End Of Life and Cremation Services

At VCA Green Acres Animal Hospital, we understand that losing a beloved pet can be one of the most difficult experiences you’ll ever face. Our compassionate team is here to support you through this challenging time.

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is one of the hardest decisions a pet owner can face. It’s important to recognize when your pet’s quality of life has declined to a point where it may be more humane to let them go. Here are some key signs that it might be time to consider saying goodbye:

  • Chronic Pain: If your pet is experiencing chronic pain that cannot be managed with medications, it might be time to consider euthanasia. This includes conditions like severe arthritis, advanced cancer, or significant injuries.
  • Loss of Mobility: When a pet can no longer move around comfortably or with dignity, their quality of life is significantly diminished. This includes difficulty standing, walking, or navigating stairs
  • Lack of Appetite: A consistent lack of interest in food and water can indicate severe illness or discomfort. Pets who are unable to eat or drink are suffering and may be nearing the end of their life.
  • Incontinence: Frequent, uncontrollable urination or defecations, especially in combined with other symptoms of decline, can be a sign that your pet’s health is failing.
  • Breathing Difficulties: Laboured breathing, persistent coughing, or other respiratory issues can be indicators of serious health problems that are often unmanageable.
  • Behavioural Changes: Significant changes in behaviour, such as increased aggression, withdrawal, or confusion, can signal that your pet is in distress or pain.
  • Veterinary Advice: Always consult with your veterinarian when considering euthanasia. They can provide guidance based on your pet’s specific condition and help you make the most compassionate decision.

Remember, saying goodbye is never easy, but sometimes it’s the kindest choice. Your pet has given you unconditional love and companionship, and it’s our responsibility as pet owners to ensure their final moments are peaceful and pain-free.

To help you prepare for the decision to euthanize your pet, consider the following questions. They are intended only as a guide. Only you can decide what the best solution is for you and your pet. Take your time as these are not easy questions to face. Please feel free to discuss this with any of our team members.

  • What is the current quality of my pet’s life?
  • Is my pet eating well? Are they playful and affectionate towards me?
  • Does my pet seem tired and withdrawn most of the time?
  • Is my pet in apparent pain? Is there anything I can do to make them more comfortable?
  • Can my pet perform toileting habits with dignity?
  • Are there other treatment options available?
  • Is allowing my pet to die at home with the appropriate medications for comfort an option?
  • If a behavioural problem has led me to this decision, have I sought the expertise of a veterinary behavioural consultant?

Here are similar questions that are set up as a survey. Sometimes, attaching a number and seeing the total can help you make a decision. A veterinary oncologist in California named Dr. Alice Villalobos has designed this questionnaire to help owners determine their pet’s overall quality of life.

Speak to all family members regarding this decision. As each family member shares the caregiving responsibilities for your pet, each member should have a say in the decision to have the pet euthanized. An honest approach is best when dealing with a child, who also needs to know that his or her feelings and opinions have been listened to before a pet is put down. Children need time to say goodbye.

When you have made the difficult decision to humanly euthanize your pet you may wonder, what now? We are here to walk you through every step of the way. When an appointment has been scheduled, we will ensure you know what to expect on the day. Our comfort room is connected to a private garden area that has its own separate entrance so you do not need to enter the main reception area if you do not wish too. This also allows you to leave in private whenever you are ready after the appointment. A doorbell is located inside the comfort room that will alert a team member that you have arrived and are ready to be checked in.

Once some paperwork is completed and payment is made, we will have our RVTs place an IV catheter. A DVM will come in to talk with you about what we will be doing and explain the process to you. Whenever you are comfortable and ready to proceed, we will sedate the pet so they enter a relaxed and comfortable state. Whenever you feel ready, the doctor will proceed with the final injection that will stop the heart.

Green Acres Animal Hospital is one of the only veterinary hospitals in Canada that is equipped with a professional crematorium facility located inside the hospital, so your pet never leaves our care. You can trust that your pet is safe in our care until it is returned to you. Dedicated team members run this facility.

Our Cremation Services:

Our Cremation Services are available to anyone who has lost a dog, cat or small pet.

  • Private Cremation: For pet owners who wish to ensure their beloved companion receives individual care and attention, we offer private cremation services. Your pet will be cremated individually, after the unit has been completely cleaned out, and their ashes will be returned to you.
  • Communal Cremation: If you prefer a more economical option, we also offer communal cremation services. Your pet will be respectfully cremated alongside other pets, and their ashes will be disposed of for you.

