Arrival
Dr. Green will arrive at your home in her own vehicle. If she is running late, she will call you directly at the phone number you provided. Otherwise, she should arrive at your home within 15 minutes of your scheduled appointment.
Paperwork & Payment
Once she arrives, Dr. Green will go over all the necessary paperwork and answer any questions you may have. Her goal is complete transparency and she wants to make sure you are as fully informed as you would like to be. Please be prepared to sign a cremation agreement as well as a liability release form which includes an acknowledgement that your pet has not bitten anyone in the last 15 days. Please know the State requires we ask these questions and is not an assessment or opinion of your pet. This is also when payment will be discussed and made. If you are planning a private cremation or communal cremation, you will need to pay for both the vet and cremation services. Payment for the euthanasia will be made directly to Dr. Green (cash, check, or credit card) & the cremation services may also be made via check, cash, or credit card via the credit card authorization form to Heart’s Companion.
Additional Information
Dr. Green may provide materials including articles about the emotions of euthanasia and dealing with grief. If you have other pets or children, materials about pets and children in grief can be provided.
Decisions
Dr. Green will explain the steps involved with the euthanasia & will help attempt to accommodate your request to make the experience as comfortable for your pet & you as possible. Please do not be shy about expressing what you’d like as you & your pet are Dr. Green’s priority. Dr. Green may get on the floor with your pet, you may be able to hold your pet during the process, be outside, or in a special location in your home. You are welcome to have as many or as few people present as desired. Children and other pets are welcome and encouraged to be present as long as they are not disruptive to the peaceful process.
Performing the Euthanasia
Wherever you decide to do the euthanasia, Dr. Green will lay out a blanket and stretcher underneath where your pet will lay. If needed, Dr. Green may wear a headlamp that provides extra light to access the vein. Your pet will be given a sedative which may be administered subcutaneously (under the skin), in the abdomen, or orally, depending on your pet’s condition. This will allow your pet to relax and be calm during the process. The sedative will take 5-10 minutes to reach full effect. Some people prefer to use this time petting, loving, and saying goodbye to their pet. Others will read poems or letters. Others desire to sit quietly. You can even give them treats until they are relaxed. It is completely up to you how you will use this time.
When you are ready, Dr. Green will prepare to administer the final injection. First she will apply a tourniquet followed by shaving some hair from the leg. The injection will be given intravenously. Your pet will peacefully pass within minutes of receiving the final injection. ]Dr. Green usually gathers her things and takes them out to her car, thus allowing you some time alone with your pet.
After Your Pet has Passed
Depending on the size of your pet, Dr. Green may ask for help lifting your pet with the soft stretcher onto the gurney. For smaller pets, Dr. Green may place your pet in a basket. Your pet will be respectfully placed on the stretcher and covered with a blanket. Your pet will then be taken to Dr. Green’s car. You are welcome to come out to the car with your pet. Once your pet is loaded into the car, you will be able to say a final goodbye before she leaves. Dr. Green will transport your pet to Heart’s Companion for cremation services. Heart’s Companion will call you as soon as your pet arrives so you know your pet arrived safely.
If Heart's Companion is Performing Your Cremation
Within 48 hours your pet will be cremated and the cremated remains will be returned to you, unless you have elected to have a Custom Pet Paw Print® made, in which case it will be within 72 hours. A Heart's Companion staff member will call you when it is time for your pet's cremated remains to come home.
About Dr. Green
Dr. Cathleen Green grew up right here in Reno, Nevada. She attended Hunter Lake Elementary School, graduated from Reno High School, and received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno (Go Wolf Pack!). After her time at UNR, Cathy went to Colorado State University in Fort Collins before returning home to pursue her career as a veterinarian.
“I always enjoyed animals and biology. It seemed to be the profession I kept coming back to. Other ideas would come and go, but the veterinary career was what I always came back to.”
She began her career at the Nevada Humane Society in 1986 and started her own mobile home-visit practice in 1993. She is married and has 3 hairy canine children at home: Addie, Stark, and Cap. In her spare time Cathy enjoys reading—The Black Stallion series by Walter Farley was a childhood favorite, but nowadays, science fiction and fantasy are more her speed. She also has a large comic book collection. She enjoys cooking & participating in local Dog Club activities with Sierra Rottweiler Owners, (SRO) and Truckee Meadows Dog Training Club (TMDTC).
