Saying goodbye to your larger-than-life dog is extremely difficult, to say the least, but the Caring Pathways team made an incredibly difficult day as peaceful and humane as possible. My older 150 lb. dog was hard to move and not doing well. I called and made an appointment for a few days later, hoping that he would rally and we would be able to cancel the appointment. As his health deteriorated overnight, I called back, and the team was able to fit us in that same day so that he did not suffer unnecessarily. The phone team was super nice and supportive in the face of my breakdown.
From the moment Dr. Steve arrived, he treated us with genuine kindness and respect. He explained every step gently, gave us all the time we needed, and created a calm environment that helped ease our anxiety.
Our pet was kept comfortable and was able to be in his cozy spot at home with his favorite toy, surrounded by familiar faces and soothing words. The process was unhurried and calm, and we never felt rushed or pressured. Dr. Steve was sincerely empathetic, very compassionate, acknowledged our grief, offered support, and made sure we felt confident in our decision.
He waited outside to give us all the time we needed to say goodbye and grieve in private. It also gave the other pets at home a chance to say goodbye. When we were ready, the doctor and his assistant came back in, and they helped move him to a stretcher and carry him out into a hearse-like truck. It was very dignified.
Although losing a pet is heartbreaking, I’m deeply grateful to the whole team for how smoothly and compassionately everything was handled. It brought us comfort knowing our pet’s final moments were peaceful, pain-free, and filled with love.