The death of a companion animal causes genuine grief for many owners, while the quality of end of life care for pets varies widely, with welfare considerations extending through the dying process to aftercare.
End of life care quality has profound welfare implications for companion animals. Palliative care that manages pain and maintains quality of life until natural death or humane euthanasia is a welfare obligation for owners and vets. The decision to euthanise a suffering animal, while emotionally difficult, is an act of care — preventing prolonged suffering that the animal cannot consent to enduring. In-home euthanasia eliminates the distress that some animals experience at veterinary practices, providing a calmer and more comfortable final experience. Owners who feel supported through pet loss are better able to provide good care in the final period and make decisions based on their animals welfare rather than their own grief.