  • Memorial Options: We understand the importance of honoring your pet’s memory. This is why we offer a variety of memorial options, including personalized clay paw prints, resin keepsakes, and urns to help you create a lasting tribute to your furry friend.

We always offer ink paw prints in a sympathy card sign by our whole team at no charge.

Making the decision to euthanize your pet is very difficult. It is just a little easier if you know what to expect. Here are some answers to questions we often hear.

1. How does cremation take place?
Cremation is a thermal process that reduces the animal to bone fragments. This process can take anywhere from 2-5 hours depending on size of animal, private or communal cremation. A second step does need to take place to turn the fragments into ash through a processor. If this is a private cremation, then the ashes would be collected from the processor and put in a scatter box or urn of choice. Communal remains are disposed of by us.

2. What will my pet’s ashes look like?
Ashes can vary in color pet to pet but will usually be a gritty gray substance that will come wrapped in a plastic bag within a sturdy box. You can choose to bury the box, spread the ashes, or transfer them to an urn of your choice. You are always happy to transfer ashes into an urn for our clients at any time. You do not need to purchase an urn through us.

3. How do I know the ashes I get are really my pet’s?
Most veterinary clinics depend on an outside company to complete pet cremations. Green Acres has our own professional crematorium. Your pet never leaves our clinic or care so we know exactly what happens during the entire process. All pets are truly treated the way we would want our own pets treated. If you choose, we are always happy to show clients the crematorium area so they can see where their pet is going and what that process looks like at our clinic.

We have a wide variety of memorial products that you can choose from. Everything can be viewed in clinic as well.

There are many urns and photo boxes available to order. You are also welcome to bring one to us if you wish and we would be happy to place your pet’s ashes in that for you.

Ink paw prints are always offered for no charge if you wish. Along with ink there are also clay impressions offered through Spawts that will last a lifetime.

Please review the Memorial Products page for more information on all products offered.

If you would like some resources to help you cope with the possibility or reality of the loss of your pet, please click the link for the Argus Institute. The Argus institute is part of the vet teaching hospital at Colorado State University. They have some great articles and information on their website.

Other resources:

Heather Mueller, BSW, RSW, AAT, PLBS – Social Worker
[email protected] / 403-330-9654

The loss of a beloved pet can be a profound experience for children, as pets often serve as loyal companions and sources of unconditional love. Here are some ways to support your child during this difficult time:

  • Be Honest and Clear: Use simple and honest language when explaining the death of a pet. Avoid euphemisms that might confuse young children, such as saying the pet "went to sleep" or "ran away." Instead, gently explain that the pet has died and won’t be coming back.
  • Encourage Expression of Feelings: Allow your child to express their emotions openly. Whether it’s through talking, drawing, or writing, encourage them to share their feelings about the loss. Reassure them that it’s normal to feel sad, angry, or confused.
  • Share Memories: Reminiscing about the good times with the pet can be therapeutic. Encourage your child to share their favourite memories, and consider creating a scrapbook or a memory box filled with photos, drawings, and mementos of the pet.
  • Answer Questions: Be prepared for a variety of questions about death and what happens next. Answer honestly and age-appropriately, acknowledging that it’s okay not to have all the answers. It’s important to be patient and understanding as children process their grief.
  • Provide Reassurance: Reassure your child that they did nothing wrong and that the pet’s death is not their fault. Let them know that it’s okay to miss the pet and that their feelings of loss are normal.
  • Maintain Routines: Keeping regular routines can provide a sense of stability and security for children during a time of loss. It helps them feel that not everything in their world has changed.
  • Model Grief: Show your child that it’s okay to grieve. Share your own feelings of sadness and loss, which can help normalize their own emotions and demonstrate healthy ways to cope with grief.
  • Consider a Farewell Ritual: Holding a small ceremony or ritual can help provide closure. This could be a funeral, a special family gathering, or planting a tree in memory of the pet. Involve your child in planning the event to make it meaningful for them.
  • Seek Professional Help if Needed: If your child is having a particularly hard time coping with the loss and it’s affecting their daily life, consider seeking the help of a counsellor or therapist who specializes in child grief.
  • Discuss the Possibility of a New Pet: When the time feels right, discuss the possibility of welcoming a new pet into the family. Emphasize that a new pet is not a replacement but a new friend to love and care for. Allow your child to be part of the decision-making process.

The death of a pet is a difficult experience, but it can also be an opportunity to teach children about the natural cycle of life and the importance of cherishing memories. With patience, honesty, and support, you can help your child navigate this challenging time and emerge with a deeper understanding of love and loss.

Amazon has a great selection of children's books around the loss of a pet, as well as activity books that can help children cope with the loss.