who are used to being held will be comfortable in your lap or on your furniture. You should have a water proof layer (like a "pee pad" or simply a plastic layer like a garbage bag) under your pet's bed to protect the underlying surface. I also suggest that you have some yummy food like treats, bacon, hot dogs, or whatever your pet absolutely loves. If they are still eating, we will have you feed them a little snack to distract them from the sedation injection we give at the beginning of the appointment. If Angel Wings is providing cremation services, we also request that you have a blanket that we can take with your pet to the crematory. It's important that you review the consent form sent to your email. You are encouraged to sign this form electronically before our appointment. You will also be able to pay using a credit card through our website prior to the appointment. If you are planning to pay by cash or check, please prepare your payment before Dr. Sara arrives so that we can focus entirely on your pet during our visit.

What happens at an appointment?

Dr. Sara will arrive at your home and briefly visit with your family. At this time you are not required to wear a mask, but Dr. Sara would be happy to wear one while in your home if you'd like - just let her know before your appointment. Dr. Sara will confirm your pet's info and aftercare choices. If you are paying by cash or check, payment will be collected at this time. After that's out of the way, Dr. Sara will give your pet an injection of a sedative. This will take your pet into a deep and comfortable sleep within 5-15 minutes. Typically pets are deeply asleep after that first ten minutes, but if they're not, we will give them more time or more medicine to get sleepier. Once your pet is settled and comfortable, Dr. Sara will give the second injection that is simply an overdose of anesthesia. The euthanasia injection is not at all painful and most pets will pass within a moment or two after receiving this second injection. While most pets respond in similar ways to the medicines we use, death can sometimes be unpredictable and may not always come in exactly the same way for every patient. Some pets may require additional time or medicine to help them transition smoothly. Others may require us to move faster if they are showing any signs of discomfort. Dr. Sara will talk you through every moment of the experience as it is happening. Our ultimate goal is to facilitate a peaceful and unforced transition for our patients. Once Dr. Sara has confirmed that your pet has passed, she will make a paw print impression and collect keepsake fur clippings for your family. She will then step out to give you the privacy and as much time you need. If Dr. Sara is not facilitating cremation services, this is the end of our appointment. If Angel Wings is providing cremation services, Dr. Sara will need your help to wrap your pet and prepare them for transportation to the crematory. If your pet is over 40 pounds, Dr. Sara will place your pet on a stretcher and ask again for your assistance in carrying your pet to her vehicle. If you aren't able to help carry your larger pet, please contact us to make alternate arrangements.

Should my children be present for our visit?

This is a highly personal decision. It's important that we are honest with our children about death and that we don't use euphemisms like "he went to sleep" or "he went to the farm" which can confuse small children and give them the wrong idea about things like "sleep" and "farms". It's important to use kind but direct language about death and dying.  We have a lot of space in which we can operate. One of the more important aspects of this decision is that we allow our children the choice to be present or not as well as the safety net of having a caregiver present who can leave the room or home with the child if they decide at the last minute that they don't want to stay. Allowing them the freedom to come and go as they wish can be helpful. The reality of witnessing a peaceful death can be more beneficial than the fantasies a child may imagine on their own. Keep in mind that having your children present will split your attention between comforting your children and being present with your pet. Seeing your child actively grieve and say goodbye to your pet is very likely to add to the emotional gravity of the situation, which is already tremendous. 

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A great deal more info can be found at The Ohio State Honoring the Bond site: https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/sites/default/files/files/companion/HTB/Helping%20Children%20Cope%20Printable%20%282013%29.pdf

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What should I do with my other pets during our visit?

As far as Dr. Sara is concerned, handle your pets in the same way you would handle them when you have company over for a visit. If your pets are normally allowed to greet guests and aren't a safety concern, Dr. Sara is happy to greet them and visit with them. If you would normally keep your other pets away from visitors, please do the same when Dr. Sara arrives. Most pets are a great comfort for their owners during these visits. They can be an extra cuddle buddy in a difficult time. Some younger or more exuberant pets will need to be separated from us as their energy can disrupt the calm atmosphere we are trying to create for your pet to comfortably fall asleep (for instance: a younger pet repeatedly dropping a toy in your lap or on your other pet as they are attempting to fall asleep). Opinions vary, but in Dr. Sara's experience, pets being present is beneficial as long as they aren't disruptive. We also believe that, in most instances, it's good for your other pets to see your pet after the euthanasia and before we remove your pet from the home. If Angel Wings is taking your pet for cremation, Dr. Sara will wait in her car while your pets visit and say goodbye.

What happens after my appointment?

If Angel Wings is handling cremation for your pet, Dr. Sara will take your pet at the completion of our appointment. Your pet will be placed into a special body bag made just for pets while awaiting cremation. Dr. Sara will deliver your pet to our local crematory partner and hand them off for cremation. If you chose communal cremation, your pet will be cremated and the cremains handled by the crematory. We will not deliver any cremains home for communal cremations. If your pet is being privately cremated, they will be assigned a unique identification number upon arrival at the crematory. A small medallion with this number is placed with your pet and remains with them throughout the cremation process. The crematory typically cremates pets within a week of their delivery to the crematory. They will place your pet's cremains into a plastic bag along with their identification medallion. This bag is then sealed inside a lovely hardwood urn. A cremation certificate containing your pet's unique identification number and the date of their cremation is affixed to the base of the urn. The urn is placed inside a decorative gift bag and is now ready for delivery to your home. Angel Wings staff will contact you on the day they plan to bring your pet home. We are doing contactless drop off, which means that, with your permission, our staff will place your pet's cremains in a safe place of your choosing and then go back to their vehicle. They will text you to let you know that your pet has arrived and wait a few moments in case you have any additional questions or want to chat.