HomeHeart Vets – Helping Pets Make a Peaceful Transition

For pet owners everywhere, there comes a time where they must make the impossible decision to help their pet cross over the rainbow bridge. These goodbyes have traditionally been done in a fluorescently lit vet’s office with a structured time limit. Many animals, especially those nearing the end of their lives, associate the vet’s office with getting shots or having procedures done, which induces a heightened level of anxiety. However, a new way of saying goodbye to these four legged family members is beginning to crop up around the country – at home euthanasia. 

Sharon Greenhut, a small animal veterinarian for 16 years, began doing at-home euthanasia services two years ago after seeing a growing desire amongst her clients for a more peaceful goodbye. Greenhut shared how she sees her role as “a huge honor to be allowed into people’s homes and to share such a beautiful and impactful and memorable moment that I know will last with them forever.”

The process for an at-home euthanasia is not one size fits all. A majority of the time, Greenhut’s clients have already had a discussion with their primary veterinarian who has come to the conclusion that the pet’s quality of life has radically diminished and that euthanasia is either the kindest course of action now or it will be soon. Maintaining an open, honest discussion with a primary veterinarian and with themselves allows pet parents to try and plan for a more peaceful death for their pet and to minimize their suffering. 

Greenhut identifies this discussion and planning as a “death plan”. “Just like women that are having babies have a birth plan, I think it’s important to have a death plan…near the end of life, thinking about [death] and talking about it is important,” stated Greenhut. She encourages planning, but also assures owners there is no wrong way to say goodbye and that they must remain flexible in their plan. The care and wellbeing of the pet should always be first and foremost. “What’s best for the pet has to trump whatever we want,” added Greenhut. If that means taking an animal to the ER or a vet’s office because of an emergency where an at-home euthanasia is not available, then that route becomes the kindest option for the animal. Hopefully, however, with a death plan in place every pet owner will get to have the death care best for them and their pet. 

When the time comes, Greenhut stated that herself and a technician will arrive at the home and guide clients through the paperwork. They will discuss aftercare arrangements and if the clients want ashes or pawprints returned to them. Greehut will also establish a relationship with the animal, and with such a serene demeanor it is easy to see how animals would take to Greenhut. The clients will then take their pet to a place they are most comfortable, either in the home or in the yard, and Greenhut will administer a sedative to help the animal feel relaxed. She then administers a secondary injection that causes the animals’ heart to stop and their breath to cease, which Greenhut assures owners animals are completely unaware of because the sedative places them in a plane of anesthesia. “…They’re surrounded by love, they’re with their family, they’re in their home, they feel safe, and then they just painlessly drift to sleep”, stated Greenhut.

After the animal passes, they may have a diaphragm contraction, loss of bladder and bowel control, and twitching. “Nothing the animal is aware of,” stated Greenhut. Greenhurt shared that these facts are shared before the procedure, and she remains with the family as the animal passes to help re-explain what is normal and to be expected. She then provides the family with as much time as they need to privately say goodbye. Once the family is ready, she will check in with them or they will go to her, and Greenhut and her assistant will transport the animal out of the home. Typically, Greenhut states that ashes are returned by courier two weeks after. 

Greenhut shared that sometimes, families are not all on the same page about euthanasia and believe that they should let the pet die of natural causes. “I circle back to explaining to them that their pet is suffering and that this is a kindness, and this is a way to allow them to pass peacefully, without suffering”. Most of the time, Greenhut says that pet owners are nervous about the procedure but are surprised by how quickly it goes and how peaceful it is. 

One element that Greenhut enjoys about her line of work is “getting a glimpse of how this pet came to be – seeing it in its home environment and seeing the love and loss at the end of their life, and what a difference this pet has made for their family…I’ve had people showing slideshows of [the dogs] as puppies through the years and their Halloween costumes. And a lot of times, we’re sitting there crying together and laughing together.”. 

Greenhut grew up in Clarkstown, and shared how she “[wants] to be able to be there for people, and give back to the community I love living in”.

While saying goodbye to a pet will never be easy, it is empowering to know that there are advancements happening in this field that put the wellbeing of the pet at the center. Being at home, surrounded by those they love in a peaceful environment may be a better option for both owners and their pets.