The decision to euthanize a pet is a difficult and heart wrenching one, but often there comes a time in our pet’s life when it becomes apparent that continuing to sustain life involves more suffering than benefit. At those times euthanasia becomes a humane option for our pets. Though this decision is never easy, it is part of our responsibility to our pets to not let them suffer unnecessarily. Due to the difficulty of transporting sick or injured pets as well as the stress level some pets feel when taken out of their home, the option of having a veterinarian come to the home to put a pet to sleep is often highly desirable. At Twilight Services, a division of Well Pets, we wish to make that option available to as many pet owners in the Indianapolis area as possible.
When facing this difficult choice, there are two primary decisions that pet owners must make:
- When and where to have their pet euthanized
- How to take care of their pet’s remains
The options for the first question are typically at your pet’s veterinarian’s office or at home. Many people find that their pets become more stressed when they are at a veterinary hospital and may even find it emotionally difficult to return to that hospital when their last memory is the loss of a precious pet. For this reason many pet owners (and also many veterinary hospitals) see the value in home euthanasia. At Twilight Services, our veterinarians will work to help you decide the when and where of euthanizing your pet. Though our staff can offer council, we cannot and should not make that decision for you, only help guide you in the process.
As for the second question of how to take care of your pet’s remains, there are several options. Some clients prefer to bury their own pets, which is fine. However, sometimes weather conditions, the size of the pet, and local ordinances can make that choice impractical or illegal. There are also some human funeral homes or pet cemeteries that can aid owners who wish to bury their pets in a more formal way. The most common method to care for a pet’s remains is cremation. In general, there are two options for cremation:
- Group/Communal cremation where multiple pets are cremated together and their ashes are scattered or buried in an appropriate and respectful manner.
- Individual Cremation where the pet is cremated individually and the ashes are returned to the owner.
Twilight Services has partnered with Pet Angel, a well respected and extraordinarily compassionate company that specializes in helping pet owners with their grief and various methods of preserving and memorializing their pets memory. Recognizing that the needs of grieving pet owners are highly individualistic, Pet Angel’s services can range from very simple to very ornate, yet they are always focused on meeting the needs of their clients. It is the existence of a company like Pet Angel that allows us at Twilight Services to truly minister to pet owners during this difficult time. If you find yourself in need of this sort of assistance, please call our office at 317-773-8387 and we will be happy to help you.
Twilight Services (a division of Well Pets)
Phone 317-773-8387
Fax 317-773-8370
Office Hours Mon-Fri 9 am – 3 pm
Housecall Euthanasia Standard Fees
Housecall Fee $100
Euthanasia $50
Sedation* $25
Total $175
*Sedation is utilized to facilitate the comfort and relaxation of our patients and avoid any struggling or distress when the euthanasia solution is administered. Only if the patient is already in an extremely weakened or semiconscious state will sedation not be administered.
Additional Fees:
Mileage Fees: Twilight Services employs several veterinarians throughout the Indianapolis area. If round trip travel is less than 50 miles there is no mileage fee. If round trip travel exceeds 50 miles the fee schedule is as follows:
Round Trip Travel Mileage Fees
0-50 miles No Additional Fee
51-100 miles $50
100+ miles Fee to be determined by veterinarian on a case by case basis
Weekend and After Hours Fees: The timing of the housecall will be determined by the veterinarian and the pet owner. Standard hours are 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday.
Saturday and Sunday Housecalls (8am to 8 pm) $50
Extended/Emergency Hours*
8pm to Midnight $50
Midnight to 8am $100
(example: If a veterinarian makes a housecall at 2 am on a Sunday morning the fee will be $150. $50 for the weekend fee and $100 for the extended hours)
*Please understand that we do not necessarily have veterinarians on call 24 hours a day, but many of our vets may give their phone number to clients they have spoken to in case of an emergency. There may be times or conditions where we are unable to provide service but we will always do the best we can.
Pet Angel Cremation Services
Twilight Services and Pet Angel work in a coordinated fashion to provide a customized, compassionate service to take care of your pet after is has been put to sleep. If the housecall occurs during normal business hours (8am to 8pm) a representative from Pet Angel can meet us at your home and pick up your pet immediately after it is euthanized. If the timing of the housecall is outside of Pet Angel’s normal hours our veterinarian will transport your pet’s remains to Pet Angel for an additional fee of $15.
To visit Pet Angel’s website for information, assistance with the grieving process, or to see their various and unique memorial products click here.
