There is rarely a more difficult time to deal with as a direct result of owning a beloved pet and our aim is to support and help ease the loss as best we can.
As time goes on in a pets' life, you may well find yourself having to make a final decision on their behalf. To have an animal put to sleep is never an easy choice. When the time comes, you have to make one of the most difficult and perhaps bravest decisions of all. To allow a dear companion to go peacefully before they completely lose their quality of life and worse still, their dignity, can be a kind way to say a final goodbye. When this most sensitive of issues needs to be addressed, we aim to make it as straightforward and stress free as possible.
So, when you recognise this time to be approaching, there are choices you can make; and we will do our utmost to help you with your decision.
Timing: we will always endeavour to make an appointment outside of the busy routine surgeries.
Where: in the hospital or at home.
Who: do you want to stay or would you rather come in afterwards or perhaps just remember them as they were? They will not be alone. We are always there for them.
The actual act of euthanasia involves an injection of a drug similar to an anaesthetic, in which the animal passes away peacefully.
Afterwards, please do not feel that you have to rush away. If you would like to stay for a moment we have a quiet room for you to gather your thoughts.
We have a limited range of books which you may care to borrow on the subject of pet loss and bereavement both for adults and children. Sometimes it helps to realise that your feelings are quite normal and many others have felt this way and will do so yet.
We are lucky to have members of staff who have been trained in counselling or have significant experience with such difficult times who can to spend time with you if it would help.
Finally, we have a 'Book of Remembrance' kept in reception. You are welcome to put a photograph and a few words that will be a happy memory of your pet for us all.
If your pet dies at home, please let us know as soon as you feel able so that we can adjust our records. More importantly we can help with any decisions that you might need to take regarding cremation or burial or just be there for a few words.
Cremation/Burial: we routinely use the communal cremation service of a registered pet crematorium (Cambridge Pet Crematorium). For individual cremations where the ashes can be returned to you, we use the more local DIGNITY crematorium at Hartley Witney. Alternatively you may choose to bury your pet at home. If you choose the latter, we have suitably sized light weight coffins available.