Earlier this year, Anicka Quin had to make the decision no pet owner is ever ready to make — but she knew it was time to say goodbye to her 18-year-old tabby, Zoe.
Having been through the process before, Quin made it a priority this time to find a compassionate veterinarian who would come to her home and make it all a bit more comfortable for both her and her cat.
“That [first] vet did come to the house, but it was a night-and-day process,” she said. “They just showed up. They did the process, and then they put her in a carrying case and took her away. And the whole thing probably took 15 minutes.”
Her more recent experience made the whole situation feel just a little less heavy. She credits one man, in particular, for his compassionate approach to end-of-life care for pets: Vancouver veterinarian Dr. Jeff Berkshire.
“He’s really kind. He’s really thoughtful,” Quin said. “He’s really careful about the way he talks — he just has a really sort of gentle way of talking. He clearly really loves animals.”
Anicka Quin called Berkshire when she realized it was time to say goodbye to her 18-year-old cat, Zoe. (Anicka Quin)
Berkshire runs Lifting Stars, a mobile veterinary service dedicated to euthanasia for pets at home.
He said a couple of friends and colleagues had started a similar practice in California, where he used to live.
“Ten years later I was living in Vancouver and decided I would give that a try as a unique service — and much needed one,” Berkshire told CBC’s On The Coast host Gloria Macarenko.
WATCH | Why end-of-life care for pets is so important:
He started Lifting Stars in 2015 and has since had thousands of clients from all over Metro Vancouver.
Berkshire, 50, said while it’s likely at-home services cost more, it’s hard to say for sure because there’s such a wide range of costing when it comes to veterinary care.
While euthanasia is typically part of the job for all veterinarians, Berkshire said he finds solace in knowing he’s helped families move through a difficult time peacefully.
“Despite the tremendous sadness of the situation, I do get a lot of personal reward,” he said.
Dr. Jeff Berkshire started his Vancouver practice in 2015. (Submitted by Jeff Berkshire/Belle Ancell Photography)
‘Kind and gentle’
Quin said when she said goodbye to Zoe, Berkshire explained the process to her from beginning to end.
“He asked for a key and he said, ‘I’ll leave so that you can have some time with her and I’ll let myself out and then I’ll come back and then I’ll take her away,'” she said. “He was so kind and gentle with her the whole time.”
Berkshire said his visits take about an hour, whereas euthanasia in clinics takes 15-30 minutes.
When it was time for the vet to take Zoe away, Quin said Berkshire swaddled Zoe in towels and held her in his arms so Quin could say her final farewell.
Katy Agnew with her husband and their dog, Indie, who they had to put down last year. (Submitted by Katy Agnew)
Katy Agnew, Berkshire’s executive assistant, says she has seen how his level of care has had such an impact for so many families.
In particular, she said, it means people don’t have to drive home from a clinic while grieving the loss of their pet.
“To be able to say goodbye in the comfort of your own home surrounded by everything that you and your pet know, I think it’s the best thing out there,” she said.
Agnew said she and her husband experienced Berkshire’s help first hand last year when their 14-year-old black lab, Indie, was put down.
“He’s so compassionate and he’s so kind and I think he sees every family as kind of his own family and he wants to be able to to help them,” she said.
Berkshire said he’s just happy to help.
“It seems to be so helpful for the families and the pets as well,” he said. “Both of them in their comfort zones allow us to better relax.
“It’s a really sacred time.”