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Goddard Veterinary Group
Wanstead Veterinary Hospital
84 New Wanstead
Wanstead
London E11 2SY |
Tel: +44 (0) 20
8989 7744
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8532 2821 |
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Saying Goodbye 
Saying Goodbye to a Much Loved Pet
Our pets are part of our family and each and every one of them is unique, bringing their own special qualities into our homes and lives. It is normal to form strong, life-long bonds with them. When that bond is finally severed, whether suddenly or due to a prolonged illness, many are unprepared for the emotions which may follow. Contrary to the beliefs of those who have never known the joy and rewards of pet ownership, losing a much loved pet can be as distressing as losing a human family member or close
friend.
No-one wants to think about the loss of their pet, however, being prepared for the event can make it easier to cope with when the time comes. Some pets will pass away naturally, but many of us will be faced with a decision on euthanasia, which is a Greek word meaning ‘kind death’. Commonly referred to as ‘putting to sleep’, euthanasia is a humane way of ending the suffering our pets may experience due to illness or old age and is frequently considered to be the kindest and most loving choice in such a situation.
Whilst you will want to delay any decision for as long as possible, your pet's well-being and quality of life are the most important considerations. Your Veterinary Surgeon will therefore be able to advise you as to when this decision should be made.
 There are so many adorable pets that need a home and are looking for love. Hopefully, when you feel ready, you will want to share your life with a new companion. Often, the best pet owners are the ones who have had pets before. Like all of us who have lost an old friend, they will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Euthanasia  What to Expect and What Happens Next?
All of us at the Goddard Veterinary Group have had experience of losing a much loved pet and we will aim to make this process as distress free as we possibly can for you. If you would like to discuss any of the following information, please speak to a member of staff who will be only too pleased to advise you.
Arranging an Appointment
If you know that the time has come, please telephone the surgery and inform us that you are booking an appointment to have your pet put to sleep. We can then arrange for you to come in during a quieter time of the day. If possible, we recommend that you ask a family member, a neighbour or a friend, who can provide support, to bring you to the surgery and drive you home.
The Euthanasia
On arrival, the Veterinary Surgeon will require you to sign a consent form. This is a straightforward document but it is necessary to confirm that you, the owner or the person you have appointed on your behalf, have given us consent for the euthanasia of your pet.
When your pet is euthanased, it is normal for a small area of hair to be clipped from the front leg. This will give the Veterinary Surgeon access to a vein into which an overdose of barbiturate will be injected. As the body shuts down your pet will quickly and peacefully drift into a deep sleep. The Veterinary Surgeon will then check that the heart has stopped before confirming that your pet has passed away.
In virtually all cases, the pet will not be aware of what is happening. However, if for any reason your pet is showing signs of distress, a sedative (which has a calming and relaxing effect) can be given.
It is a personal choice as to whether or not you stay with your pet during the euthanasia. If you do stay, the euthanasia will only happen when you are ready and you will be able to stroke and comfort your pet during the procedure. Many owners, although upset themselves, are surprised at just how quick and peaceful the whole process can be for their beloved pet. Seeing this yourself will help you to come to terms with your loss.
If you do not wish to stay or if you feel distressed, it may be best to leave the room and return afterwards, when you can spend some time with your pet to say goodbye.
It is important to bear in mind that elderly, weak or frail pets will have a slower circulation. This means it will take slightly longer for the barbiturate to travel to the heart and for the body to shut down. Please be reassured that your pet will not be aware of what is happening and will pass away peacefully.
Emergencies
There may be times when it is not possible for you to be present when your pet is put to sleep. For example, your pet may be in hospital when an immediate decision has to be made. In such cases, the veterinary team will attempt to contact you and, whenever possible, wait for you to be present. In such circumstances, you will be able to spend time with your beloved pet, after the euthanasia, to say goodbye.
