The original title of this blog was going to be “The Importance of Keeping Families and Pets Together During Euthanasia.” However, I thought, pets are family, so it seemed redundant to signal them out as somehow different. When it comes to companion animal euthanasia, pet owners are saying goodbye to a family member, and togetherness is—more than ever before— an important part of the experience. It benefits both humans and animals in very special ways.

As a veterinarian, it truly warms my heart to see families gather in fellowship to say goodbye to their beloved pets. While sad, there is a purity and tenderness to it that is found no other time during the veterinary relationship. These special moments bring many veterinarians to greater fulfillment in their work as they witness the beauty of the human-animal bond during these last moments together. The key is in those “last moments together,” making each second even more precious.

There was a time when having non-veterinary personnel in the room during euthanasia was frowned upon. Older approaches to euthanasia were not quite as gentle as they are today, and veterinary staff may have been uncomfortable with families watching the procedure. Thanks to modern medicine and euthanasia research guiding us toward better methods, veterinarians have expanded their comfort zones to openly welcome not only owners into the euthanasia appointment but also extended family, friends, children, and even other pets. Euthanasia is now a family affair.

The benefits of togetherness far outweigh the risk of any negative outcomes, especially when trained veterinary professionals are performing euthanasia. Witnessing a peaceful death is a powerful, even transcendent experience for pet owners. Knowing their pet died gently offers a great sense of relief. Being able to support their pet right up until the end, for that final breath, is part of the pet-owning journey for many people. They can’t imagine not being there, as if leaving or being denied the opportunity to participate is inconceivable. This is partly due to the fact that being present for euthanasia is so acceptable these days, especially in the US, and that many owners grew into adulthood being allowed to watch…and those who didn’t have shared considerable regret with me. I myself was not allowed to be present for the death of one of my childhood dogs, and I still wonder what her final moments were like.

Reasons to encourage family togetherness during pet euthanasia:

1. Increased pet patient security knowing familiar loved ones are close by.
2. The veterinary team can ask questions about the pet’s preferences for handling and avoiding painful areas of the body.
3. The family will know for sure their pet is deceased because they witnessed it.
4. It is a precious time to reflect on the life of the pet and say goodbye in a supportive, controlled environment.
5. The veterinary team isn’t tasked with playing the role of pseudo-family for the pet. The real thing is much better.

Ways veterinary teams can prepare for owner-present euthanasia:

1. Know how to perform euthanasia properly, with great skill.
2. Learn to be comfortable with both conversation and silence during the appointment.
3. Use spaces that accommodate as many people as possible, including in the home.
4. Be ready to perform all aspects of the procedure in front of the family.
5. Ask what’s going to be important to the family before the appointment begins. Learn who will be there and how the team can support everyone.

Many veterinary hospitals now have euthanasia comfort rooms where family and friends can settle in and spend considerable time saying goodbye. These spaces are like living rooms that encourage closeness and intimacy. They reduce the sometimes clinical nature of euthanasia to move the focus toward the collective love of simply being together. On farms and in other settings, any location for euthanasia will do, as long as loved ones can be there. For so many owners who have been preparing to say farewell to their treasured pet, being the last thing their pet sees and hears makes all the difference in the world towards a healthy grief journey. That’s something we can all get behind.