A Full Circle Home Veterinarian patient and his owner.

Euthanasia  

At-home euthanasia is the most important service we offer.  We feel that euthanasia is the final gift we give our animals but also know how difficult the decision is.  We come to your home to offer our non-judgmental advice, empathy and compassion.  These discussions can also happen before an at-home appointment via our tele-advice service.  

Our in-home euthanasia service includes:

  • A discussion about your concerns, thoughts or questions surrounding euthanasia for your pet. 

  • Gentle sedation to put your pet into a deep, easy sleep. 

  • Euthanasia, the final gift. 

  • Transportation for cremation, if selected (see Aftercare section for more information)

  • A courtesy notification to your family’s veterinarian (if not Full Cirlce) of your pet’s passing for their records.

Appointment information

  • Once the doctor arrives, the full procedure will be explained to you based on your interest and comfort level. Don’t be afraid to ask questions- everything will be done at a pace that you and your pet dictate.  We’ll work wherever your pet is most comfortable, and welcome family and friends that would like to be present. We’re very comfortable having children present and welcome their emotions and curiosity. 

  • Unless it’s an extreme, or urgent condition, a sedative injection will be given to ensure the process is painless and peaceful.  Your pet will fall gently asleep in 5-10 minutes.  We can give you privacy or stay nearby during this time. 

  • Once your pet is in a deep sleep the doctor will give the final euthanasia injection. The final injection will take just a few minutes to work and we will confirm when your pet has passed. 

  • If we’re handling transportation for cremation, we’ll excuse ourselves to give you alone time, then transport your pet using a blanket or bed, to the car. 

  • If you’ve chosen a private cremation, information on how and when your pet’s ashes will be ready to come home will be discussed by the doctor in detail. 

A cat waiting comfortably at home for a housecall.

 Aftercare:

  • Deciding on the aftercare of your pet’s remains is very personal. There are several options to choose from:

  • Private cremation: your pet is cremated individually and the ashes will be returned to you in a carved wooden box. 

  • Communal cremation: your pet will be cremated with other pets and you will not receive the ashes back.

  • Burial at home.  We’re happy to give advice on how to do this properly. 

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All our cremations are taken care of by Final Gift, with their care center in Turner, Maine. Please visit their website for information on their services, including memorial products and pet loss support. We trust them with the cremation of our own pets and know that they respect and understand how important this part of the process is. 

  What you’ll pay for:

  • $210-280 for at home euthanasia, depending on the size of your pet

  • $50 for the housecall fee. If you are further than 20 miles from Vergennes, this will be $60.

  • $100-145 for Communal cremation

  • $206-$275 for Private Cremation

  • $75 for Clay Paw Print or $50 for Ink Paw or Nose Print (optional and available with any type of cremation)

  • "Hi Anja Thank you for your visit today. Your kindness to us and Benji was a beautiful blend of personal and professional. We are so grateful for your willingness, competence and graciousness. Benji had a lovely ending to a long and loved life. I will remember his passing with gentle fondness."

    — Su & Eric

  • "Anja, I can’t tell you how much it means to me that Lila went off in comfort and peace. I only saw in her eyes that the tumor was becoming too much for her on that final day. And the fact that she avoided the suffering that would have come makes me so relieved and happy for her. I sit here eating toast and missing her presence next to me with those eyes that say, “You’re going to share the last bite with me, aren’t you??” But I grieve for her with a full heart, not an empty one, because of your support of her (and me) and how it has brought our family closer together. I couldn’t have had Lila all these wonderful years without you ❤️"

    — Client

  • "Scott and Liz . . . Your calming presence, clear caring, and obvious expertise was such a gift to us today. So, too, was being able to be fully part of Daks’ laying down. It was as comforting to us as we know it was to our pup. Thank you."

    — Peter & Ann

  • "I would like to reiterate my appreciation for your kindness and tact this fall. What a terrible experience, but your team was incredibly empathetic and professional. Pets break your heart, but the right humans can help you through it."

    — Katie

  • "We are so grateful to have you as our vet. Thanks for seeing Finny off last night in such a sensitive manner (for both us and him). What wasn't said, is that your excellent care made his last few months so pleasant for him. Many, many thanks."

    — Barry

  • "I can not tell you how much we appreciate your kindness, respect, compassion and caring for Jax in his final moments, and how lovingly you took care of him after his passing. It is very difficult to lose a pet that was so loved but knowing he was cared for so well helped. Your kindness extended to us as well and we appreciate that too. Thank you for taking time and explaining these last few months that you did do his care. I really feel like he had the very best right to the end and beyond as I said above. And though I miss him very much I do know he was giving me all the signs he was ready to be done. And I had to listen to free him and let him be at peace. Thank you again, both of you, you are an amazing team."

    — Marilyn