Quality of Life assessment Forms

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To schedule an appointment please call 520-367-5222 and Kindred Spirits staff will schedule an appointment to help you. If you get our voice message, we are in an appointment helping a family, on another call or you have called after hours. Please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible to assist you.  If you need immediate help, we recommend reaching out to your veterinary clinic or an Emergency Clinic.

You can also email us at info@kindredspirits.pet to make an inquiry. We understand that scheduling an end-of-life appointment is very difficult and it can be hard to talk about. So please email and we will communicate via email to set up your appointment. 

Dr. Barrett does her best to help families as soon as she is needed. Please understand she may not be able to accommodate same day appointments. If there is a specific day or time that suits your families’ schedule, please call-in advance at 520-367-5222.

As mentioned above, Dr. Barrett does her best to help families as soon as she is needed. Please understand she may not be able to accommodate same day appointments.  For immediate needs, please contact your veterinarian for their assistance or for other recommendations for home providers, go to an emergency clinic for help, or we can provide a list of recommendations upon request.

Dr. Barrett will come to your home to meet you, your family, and your pet. She will explain the euthanasia process, discuss the aftercare options for your pet' s remains and complete some minimal paperwork. Dr. Barrett will then give your pet anesthesia/pain medication to allow them time to fall asleep gradually before the euthanasia injection is given. Once your pet has peacefully passed away, Dr. Barrett will give you time to spend with your loved one. If you are electing Aquamation with us, she will respectfully take your pet with her and the remains will be ready in 1-2 weeks if individual Aquamation is selected.

Most appointments are 45 minutes to 1 hour. Dr. Barrett believes time should not be rushed and she allows families to guide the flow of the appointment.  Please communicate with Dr. Barrett your needs.  She always asks permission before approaching pets, giving medications, etc.  *If you need more time, please let us know during scheduling so we can accommodate your needs.* 

We will also send pre-appointment forms and authorizations ahead of the appointment to limit paperwork time. 

Please see our pricing page for a list of all our pricing. Pricing, Fees - Kindred Spirits Pet Services.  We can provide an estimate if requested.  Please contact our office with questions.

We accept check, cash, and credit card payments. Checks can be made out to Kindred Spirits. Dr. Barrett doesn’t carry change, so it is best to plan to have the exact amount if you are paying by cash. You can pay with a credit card through our invoicing system before your visit, which many families prefer to do so that they don’t need to worry about payment at the time of the visit. However, if you prefer not to prepay, Dr. Barrett can take credit card payment while at the home. We also accept Care Credit and Scratchpay.  Apply online on our pricing page.  Pricing, Fees - Kindred Spirits Pet Services. 

Tipping is not customary. If you would like to give a donation in honor/memory of your pet, we would encourage you to donate to our Compassion Fund, which helps assist families who need financial assistance with our services.

During the appointment, you can be a part of as much or as little as you prefer. Dr. Barrett will explain the process and if you feel uncomfortable with the medical aspect (needles, syringes), some family members will turn their heads, close their eyes, or step out of the room during medication injections. Some family members choose to be at their pet’s side during the appointment. You can hold your pet if preferred.  

Consider playing soft music, writing a letter to your pet to read to them or talking about special times with your pet.

Dr. Barrett doesn't usually require “proof of illness” or veterinary records but if you would like her to review prior to your appointment, please let us know so we can request records. 

Dr. Barrett believes that the best person to know when it is time to consider euthanasia is the person who loves the pet and knows more about the pet than anyone else. As a veterinarian, Dr. Barrett can help you understand your pet’s medical condition. The euthanasia decision can involve a multitude of factors, including the pet’s quality of life, nursing care, finances, the family’s quality of life and other factors. It is always your decision and Dr. Barrett will support you when you have come to this difficult and painful decision.

If you are unsure, Dr. Barrett offers a Quality of Life consultation appointment. See Quality of Life Assessment - Kindred Spirits Pet Services for information and resources.

Dr. Barrett requires documentation for behavior euthanasias from your veterinarian, trainer or behaviorist.  Or she will need to complete a consultation to discuss the situation.

Dr. Barrett doesn't help with convenience euthanasias.  If requesting a euthanasia for a young cat or dog, Dr. Barrett may request documentation from your veterinarian prior to scheduling the appointment. 

If your pet is still eating, Dr. Barrett encourages you to be able to give you beloved pet their favorite treats or even some people food. Why not give them some chocolate or chicken nuggets!?!

You can continue your pet's medications but if they are having trouble taking or refusing the medication, it is not necessary.  Let us know if you have specific questions about medication.

If you would like Kindred Spirits to notify your veterinarian, our pre-appointment form asks you for permission and we will notify them of your pet’s passing for you. This is a standard practice so that your clinic can update their records, avoid sending you unwelcome appointment or vaccination reminders, and offer their condolences.

For dogs in Pima County, we can also notify Pima Animal Care Center (PACC).

Families take photos or video and audio recordings for many different reasons. Sometimes they want to be able to remember the time they were able to spend with their pet, how their pet looked or the things that they enjoyed doing, or to share with family or friends who could not be present to say goodbye. We encourage people to create visual mementos of their pet. 

Kindred Spirits asks that you refrain from including Dr. Barrett and her staff in your photos and from taking video and audio recordings of the visit. We value the privacy of our staff and the assurance that recording content from pet euthanasia will not appear online due to its sensitive nature.  Please contact Kindred Spirits with any questions or concerns.

Sometimes the feelings of grief can be very intense. The loss of a pet is comparable to other significant losses, including other loved members of the family. You don’t have to struggle on your own.  Kindred Spirits will provide a Pet Loss Guide with information and please see our resource page Pet Loss, Grief - Kindred Spirits Pet Services.