EMPATHY IN ACTION
Customizing your patient’s EUTHABAG
Offering pet parents to personalize their pet’s bag can be a soothing ritual before saying goodbye. It can facilitate acceptance of the animal’s departure and initiate the mourning process. They can also write a letter to their pet and put it in the bag. It's a way for them to contribute to the process. Permanent markers & paint work wonderfully on the fabric.
Download here our brochure to make it available to your customers.
Pre-planning
A Guide to Planning Ahead by the Pet Loss Professionals Alliance, the PLPA.
AVMA companion animal aftercare policy recommends: ”Encourage prior planning so that owners are aware of their options and can easily communicate their preferences. Preplanning can be offered by the veterinarian or delegated to the aftercare provider”.
A friendly reminder
If this candle is lit: when placed next to an LED candle, it will inform that a euthanasia is being performed and thus help reduce the amount of noise during this delicate time.
Click HERE to download this template for your practice.
"If this candle is lit, someone is saying goodbye to their beloved pet.
We ask that you speak softly and with respect during this difficult time.
Thank you for your patience and kindness."
Click HERE to download this template for your practice.
Colouring pages
Click on an image below to download a colouring page for children. Offer this prior to the discussion with the owners, to give children an opportunity to honor their best friend’s memory.
Children and grief
Children and pet lost brochure offers tips on how to discuss the loss of a pet with children and help them cope with grief.
Ink paw print or nose print
This is a very simple, inexpensive and thoughtful procedure to show your pet families how much you care.
Bubulle, our CEO’s beloved Guinea Pig passed in 2019. Doing the prints helped accept the loss.
Paw print using a Pigment ink pad (stainless)
Guinea Pig paw prints
Guinea Pig nose print
Cat nose print with regular ink.
SUPPLIES:
Ink pad, calligraphy ink and a paintbrush, a bingo marker, or a pigment ink pad that won’t stain hands.
PROCEDURE:
After euthanasia, for a paw print, trim the hair and nails on a back paw preferably (as it contains less hair)
if doing a paw print (vs. a nose print), wipe the paw with alcohol first. This will allow it to absorb more ink and remove dirt.
Place a paw or nose on the ink pad, paint with calligraphy ink or use a bingo stamp and press onto one or more pieces of card stock (or textured paper). For the nose print, rock the nose on the paper.
make more than one print for each child in the family or for members that were not able to be there.
TIPS:
The pet's name and date can then be added to the piece(s) of paper, and now you've created a lasting memory for the pet’s family! You can then send the paw print along with the sympathy card*.
*We have learned that it is important that a sympathy card is sent within 3-5 days of the euthanasia. The reasons for this are:
This helps the pet’s family realize how much we do care.
Healing may have started and receiving a card a week or two later can bring back unwanted memories from the euthanasia.
Ways to honor the patient
CLAYPAWS® The original clay paw by Veterinary Wisdom®. Will not dry out or crack over time. The best quality product by a family-owned business.
Detailed Dog Paw Print in Terra Cotta
Rabbit Print
Jewelry, ribbon and accessories added
Online pet loss support groups
You can find more pet loss support groups and counselors on our page Grief Support.
Donations
A donation to a shelter, the SPCA or a veterinary school can be done in the name of a pet.
Even planting a tree: Arbor Day Foundation for $10/10 trees or A living tribute in Canada for $20/tree.