Farewell Arrangements
After the euthanasia, if you have not already done so, you will need to decide whether to have your pet cremated or buried. If this is too distressing for you and you need time overnight to make a decision, the surgery will be happy to keep your pet in cold storage. Should you need help in making this decision please speak to a member of staff.
Making Payment
With regards to payment, you may prefer to settle your bill prior to the euthanasia so that you may leave the surgery immediately afterwards.
Euthanasia at Home
(Please check to see if this service is available at your local surgery).
 You may prefer to have your pet put to sleep at home. Whilst we may be able to arrange this for you, home visits often need to be pre-booked two or three days in advance. This is because the Veterinary Surgeon will have to attend to patients at the surgery and will need time to plan the day’s schedule. We aim to provide you with the highest level of service and your pet’s welfare is our priority. Should events suddenly take a turn for the worse, we recommend that you contact your veterinary surgery to bring your pet in to us as soon as possible. This will enable us to provide you both with the care and attention required.
When I’m Gone  When our time comes, most of us have already decided whether we would like to be buried or cremated and many of us have discussed our wishes with those closest to us. Unfortunately, it is inevitable that we will also need to make the same decision when it comes to our beloved and loyal pets. The following is a brief guide to the options that we can offer you. We recommend, if possible, that you discuss these with all involved before making a decision.
Cremation
Should you wish to have your pet cremated, the Goddard Veterinary Group uses the services of CPC (Cambridge Pet Crematorium) which has been
established since 1979.
CPC provides a range of pet cremation services with sensitivity and compassion to bereaved owners. Owners are given the choice to have their pet individually cremated or communally cremated.
Individual Cremation
If you have chosen to have your pet individually cremated, you may either leave your pet in our care for collection by CPC or you may prefer to take your pet to CPC yourself.
CPC welcomes you to the crematorium, where you may wish to attend your pet’s individual cremation providing you with one last chance to say farewell. Should you decide to do this, on arrival at CPC, a bereavement advisor will explain the service to you and be on hand throughout to provide you with support and comfort.
After you have said your final farewells you may wish to witness your pet’s cremation. For those who would find this option reassuring and beneficial a television monitor in the farewell room will enable further viewing of the cremation service. If you wish to take your pet’s ashes home with you on the day, they will be presented to you.
Please note that CPC charges a small premium if you would like to attend your pet’s individual cremation.
If you are not present at the time of the service you can be assured that your pet will be individually cremated with dignity and respect. After the cremation, the ashes of your pet will be carefully placed into a casket or urn of your choice. Your pet’s ashes will then be securely packaged and returned to your veterinary practice for you to collect.
Caskets and Urns
There are several choices of caskets and urns suitable as a keepsake or for interment, but the following two options are the most popular:
Presentation Container
Biodegradable cardboard container.
Suitable for the scattering of ashes.
Beech Casket
A simple and elegant beech casket.
Further options are available.
Bamboo Casket
A distinctive casket woven from stained bamboo. The ashes are kept in a dawstring ag. Perfect or scattering.
Sleeping Cat Casket
A charming and discreet handcrafted wooden casket.
Mango Wood Urn
A wonderfully dark stained mango wood urn. The ashes are kept in a drawstring bag. Perfect for scattering.
Oak Casket
A solid oak octagonal casket with a decorative veneer inlay.
Keepsake Box
Place a photograph in the lid of this wooden casket. The ashes are kept in a pretty handmade paper bag.
Mahogany Casket
A high quality mahogany casket with a decorative veneer inlay.
Altair Urn
A beautiful hand thrown urn with a glazed blue finish.
Communal Cremation  CPC’s communal cremation service ensures equal respect is given to all companion animals.
Your pet will be cremated with other pets. Token ash from each communal cremation service will be placed into a casket. This casket will then be stored in a vault in a columbarium and the facia tablet inscribed with the cremation dates.
Situated in CPC’s Garden of Remembrance, each columbarium is surrounded by a remembrance area where you may place a memorial in memory of your pet, if you wish.
For further information please ask a member of staff.
