End of Life Services & Aftercare

When, and how, do we say good-bye to a beloved pet? Deciding when an animal’s quality of life, level of discomfort or pain, and inability to take care of their basic needs, whether due to a non-treatable progressive disease or an age-related / chronic illness that has become too difficult or costly to manage, can be a challenging process for many pet owners. While the family’s philosophy around death and dying will always play a big role in this decision, your veterinary team is here to provide consultation, quality of life assessment and medical assistance in dying for your pet.

Winchelsea Veterinary Services works with established clients and as a referral service for many local clinics, to provide on-farm and at-home euthanasia of your beloved pet(s). We in turn work closely with Mid Island Towing (for burial of large animals off-property) and Honor Your Pet Aftercare Service (for cremation of companion animals) to ensure a respectful closure. Clients may also contact Vancouver Island Animal Crematorium to arrange cremation service on their own accord.

“Therefore is it essential that ye show forth the utmost consideration to the animal, and that ye be even kinder to him than to your fellow man. Train your children from their earliest days to be infinitely tender and loving to animals. If an animal be sick, let the children try to heal it, if it be hungry, let them feed it, if thirsty, let them quench its thirst, if weary, let them see that it rests.” Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p 159.

Winchelsea Veterinary Services is frequently asked by parents for guidance on how to inform their children and teenagers about death and euthanasia of farm animals, horses, and pets. This is not always an easy topic of discussion. Utilizing stop-motion and the always-accessible Lego construction toys, I’ve crafted an animated video that I hope provides an approachable, engaging and informative entry-way to these hard discussions about what happens when our pets’ journey in life comes to an end. If you have children, please watch this video first to make sure it works with your child’s level of maturity and understanding, before showing it to him or her. I hope you find this to be a useful for your family.