Saying goodby to your beloved pet and friend will be one of the hardest things you will have to do, you do not have to do it alone. We are here for you every step of the way. The team at Stonington Veterinary Hospital is honored to be a part of the bond you share with your beloved pet and we will share your burden and celebrate your memories. We are here to provide your family and pet with love and support during their palliative/hospice care days and then to offer a peaceful transition from this life when the time comes.

Our doctors offer multiple modes of easing pain and adapting environments and care to keep your pet comfortable and by your side in their last months and then we will be by your side when you decide that euthanasia is the best option. Euthanasia means “good death” and is a selfless act of love that you can give your pet. We make every effort to ensure that you and your pet have a peaceful outcome. Your pain will deepen as you say goodbye to your friend, but their pain will be no more. Comfort, peace and dignity is a gift we can give our pets after the lifetime of unconditional love they have given us.

At Stonington Veterinary Hospital, nothing is more important than providing dignity and peace in the final moments and you can count on us to take care of you and your friend so that all you need to do is focus on loving them as you say goodbye. Our team takes every precaution to be sure your friend is not frightened or in pain for their last visit with us. Your doctor will walk you through the process of giving your friend sedatives to relax them first before receiving the medication that allows them to slip away. You will be able to have time before and after, take as much time as you need. When your friend has crossed the rainbow bridge, they will not be taken from you until you are ready, this is your time to share with them and grief should not be rushed.

Aftercare: Afterward for those not choosing home burial, we offer cremation services that are performed with the utmost respect. You may choose to have your pet’s ashes returned or not, this is personal decision. Below are some resources to help you, your family and your other pets deal with grief and change that follows such a loss.

“Our animal friends teach us more than we could have ever expected and love us more than we could have hoped… that’s why we miss them more than we could have imagined.”
– Author Unknown

Hospice Resources

Pet Hospice: Lap of Love

Quality of Life Assessment

After They Are Gone Resources

Final Gift

Cremation Jewelry

Pet Loss Help (Connecticut)

Pet Loss Help (Rhode Island)

Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement

Books

Saying Goodbye to the Pet You Love: Lorri Greene, PhD and Jacquelyn Landis, New Harbinger Publications, 2002

Coping With the Loss of a Pet: Christina M. Lemieux, Wallace R. Clark, 1992

For Children:

Dog Heaven: Cynthia Rylant (they also have Cat Heaven)

I’ll Always Love You: Hans Wilheim

Paw Prints in the Stars: A Farewell and Journal for a Beloved Pet: Warren Hanson

Online Resources

Pet Loss Chat Room

Pet Loss Forum

Pet Loss Hotlines & Helpline

ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Grief Counseling Line:: 877-GRIEF-10 (877-474-3310)