 Home Burial
You may have already chosen a spot, for example under a tree in your garden, where you would like your pet to be buried.
Home burials help many families, particularly those with children, to say goodbye. If you are able to prepare in advance, you may wish to purchase a cardboard coffin from the pet crematorium.
A number of practicalities need to be considered with regards to home burial. The grave should be at least a metre deep in the ground to prevent the pet from being exhumed overnight by foxes. Digging a grave may also be difficult if you have clay soil. Furthermore, there are a number of recommendations on minimum distances that graves should be dug away from water sources. Finally, you should consider whether you might be faced with difficult decisions should you choose to move house.
Burial at Claverhambury Pet Cemetery
You may wish to have your pet buried at a pet cemetery. Claverhambury is the Goddard Veterinary Group’s own pet cemetery situated just outside Waltham Abbey in Essex. It offers a beautiful resting place for much-loved pets.
 If you would like to have your pet buried at Claverhambury, this can be organised by Chingford Kennels, part of the Goddard Veterinary Group. If you are planning in advance, you may reserve a burial plot.
At the time the service is required, staff at Chingford Kennels will arrange for your pet to be collected from the surgery and confirm a date and time for the burial to take place. You are welcome to attend the burial and, if you wish, you may see your pet beforehand to say your final farewell.
Please note that there is an annual cemetery maintenance fee.
 Emotions Can Run Very High  When grieving for a much-loved pet some of the emotions that you may experience include denial, shock, anger, guilt and anxiety. Some of these feelings may surface more strongly than others and could last from a few hours to a few weeks.
The immediate reaction from many owners who have been informed that their pet has to be euthanased or has passed away is normally shock or sadness, expressed through tears. This is perfecty normal, completely understandable and should only last for the short term. Others may also feel numb and experience a strong feeling of denial before coming to terms with their loss.
Many owners, particularly men who put on a brave face, may become angry and direct this anger at themselves, perhaps feeling that they could have done more, although this is most unlikely. Anger can also be directed at the child who left the gate open, the driver that didn't stop or even the Veterinary Surgeon. Again these feelings are normal and should pass.
Owners who have had to make the decision to have their pet euthanased may feel guilty. Others will question themselves as to whether they let their pet suffer unnecessarily. It is important to remember, that any decision you made would have been taken with advice from your Veterinary Surgeon and would have been the right one with regards to your pet’s wellbeing.
After losing your pet, you may be scared of the thought of going home to an empty house. As well as providing companionship, your pet may have given you a sense of security. In this case, we advise that you arrange for a friend or neighbour to call in on you to provide comfort and help you feel reassured.
Some people who have been nursing their pet for a long time may feel a sense of relief after their pet has passed away. Others may have suffered from anxiety expecting the worst every day. These emotions are often followed by guilt for feeling relieved. Again, these feelings are perfectly normal and will fade with time.
You may feel an overwhelming sense of loneliness, not just at the loss of your pet, but also at the thought that you are the only one who feels like this and that nobody understands. Perhaps other members in your household had not bonded so closely to your pet; remember, everyone will show their grief differently.
It is perfectly normal to travel through some or all of these emotions. However, if you continue to experience such emotions months later, we would advise that you visit your doctor. Pet bereavement can also be very physically stressful. You may experience symptoms such as lack of appetite, sleeplessness, depression, nausea, stomach cramps and headaches. If you are suffering from any of these or other physical symptoms after losing your pet, we advise that you see medical help.
Simply talking to someone about how you are feeling may be of comfort. Many of us at the Goddard Veterinary Group have experienced pet bereavement ourselves, and you are more than welcome to come and talk to us. We are happy to discuss any concerns you may have, listen to stories and reminisce about the good times spent with your pet. Remember, it is good to laugh and smile when talking about your pet as this shows just how much they were loved.
In addition, there are a number of other services available to bereaved pet owners.
 Animals Grieve Too
In a household where there are several animals, owners often comment that their other pets also seem to mourn their lost companion.
