We like families to have a clear picture of what the appointment will look like, both for your own peace of mind and so you can share it with anyone who will be present. Dr. Jill will also review this together at the start of the appointment, and she will keep you informed as we move through each step.

• Arrival and paperwork

We will briefly review paperwork to confirm your pet’s information and your wishes for aftercare.

• Sedation

Dr. Jill will give an injection into the muscle to place your pet under deep sedation. Your pet will become very relaxed, sleepy, and comfortable.

• Euthanasia medication

Once your pet is fully relaxed and unaware (anesthetized), Dr. Jill will access a vein and administer the euthanasia medication, which gently and peacefully stops brain activity, breathing, and the heart.

• Confirmation

Dr. Jill will listen with a stethoscope to confirm that your pet has passed.

• Time together

You will have as much time as you would like with your pet afterward, in the comfort of your home.

• Keepsakes

If you wish, Dr. Jill can help create clay paw prints or collect a small fur clipping for remembrance at the end of the appointment.

• Aftercare transition

When you are ready, Dr. Jill will carefully and respectfully assist with aftercare according to your wishes.

No. The process is designed to be calm and pain-free. The initial medication causes deep relaxation and sleep before anything else occurs. Most pets drift off very peacefully.

On the day of the appointment, Dr. Jill will message you when she is on the way with a more exact estimated arrival time. Due to travel between homes and variable traffic conditions, arrival times may shift slightly.

To help the appointment remain calm and unhurried, we ask that everyone who wishes to be present is ready and present at the start of the appointment.

For pet weighing more than 40lbs, please have one to two additional adults available to help Dr. Jill carry your pet to the car at the end of the appointment. Because Dr. Jill does not have an assistant who accompanies her to visits, this helps ensure an easy and respectful transfer. If this is not possible, please let us know ahead of time and we can help come up with a plan.

Please ensure there is parking available near your front door or in your driveway. This allows for a quiet, respectful transfer of your pet at the end of the appointment. If parking is limited, just let me know and we can plan ahead.

Otherwise, there is no need to do anything special, but some families find the following helpful:

• Choosing a quiet, comfortable place where your pet likes to rest

• Having favorite blankets, beds, or toys nearby if you wish

• Deciding ahead of time who would like to be present

• Considering aftercare preferences if possible

If you are unsure about any of this, that is completely okay. Dr. Jill will help guide you when upon arrival.

Yes, if that feels right for your family. We are happy to offer guidance on helping children understand what is happening and on whether it may be appropriate for other pets to be present. (Children and In-Home Euthanasia.pdf)

You may choose home burial, cremation, or other aftercare options depending on your preferences and local regulations.

If cremation is chosen, Dr. Jill will respectfully transport your pet after the appointment and coordinate aftercare with our trusted crematorium partner, Bubbling Well Pet Memorial Services.

Private cremation means your pet is cremated and their ashes are returned to you. Your pet is the only one in the chamber during cremation, and there is no mixing with other pets at any point. The ashes returned to you are solely your pet’s.

Communal cremation means your pet is cremated with other pets, and ashes are not returned.

Both options are handled with dignity and care.

Clay paw print and/or fur clipping can be provided by Dr. Jill during the appointment when requested.

If you select cremation, shortly after the appointment, Bubbling Well will email you a link to their Paw E Track system, which allows you to:

• Select from different urn styles

• Update or confirm engraving details

• Add keepsakes if desired

If no selections are made within 48 hours, they will proceed with a standard wooden urn engraved with your pet’s name if private cremation has been selected. 

Pets who are communally cremated are honored in Bubbling Well’s memorial garden, a dedicated space overlooking Napa Valley where pets are respectfully remembered.

Ashes are typically ready within 1 to 2 weeks. The crematorium will contact you directly once everything is ready.

There are two options:

• Pickup at Bubbling Well - 40 Executive Ct, Napa, CA 94558

• Shipping directly to your home (adds $40). Includes tracking and signature-required during delivery.

Home burial can be a meaningful way to honor a beloved pet, but it comes with important considerations to protect water sources, wildlife, and other pets.

General guidelines include:

• Burial at least 3 to 5 feet deep

• Burial at least 100 feet from any water source

• Confirming that burial is permitted in your local jurisdiction and whether any specific requirements apply

For families who wish but are unable to bury at their home, burial in the memorial garden at Bubbling Well can sometimes be arranged when requested and planned ahead of time. Please let us know if this is something you are interested in so we can help coordinate before the appointment.

That is very common. You do not need to decide everything right away. We are happy to talk through the options with you either before or during the appointment.

Please reach out by text or phone, even if you don't see an opening online. While we do not offer emergency services, we do our best to accommodate urgent requests when possible or suggest other options. A list of local 24/7 emergency hospitals is also available in the Resources section.