Companion Animal Doula
Book An AppointmentNot one to ever diminish the important role that companion animals have in our lives, I also provide the same doula services for people and families who need extra emotional, spiritual, informational and physical support during an animal’s dying process and the grief period afterwards. I’m a New York State Licensed Veterinary Technician with a long history of providing end-of-life support to animals.
My pet death doula/companion animal end-of-life doula services include but are not limited to:
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reviewing end-of-life care options and the pros and cons of each
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energy work and acupressure
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assist with planning memorials or funeral services
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recommending animal comfort and home safety measures
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grief support
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providing emotional and logistical support during the dying process
Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula Consult
Package #7
Price: $0 to $125
sliding scale
Animals are our best friends and life companions. Since they can’t directly tell us their wishes, when one of our beloved animals is nearing the end of their life, every decision we make about their care can become an agonizing guessing game. I’m here to help you gain a little more clarity and comfort with the end-of-life process. This can be done virtually or in-person.
- 1 scheduled (1 hour) visit to review end-of-life care options and to recommend animal comfort and home safety measures.
- 1 scheduled (1 hour) visit to provide emotional and logistical support during the dying process.
- 1 post-passage visit (1 hour) to discuss memorial plans and provide grief support.
“Only a moment you stayed, but what an imprint your footprints have left on our hearts.” – Dorothy Ferguson
Helpful Resources
Quality of Life Scale for Pets
Since our pets can’t exactly tell us how they’re feeling, this scale is a way to numberically dermine their comfort and happiness.
Quality of Life Checklist
What is considered normal during the natural dying process and when should euthanasia be considered? This list can help you naviage these questions.
Saying Goodbye to Your Beloved Pet
This booklet is for all pet owners, not just small animals. It’s a helpful resource to help one prepare for euthanasia and the grief process.
Anticipatory Grief
Grief does not just happen AFTER someone dies, it happens far earlier. This is a brief article on anticipating the loss of a pet. Here similar article on the subject of coping with the loss of pet but it also specifically addresses senior citizens and children.
Caring for Your Pet After Death
Here are some options for pet burial, cremation and memorialization. Here is a similar article on the practical considerations of each body dispositon method.
The Pet Loss Companion: Healing Advice from Family Therapists Who Lead Pet Loss Groups
Here is a very helpful book for those looking for support after the death of a beloved animal companion. The author also has a podcast on the subject which can be found here.
When is it Time? Your Last Act of Love
Because this is the most difficult choice to make, here is another resource to help you figure out if euthanasia is the right choice and when to do it.
Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice
They specialize in hospice and in-home euthanasia. Even if they aren’t in your area, their website is extremely helpful when looking for companion animal end-of-life resources.
How to Care for a Deceased Pet at Home
This article walks you through of all the things to consider when your pet passes away. It covers euthanasia, what to expect when handling the body, disposition options, funerals, etc… It has a pet end-of-life and memorial checklist which I find to be very helpful.
Veterinary Wisdom
This website is all about providing support and resources to veterinary professionals and pet parents. They also offer memorial products incuding clay paw prints, urns, books and bereavement items.
End-of-Life Guidelines for Dogs and Cats Implementation Toolkit
This page provides veterinary professionals with resources to provide the absolute best end-of-life care to their clients. There are flyers, room signs and client handouts also available on this page.
When a Pet Dies
This is a brief yet helpful article on how to deal with the death of a family pet and how to approach it with a child. Here is a video podcast about how you can help other companion animals grieve the loss of their friend.
You Will Always Be My Best Friend
This is the absolute sweetest cartoon about the love and loss of a companion animal. Grab the tissues.
Why We Need to Take Pet Loss Seriously
This article addresses how, as a society, we need to be more considerate of people grieving the loss of their pets. This loss tends to be unfairly diminished and that needs to end.
How to Memorialize a Beloved Pet
Here are some sweet and meaningful ways to honor your special friend.
How Will I Know?
How do you know when or if it is time to euthanize your pet? Ohio State University has provided us with a great resource to address the myths and misconceptions about euthanasia, information on anticipatory grief and a quality of life checklist.
Stillwaters Veterinary Care
This is a veterinary practice that specializes in pet palliative and hospice care. Even if they are not in your area, their website has a lot of resources. Here is an article about veterinary pet hospice and if it’s right for you.