Companion Animal Farewell Support
Compassionate support for companion animals and the people who love them through the final chapter of a life shared together.
The animals who share our lives are part of our families, our routines, and our lived history. When a beloved companion animal begins to decline or reaches the end of life, there can be difficult decisions to face, practical details to navigate, and emotions that are not always understood by others.
Companion Animal Farewell Support offers non-medical, compassionate support before, during, and after the death of a beloved animal. Whether you are trying to make the most of the time that remains, preparing for an expected death or euthanasia, navigating aftercare options, or adjusting to life after a loss, you do not have to figure out every step alone.
My support is tailored to your household, your companion animal or animals, and the circumstances you are facing. There is no single right way to approach the end of an animal’s life or to say goodbye.
THE FINAL FAREWELL
Planning for the Time That Remains
When you know your time together may be growing shorter, it can be difficult to know what to do with the time you have. I can help you explore what activities and experiences have brought your companion animal joy and how to create meaningful time together.
This may include creating a “bucket list” based on your companion animal’s personality, favorite experiences, and current abilities, as well as helping you identify questions you may want to discuss with your veterinary provider.
When possible, I encourage including the whole household and others who are important to your companion animal. We can talk about how to include children and other family members in age-appropriate ways and consider how other companion animals in the home may react to the loss and what their needs may be during the transition.
END-OF-LIFE RESOURCES & PRACTICAL PLANNING
I offer help with researching and navigating options such as in-home euthanasia providers, aftercare services, cremation, burial, memorialization, and transportation arrangements.
Depending on what you envision for your companion animal’s final days, farewell, and aftercare, I can help identify and provide referrals to appropriate resources, services, and professionals who may be needed to support those plans. We can also think ahead about what will happen immediately after death so that fewer decisions need to be made in the moment.
Veterinary Appointment & Farewell Support
You do not have to attend a difficult veterinary appointment or farewell without support. I can accompany you or be present during an on-location veterinary visit as a non-medical support person, help you remember questions you wanted to ask, take notes if requested, and provide another set of ears.
I may also be present during euthanasia, whether it takes place at home, at a veterinary facility, or another location. In circumstances where you are unable to be present, we can discuss whether I may be able to be there with your companion animal on your behalf.
Please note: My presence at veterinary appointments, visits, or procedures is subject to the policies and permission of the attending veterinary provider or facility.
Farewell, Aftercare & Memorial Support
How we honor what our beloved companions meant to us looks different for everyone. I am available to assist with planning a ritual, remembrance, or memorial that feels meaningful to you and your household—or simply be present if what you need is another person beside you.
Support may also include practical assistance with the transfer of a deceased companion animal when appropriate, being present for an on-property burial where legally permitted, or simply being there with you during the time immediately following the death.
Support After the Loss
Support does not necessarily end when your companion animal dies. I offer a follow-up remembrance visit where we can talk about your companion animal, share memories, and reflect on the final days and moments as well as the life you shared.
Luda’s Goodbye
Ludacris—Luda—was not the first companion animal I had loved through the end of life, nor was her death my family’s first experience with in-home euthanasia. But her final days changed the way I thought about the time we have left with the animals we love.
Luda was part of our family for nearly fourteen years. My sons grew up with her. She was our protector, our companion, and a dog who loved having a job to do.
As Luda’s health declined, a tumor eventually caused her to lose the use of her back legs. For a dog who had always seen protecting her family as her job, losing the ability to do the work she loved changed her. We watched the spark that made her Luda begin to fade, and our family made the difficult decision to schedule an in-home euthanasia.
We couldn’t change the outcome, but we could change how we spent the time we had left.
So we made Luda a bucket list.
Because she was a large dog who could no longer walk, we had to think creatively. We found ways to bring favorite experiences to her and make others accessible. There was time in the sunshine, favorite foods, and time with people she loved. My son Logan no longer lived in New Orleans, but he had spent much of his life with Luda as part of our family—our pack—so FaceTime with Logan became part of her final days too.
What began as a way to make Luda’s remaining time meaningful became something more. The bucket list gave our family a way to celebrate her while she was still with us, spend intentional time together, and begin our own process of saying goodbye. The experience was cathartic in a way I had not expected.
After Luda died, we did not immediately rush her away. The other animals in our home were given the opportunity to come to her, see that she was gone, and spend time with her. They had shared a home and a life with Luda, and they were part of her goodbye too.
Luda’s goodbye taught me that while we cannot always change the outcome, we can be intentional about the time that remains. The final days can hold grief and sadness, but they can also hold favorite things, familiar voices, shared memories, laughter, and love.
Companion Animal Farewell Support isn’t about saying goodbye.
It’s about love.
My Role
Companion Animal Farewell Support is non-medical and is intended to complement, not replace, the care provided by your veterinary team. I do not provide veterinary care or medical advice or make decisions about treatment or euthanasia.
Availability & Pricing
In-person Companion Animal Farewell Support is generally available throughout the Greater New Orleans area. Travel outside the area may be arranged on a case-by-case basis, with any additional travel time and expenses discussed in advance. Some planning, resource navigation, and follow-up support may also be available remotely.
Because every companion animal, household, and situation is different, services are priced individually based on the type of support needed, location, time, and other circumstances. Please contact me to discuss your needs and how I may be able to support you.
Connect With
Andrea
Consultations are available for individuals and families seeking end-of-life guidance, advocacy, and support.