Planning ahead for in-home pet euthanasia
Plan ahead for your Meaningful Goodbye™
It’s often difficult to plan ahead for in-home pet euthanasia because we want our companions to always be by our side. Even thinking about a goodbye can feel painful and overwhelming.
While we can often support your family the next day, or even the same day, depending on availability, planning final arrangements ahead of time can offer a sense of comfort and clarity. It allows you and your family to prepare gently, understand what to expect, and create space for a peaceful, loving farewell.
Create comfort
It may feel strange to schedule your companion's in-home euthanasia. However, by planning ahead, it provides a sense of control and predictability over a situation in which you may feel as though you have little power.
Pre-planning allows families to make decisions together with more clarity, and in a more relaxed environment.
Emotional overwhelm is reduced when arrangements have been made beforehand.
Feel reassured knowing that you can create a meaningful goodbye for your companion in the safety and comfort of your home.
Reduce any fear, anxiety or stress your companion might have when visiting a veterinary clinic.
Feel safe in a comfortable and familiar environment.
Arrange any pre-procedure medications should your companion experience fear or anxiety with veterinary care.
Preparing for your in-home appointment
Planning ahead doesn’t need to feel clinical or overwhelming. A few gentle steps can help you feel more grounded as you get ready for in-home pet euthanasia. Many families find it helpful to begin with an open conversation: speaking with loved ones, agreeing on a date, and making sure everyone feels supported in the decision.
We also take care of as much of the administration as possible beforehand (consent forms, aftercare choices, keepsake selections, and any pre-visit questions) so that you can focus entirely on your companion. If your pet needs pre-visit medication, we’ll guide you on how to arrange that through your family veterinarian.
The days leading up to the appointment can also be a time for connection:
Visiting favourite places
Enjoying soft moments of closeness
Simply being together
Some families choose to bring meaning into the experience by preparing music, readings, letters or small rituals for the appointment. These gestures can transform the moment from something frightening into something tender, intentional, and “devastatingly beautiful.”
A Meaningful Goodbye™, your way
A shared experience through a meaningful goodbye provides understanding, connection, emotional support, and helps us navigate the complexities of dealing with death, grief and loss.
Create meaning during this final goodbye with a ritual or ceremony to reflect your beliefs or culture.
Make the most of your final days with your companion by doing your companion's favourite things together.
Include personal touches that bring comfort to you and others.
If you're ready to take the first step, contact us for an initial discussion.
We're here to support your family and provide you with the information you need to make the right decision for your family.
A supportive, heart-centred approach
What makes Mulberry Lane unique is the way we show up for families: calmly, compassionately, and fully present.
Whether it’s over the phone, through email, or during your appointment, we take the time to sense, understand, and respond to you and how you’re feeling. Our aim is always the same: to help you feel seen, heard, and deeply understood.
We know that for many people, their pet is the safest and most steady relationship in their lives. That’s why saying goodbye is so painful, and why our approach is rooted in empathy and validation. Our veterinarian, Dr. Davis Wood, brings additional training as a Fear Free Certified, Certified Peaceful Euthanasia, and Human-Animal Bond Certified veterinarian, helping ensure your experience is as gentle and emotionally supportive as possible.
Behind the scenes, we take care of the details, coordinating with your primary vet, arranging aftercare, and notifying clinics after your companion’s passing, so your family can stay present with what truly matters: your companion.
Knowing when it may be time to reach out
Families often ask us how they’ll know when it’s time to start planning ahead. In most cases, they’ve already been speaking with their family veterinarian and are beginning to sense that their companion’s quality of life is changing. “Planning ahead” may mean a week or two of preparation, or sometimes just a few days. Many people even call the same day.
When you reach out, we’ll take the time to listen. We talk through what you’re seeing at home, offer gentle guidance around quality-of-life indicators, and direct you to the assessments available on our website. Often, families simply need the reassurance that they’re making the right decision, even after discussing it with their vet. What they’re really looking for is someone to talk to, someone who understands.
We’re here for that conversation, whenever you need it.
More help with starting the journey
Understanding the in-home pet euthanasia process
We're here to support you on this difficult journey, and help with final arrangements for an in-home euthanasia and meaningful goodbye.
A Meaningful Goodbye™ with in-home pet euthanasia
Create a meaningful goodbye to celebrate, and honour, your beloved companion animal’s life, your way.
Grief and loss after in-home euthanasia
All losses are painful and personal. We want to normalize grief related to companion animals.