Hospice Care and End of Life Counseling
Our team is here to support you and your pet through all stages of life including advanced age when medical needs are often greater and you may be faced with challenging decisions.
Hospice care focuses on care, comfort and quality of life as a pet nears the end of his or her life. This can be a very difficult time for you as a caregiver. Working with our veterinary team to establish an individualized hospice care plan can provide valuable guidance and a team approach to what can otherwise feel quite lonely and uncertain. Hospice care at Blue Sky includes a dedicated technician to follow up as indicated by you and/or the doctor to discuss any concerns and help you assess changes in quality of life. Importantly, you and your pet are not alone. Please call to schedule a consultation with our team if you feel that your pet is in need of this service or if you need help making an end of life decision for your pet. Below are excellent resources provided by Lap of Love that can be reviewed before a consultation.
How Will I Know It’s Time to Say Goodbye?
Euthanasia
The term euthanasia means “good death.” While it may seem that there is nothing “good” about euthanasia, it is a compassionate way to end suffering and pain for your pet. At Blue Sky, we have a gentle approach to euthanasia and our goal is to make this experience as calm as possible, with a smooth transition from life to death. Scheduling a euthanasia for your pet can feel scary, especially if you have never had to make this decision for a pet before, or if you have had a difficult euthanasia experience in the past. If you have specific questions about what to expect, please call the clinic so that we can answer these for you.
Euthanasia Process in Clinic
As you arrive at Blue Sky you will be escorted into a private comfort room. First, your doctor will meet with you to discuss the euthanasia process individualized to your pet’s needs and address any concerns you may have. This can be a helpful time to discuss the end of life decision further if needed. Next, a technician will review brief paperwork including your wishes for body care and memorialization of your pet (ink paw prints, clay paw prints, hair trimmings). You are more than welcome to indicate your wishes over the phone, before your scheduled appointment, if you prefer.
While you are here at Blue Sky, we will try our very best to make sure you and your pet are comfortable and supported during this difficult time. Family members, including children and other pets in the household, are welcomed if you so desire. If you do not wish to be present during the euthanasia process, that is fine as well. The comfort room is a safe space for saying goodbye to your pet and we do our best to accommodate your preferences.
At Home Euthanasia
Whenever possible, we accommodate at home euthanasia requests for our existing clients and patients. For this specific service, the time frame to schedule varies depending on our doctors’ availability, but can usually be scheduled within a week. If we are not able to accommodate your needs, there are several trusted veterinary teams in the area that specialize in this service. Please reach out to these teams directly or see their websites for current hours as these are subject to change.
With at home euthanasia, we can manage all body care afterward (cremation) if desired. We are experienced in at home euthanasia so we can help guide the process to make it calm for all.
Lap of Love
Website: LapofLove.com
Email: supportcenter@LapofLove.com
Phone: (844) 525-3060
Caring Pathways
Website: CaringPathways.com
Email: noco@caringpathways.com
Phone: (970) 236-7100 – Northern Colorado Region
*They serve from Castle Rock to Fort Collins and the surrounding areas*
Home to Heaven
Website: www.hometoheaven.net
Phone: (970) 412-6212
After Care of Your Pet
We offer multiple options for the care of your beloved pet. You can take the body with you to be buried (if you live in an area that allows burial) or through a burial company (Precious Memories offers this service). Through the clinic, we offer cremation or aquamation through two local and trusted companies, Precious Memories and Guardian Pet Aquamation. You may also arrange for pick up directly from your home with either of these companies or to transport your pet directly to their facility yourself. Cremation or aquamation both allow the option to have your pet’s ashes returned to you if you desire.
To learn more about after care options, please see the resources below for Precious Memories and Guardian Pet.
Precious Memories – Crematorium and Pet Cemetery
Traditional flame process for cremation and offers burial at their pet cemetery.
https://www.preciousmemoriespetcemetery.com/
Phone: 866-882-4086
Address: 5815 East Highway 14, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Email: info@pmpc-inc.com
Aquamation uses alkaline hydrolysis (water flow, temperature, and alkalinity) to accelerate the process of natural decomposition in the soil. Like regular cremations the only solid remains are the ashes of the bones.
http://guardianpetaquamation.com
Phone: 970-889-9331
Address: 1122 N Denver Ave, Loveland, CO 80537
Pet Loss and Bereavement Support
Pet Loss Support Hotlines
Lap of Love
Pet Loss Resource Line –855-352-LOVE (5683)
https://www.lapoflove.com/pet-loss-support/pet-loss-resource-line
Tufts University Pet
Loss Support Hotline – 508-839-7966
https://vet.tuftss.edu/petloss/
Support Groups
Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine – Offering once monthly meetings in person or via call. Please see more resources on their website.
Lap of Love – Meeting several times a week via Zoom (free!)
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement – Weekly chat room
Individual Counseling
Please click here (Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement) to search locally for counselors specifically trained in pet loss/grief support.
Additional Resources
The resources above can help provide support, but do not provide mental health counseling. If you or someone you are concerned about is depressed, unable to cope, or having thoughts of self harm or harming others, IMMEDIATELY call the 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. For emergency services, please call 911.
The Suicide Crisis Lifeline can be reached 24/7 for free, confidential support for people in distress. Call or text 988. Or visit their website to chat online at 988lifeline.org and access prevention and crisis resources.
