The three most important days in a pet’s life are the day they are born, the day the are welcomed into their forever families, and they day the are laid to rest.

Fortunately, we are blessed with the capabilities to compassionately end the suffering of our ailing pets. Given the magnitude and complexity of the decision to end a beloved pet’s suffering, at Over The Rainbow Bridge we approach the situation with a comprehensive perspective.

First, we prioritize the experience of the pet. Many pets are painful due to terminal illness or other severely debilitating disease processes. Many aging pets experience severe arthritis which can cause significant discomfort and weakness, especially while attempting to walk. The mobility challenges often complicate getting the pet into and out of a vehicle for transportation to their regular veterinarian. Many aging pets experience some degree of cognitive dysfunction, vision loss and/ or hearing loss. All of which can contribute to increased levels of anxiety when leaving their home, during transportation, arriving at their veterinarian’s office, waiting to check in for their appointment. The pet’s anxiety is often exacerbated due to the presence of other animals and owners in the waiting room, as well as the the mildly tumultuous atmosphere of functioning veterinary hospital which is dedicated to the well being of multiple pets, often with concurring appointments.

At-home or destination euthanasia allows us to circumvent many of these complicating factors. We are able to keep your pet as comfortable as possible. We are able to dedicate one hundred percent of our time and resources to your loved one during this critical time.

Secondly, we prioritize the experience of the grieving family. Losing a family member is one of the most devastating experiences we endure in our lifetime. Many individuals experience an extraordinary amount of pain and grief. At Over The Rainbow Bridge, we are blessed to be able to provide privacy during this devastating time. You do not have to grieve in front of other owners and pets in a waiting room. We are able to provide an experience that allows you to have significant input into your loved one’s passing. We can honor a variety of requests that best serve your pet, yourself and your family. You can choose the setting. Some families prefer their pet’s comfy bed i the living room. Some families prefer outside in the warm sunlight. Some families chose their pet’s favorite destination such as the beach, the entrance to their favorite hiking trail, their favorite park, or at a church or spiritual center. Some people choose to include just themselves and their pet. Others choose to include family members, either in person or through virtual meetings, which blesses us with the ability to include out of town family members such as children away at college. Some people choose to include religious or spiritual leaders to officiate a formal blessing or ceremony.

At Over The Rainbow Bridge we believe the only way to transmute some the extraordinary pain experienced with losing a beloved pet, is to pour an extraordinary amount of love into the experience for the individual animal, as well as the grieving family.