When It’s Time to Say Goodbye
Supporting You Through Your Pet’s End-of-Life Journey
We understand that making the decision to say goodbye to your pet is incredibly difficult. When your pet’s life is coming to an end, there are two important things to consider: your pet’s quality of life and the emotional and financial impact on the people who love and care for them.
Consider whether your pet is still enjoying parts of their daily life, experiencing comfort, and able to do the things that bring them happiness. It is also important to recognise the emotional strain of watching a much-loved pet decline, especially if they may be experiencing ongoing pain or discomfort.
Thinking about these factors can help you make an informed decision about when pet euthanasia may be the kindest option. Our veterinary team is here to support you through this process by explaining your pet’s condition, treatment options, and expected quality of life, helping you understand what is best for your beloved companion.
Choosing euthanasia for a dog or cat is one of the hardest decisions a pet owner may face. While it can be heartbreaking, it is sometimes the final act of love we can provide – putting your pet’s comfort, dignity, and wellbeing first.
When you bring your pet to Avonhead Vets for their final visit, we will do everything we can to make the experience as peaceful and stress-free as possible. We offer sedation beforehand to help your pet feel relaxed and comfortable. Once they are settled, the euthanasia medication is administered, allowing them to peacefully and painlessly pass away.
Our Pet’s Goodbye have created a Quality of Life Assessment to help pet owners make informed end-of-life decisions.
Home Pet Euthanasia Services
Our Pet’s Goodbye
027 466 3293
goodbye@ourpets.co.nz
www.ourpets.co.nz
Passing Paws
021 085 06148
passingpawschristchurch@gmail.com
PassingPawsNZ
Vet 2 U
021 770 250
margareta@vet2u.co.nz
www.vet2u.co.nz
Pet Cremation Services
Gentle Waters (Pet Cremation)
Unit 1/44 Curries Road, Hillsborough
03 420 0201 or 022 400 400
hello@gentlewaters.co.nz
http://www.gentlewaters.co.nz
Gentle Waters is a privately owned company, here in Christchurch. A boutique Farewell & Pet Cremation Service where your pet and the environment come first. Gentle Waters Pet Cremation is the South Islands first environmentally friendly Pet Water Cremation & Personal Farewell Service. They offer your beloved pet the highest dignity through a process called Alkaline Hydrolysis or Water Cremation.
Fond Farewells
2 Marion Place, Lincoln
03 325 3640 or 0508 366 332
fondfarewells@gribbles.co.nz
www.fondfarewells.co.nz
We work very closely with the team at Fond Farewells. We can organise collection from our clinic, then have your beloved pet’s ashes returned to us. We contact you immediately when your pet’s ashes are returned to us. Fond Farewells offer beautiful wooden urns & memorial keepsakes. Please contact us or the team at Fond Farewells directly.
We can organise collection from our clinic or you can contact them directly; and they will collect your beloved pet or you can also go directly to them and say your final goodbye in their private room on site, then have your beloved pet’s ashes returned to us. We contact you immediately when your pet’s ashes are returned to us. Gentle Waters offer beautiful urns, cardboard scatter tubes, flax urn and keepsakes.
Paws2Heaven
027 534 8486
www.paws2heaven.co.nz
Paws2Heaven provides a professional Individual Pet Cremation Service throughout the greater Christchurch area. They offer collection services from your home or vet clinic. They offer a beautiful range of urns for your beloved pet. Please contact Paws 2 Heaven directly.
Pet Grief & Loss Support
Losing a beloved pet is never easy, and everyone experiences grief differently. The loss of a family pet can be overwhelming, and it is completely normal to feel sadness, emptiness, and a range of emotions after saying goodbye. During this difficult time, there are resources available to help you and your family cope with the loss of your companion. These may be especially helpful when supporting children through the loss of a much-loved pet.
SkyLight Counselling Services – Loss & Grief Resources
We highly recommend the grief and loss resources available through Skylight Trust. Their guidance provides helpful advice on coping with pet loss, managing grief, and supporting children after the death of a family pet. Please click here to read the article and find some additional resources for this difficult time.
You can speak to one of their qualified professionals on 0800 299 100
My Big Moments Books.
A personalised picture book by My Big Moments for helping kids handle grief and loss. Written for kids aged 2—7 years old. Available for purchase within New Zealand and Australia in hardcover, softcover and eBook.
‘Goodbye Comet’, was written to make this tricky part of parenting a little bit easier. The story is personalised, placing your child in the action while the characters figure out together what it means to say goodbye to a much loved pet, and how to process their grief in a healthy way.
My Big Moments picture book, ‘Goodbye Comet’, has been specifically created for children to explore the concept of grief and loss in the safe, secure and loving environment of story time. Backed by research and consultation from child development experts, the book helps kids develop effective vocabulary, practical tools and proven strategies to use in their own real-life situations.
My Big Moments is an award-winning personalised picture book initiative that helps little people through big moments. The range covers the topics of starting school, building resilience, getting a new sibling, grief and loss, and going to hospital. Find out more, read a full preview, and buy the book at mybigmoments.com. Join ‘the village’ on Instagram at @mybigmoments.
Please feel free to contact us, if you have any further questions. Our staff are more than happy to answer any questions and guide you through this difficult time.
