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For some clinics, their answer is, “No.”
For Unleashed with Grace clients, the answer is, “Yes!” It is especially important right now to share with your friends information about our home euthanasia service. Veterinary clinics have been amazing at protecting the public and their staff by limiting human contact and still providing exceptional veterinary care. Some have made the decision to still allow people into their clinics to be present, and some have decided not to allow any people inside no matter what. This leaves some families who have no idea that services like Unleashed with Grace exist left feeling helpless. Because of Unleashed with Grace, families have another option: a dignified and graceful home passing where they can surround their pet with love, kisses, and hugs the whole time. We are currently still serving families in our service area who are not sick and who have not been exposed to the virus. We have increased our sanitation methods between appointments and are wearing a mask since keeping 6 feet apart during a euthanasia procedure is impossible. We are also partnered with Hinsdale Pet Crematory for all cremation needs who has also excellently increased their sanitation and safety methods during this pandemic. Please do your pet loving friends a favor and share this post. It is our duty to make something so hard, a little less hard for families especially now during such an unprecedented time.
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Through tears and sniffles she asks me, “Do I need to do anything or prepare for our appointment?”
“No,” I reply. “Just give your boy lots of love and care in the meantime.” Here at Unleashed with Grace, we do not want you to worry about anything regarding your home euthanasia appointment. We will take care of all the details and talk you through the process. However, here are answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding preparation: Where should we do it? Pick a room or a spot outside where you and your pet are most comfortable. I am always flexible about doing it wherever they want. Even if that means being in a tight corner or in a dimly lit room. I come prepared with things like flashlights to help if needed. Do I need a blanket? You can lay out your pet’s favorite bed or blanket, but you do NOT have to. I come prepared with blankets and even potty pads. When a pet passes, they can express their bladder which can become a problem if you want to hold your pet or have them pass away on your furniture. I bring potty pads to help protect you and your home from any soiling. Will I be able to hold my pet? YES! I will help position your pet so that you can still snuggle with them if you wish, and I can still have access to the area I need. Should I make a paw print beforehand? I make a paw print at each visit for you to keep. However, if you have your own kit or other memorialization products you want to make, it is easiest to do those after the pet has passed. You can try to do them before, but some pets do not cooperate very well when you try to place their paw in clay. I don’t mind helping you with them when your pet is sedated or has passed. Can I feed my pet beforehand? YES! If your pet is still interested in food, feel free to feed them whatever they want hours prior to my arrival. You can even reach for things like chocolate, McDonalds, bacon, ice cream, even steak! Just remember that their stomach is smaller than ours, so don’t overdue to quantity. How will we move the pet after he has passed? For smaller pets I have blankets and nice baskets that I transport them in. For larger pets, I have blankets and a stretcher. For pet’s over 40 pounds, I will need one person to help transport the stretcher with me to my car. The most IMPORTANT thing you can do to prepare is to spoil your furry family member!! Spend lots of time with them and give them lots of love! I will help you through the process and take care of everything along the way. And remember that you are honoring the bond you share with your pet by giving them a graceful and dignified passing. Many More Families are choosing home euthanasia. Wondering why? Just Watch! I continue to be amazed and impressed by all the families I am meeting.
I get to witness the human animal bond at its strongest, immersed in a sea of gratefulness and grief. Seeing pets at the end of their life and their owners suffering through loss is hard. But this sorrow is balanced by seeing the best of the human animal bond. Let me give you some examples…I’ve seen... Bucket lists fulfilled including Sushi night Parties of 20 plus people celebrating life and saying goodbye Friends and family coming together to support one another in loss Pets looking up at their owners filled with love and trust Other pets in the house acknowledging their friend passing and comforting their family Beautiful paintings and portraits memorializing their beloved pets And so much more Pet owners and pets continue to amaze me in how much they love one another unconditionally. And that love allows them to make that hard decision of letting pets pass with grace and dignity. People tell me all the time that “this must be the hardest part of your job”….. And yes it’s hard and has its challenging, but I leave every single house in awe and gratefulness that I get to do this and witness the beauty of the human animal bond. It is an honor for me to walk with people and pets during their last leg of their journey together and I am truly blessed by the people and pets I meet.  Unwrapping Presents……
Laughter with Loved Ones………… Stuffed bellied filled with Holiday treats…………….. For some, these Holiday joys can be coupled with Holiday grief, including pet owners. It can be overwhelming and under-acknowledged. Here, at Unleashed with Grace, we support you in your grief and hope that you allow yourself the time you deserve to process the passing of your beloved pet. Here are some tips that may be helpful:
The Melody Between Life and Death