Animals do appear to grieve in a similar way to humans. This can show itself in many ways such as loss of appetite, lethargy, aimless pacing, changes in sleep patterns, disinterest in any exercise and crying, especially at night. Cats may even self-mutilate.
If any of the above occur, it should only last for a few days at the most. After this time your pet, especially if you own a dog, may be ready to accept a new companion. However, in the case of cats, they may never bond with a new arrival in their home, even if there are other cats present. Rabbits can often fight with a newcomer and therefore it may be wise to either keep rabbits in a separate hutch or introduce a different species such as a guinea pig.
If after losing their companion your other pets are not settling, you may wish to call us for advice or bring your pet to the surgery for a check-up. This will make sure that there are no underlying medical reasons for their behaviour. At this stage, if required, we may advise you to book an appointment with our animal behaviourist.
If one of your pets is very elderly, there are a number of things you can do. By separating your pets (even for just for a few hours) you may find that one pines for the other. This may be a reflection of how they will react at losing their companion. Changing their routine may be a good start. For example, if your pets sleep together, perhaps try and give them their own bed, but keep the beds next to each other.
It is often advisable for anyone thinking of having two pets to consider staggering their ages. Obviously, whilst it would be unfair to introduce a puppy or kitten into the household if you already have an elderly dog or cat, having a second pet slightly younger will help your older pet, particularly in the case of dogs, stay young at heart.
For many owners, losing one elderly pet is traumatic enough but losing two much-loved pets, close to each other, is often too emotional to bear. Staggering your pets’ ages should help avoid such heartache and many owners, on losing an elderly pet, find comfort from their remaining companion.
 Pet Bereavement Support Service
The Pet Bereavement Support Service, co-ordinated by the Blue Cross, Britain’s pet charity, and the Society for Companion Animal Studies, run a bereavement telephone and email service for bereaved pet owners.
The telephone support line is open daily 8.30am-8.30pm with an answerphone outside these hours. Please call the freephone number and a coordinator will give the contact details of the nearest available volunteer. Please note that when calling a volunteer calls are charged at the local rate.
All calls are treated confidentially.
Freephone
0800 096 6606
Alternatively you can use their email support service by emailing:
pbssmail@bluecross.org.uk
 Bereavement Counselling
Carole Preedy is a qualified bereavement counseller having gained her Companion Animal Bereavement Certificate from the Animal Care College. Carole works as a part-time receptionist at our Mandeville Veterinary Hospital in Northolt.
A mother of four lively children, Carole currently owns two dogs and one cat. Over the years Carole has experienced the loss of her own pets and, with her qualification, she hopes to be able to advise and console clients and their families during what can be a difficult time.
Carole offers a compassionate service for those who have suffered a loss, or those with elderly or sick pets wishing to discuss euthanasia and the options available.
She is especially concerned that the needs and feelings of children are considered.
Carole Preedy with her dog Charlie. Carole Preedy is a qualified bereavement counseller at our Mandeville Veterinary Hospital in Northolt.
Should you wish to book an appointment or need someone to talk to, you can telephone Carole at Mandeville Veterinary Hospital on
020 8845 5677
If Carole is unavailable at the time of your call, please leave your name and number and she will phone you back as soon as she is available.
This support service is complimentary to our clients.
 There are so many adorable pets that need a home and are looking for love. Hopefully, when you feel ready, you will want to share your life with a new companion. Often, the best pet owners are the ones who have had pets before. Like all of us who have lost an old friend, they will always hold special place in our hearts.
 CPC provides a range of compassionate services to veterinary practices and their clients. The company has worked with veterinary practices and animal welfare charities for over 25 years and is a strong advocate for providing professional bereavement support and care.
CPC
A505 Main Road
Thriplow Heath
Nr Royston
Hertfordshire SG8 7RR
Telephone: 01763 207700
E-mail: enquiries@cpccares.com
Web: http://www.cpccares.com
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