I gently place my stethoscope just behind the elbow on the side of the chest, hearing the familiar slowing of the heart until it gracefully fades away turning into a peace filled silence. It is the same melody I have heard over hundreds of times as a veterinarian having helped many pets pass from this world to the next when it was most needed. It’s a song that never grows old, never taken lightly, and truly respected as the pet is allowed to pass with dignity and peace. It is during this time that I find myself kneeling in the chasm between life and death. I feel the weight of the sorrow in the room as the family’s tears and sniffles tell the story of the great love they have for their pet. Each tear representing a special memory, favorite pastime, or special grin that the person shared with their furry friend that will always be cherished but now will be no more in this lifetime. I also feel relief for the animal, knowing that their discomfort will be no more or go any further because their family made the tough yet compassionate decision to let them go. It is during these moments that I often hear, “This must be the hardest part of your job.” I am always amazed and humbled that in their moment of suffering that families have the compassion to think of me and how I must feel about this moment. I used to just mumble something like, “Yes, it’s hard because these animals are just so wonderful…” But the more years I’ve been in this profession, and the more experiences I’ve gained around saving a life and ushering one into peace, the more I’ve begun to really ponder how I feel about this particular aspect of my job. I’ve seen pets who have suffered with owners suffering alongside them, and witnessing that truly is the hardest part of my job. I got into this job to be a healer, a fixer, to save the lives of so many. The reality is though; that I take so many more lives than I am able to heroically save. It’s just the nature of the job and with such a short life span for these animals; it is simply just the way it is. Once I came to accept that reality and stopped seeing euthanasias as a burden or failure, I was able to see them as what they truly are: a final gift to a beloved pet who deserves a peaceful end. They no longer bogged me down or threw me into a spiral of “compassion fatigue”, instead they gave me purpose. It’s a time where the family, if they wish to be present, gets to spend their final moments with their pet in perfect peace. Where they get to say their final goodbyes and where I have the great responsibility of making sure that their pet passes in the most comfortable way possible. It is also where I am allowed into the families’ most vulnerable spot: their suffering. It is a privilege and an honor to suffer with others: to kneel with them before their pet and get a lump in my throat as their eyes start to glisten. It is a great privilege to accompany them in this final leg of their journey with their pet. I don’t take this lightly, I never get used to it, but I do deeply respect this precious time. This special time usually ends in a familiar beautiful tune. It’s a mixture of what I’d expect to be the pleasant sounds of a “major” melody as families laugh about some of the memories and troubles their pet gave them, then gently switch over to the “minor” keys of more serious interludes of grief stricken loss. Then there’s the undertone: usually a steady beat of relief. No more fearing for the worst or worrying that their pet may be suffering. The end was peaceful and now the families can breathe slightly easier while they grieve together. All of this honors their beloved pet to the fullest and I truly feel blessed to get to witness this precious moment. The song playing between life and death is one filled with deep respect, sorrow, and a whole lot of love and I am blessed to sit and listen to a tune such as that.  Losing a beloved pet is extremely difficult. It is a HUGE loss yet what makes it most challenging is that life around the loss seems to carry on as normal. This is SO hard for someone who has lost a pet because they start feeling like their grief isn’t normal when in fact, it is, and it’s important to acknowledge that. Here’s what you can do to help a friend who has lost a pet:
 Booties!!! Slow positive reinforcement is key to success! Take it Week by Week with these actions followed by a few treats and praise
Week 1: show your pet the booties daily immediately followed by a treat Week 2: tap booties to their paws then treat Week 3: put one bootie on and give treats and praise for one minute then remove Week 4: put all booties on and give treats and praise for 5 minutes Week 5: put all booties on and give treats praise and take outside: play distract have fun! Jackets: in the picture you can see my little chiweenie’s parka. She will not poop without it! So if you have an older pet, they may have trouble with real cold temperatures. Please purchase a warm winter coat for them to do they duty in and get extra points if it’s stylish!!! Walk outside with them: My girl will stop dead in her tracks if her paws get to cold and will make me pick her up! Make sure your older pet isn’t getting stuck outside or slipping on any ice. Watch them closely because even though they may not have had trouble when they were younger, they may find some as they get older and their joints become stiffer. Warm up afterwards with a nice heated throw blanket or just a large hug! A note on road salt: Winter sidewalk/road salt can dry out and crack your pet’s paws. So try to find a “pet friendly” salt like Morton’s “Safe-T-Pet” salt or make sure to wash their paws after their walks. These few tips will make the winter friendly and warmer for both you and your pet!!! There is no magic formula that will tell you if it’s time to choose to put your beloved pet down. For most families, this decision falls in the grey area and causes a lot of agonizing stress. Here are my top 5 tools that I have used over the years to help pet owners look at their pet’s quality of life.
1. Talk openly with your vet! We are here to help you through this. We know the disease or diseases your pet has and we know in general what you could expect. It is our job to help you through this process. Unleashed with Grace offers Quality of Life phone calls for only $50 for 30 minutes to help guide you through this tough decision. You do not have to make this decision alone! Chances are if you are reading this, you are facing this difficult decision. Do not be afraid to reach out, we are here to help...you are not alone. Max was one of my first home euthanasias 7 years ago that I will never forget:
He was laying down in his favorite spot on the farm, surrounded by his family. Even before I gave him any medication, I could tell he was very much relaxed and at peace. He passed gracefully, and his family was so relieved that he went with dignity and love. Losing a pet is excruciatingly hard and is always filled with sorrow. However, on that day, I saw euthanasia in a different light: it could be both sad yet beautiful. Tears of his family represented the years of stories and moments Max gave them. His last resting place represented his ultimate comfort zone, where he was most himself. His graceful passing represented the honor and respect he deserved as a beloved companion. His family's sorrow represented the strength in the human animal bond. The way we love our pets is beautiful and the way we say goodbye is meaningful. This is why we are honored to come along side pet owners during this emotional time. We share in your sorrow and honor the beauty of your bond by providing a dignified and graceful passing for each pet. |
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May 2020
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