Compassionate In Home Pet Euthanasia

Bridges Veterinary Care provides compassionate, peaceful, in home pet euthanasia and cremation services for families along Florida's Treasure Coast and the surrounding areas.

Our service allows your family to be with your beloved cat or dog during their final moments in your own home.

We know what a difficult decision you are contemplating and we are available to help in any way that we can. Many questions are answered here on our site, but you are always welcome to reach out to us by phone, email or text (772-272-1800) at any time.

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How to Schedule

Please call or text (772-272-1800) to schedule an in home pet euthanasia appointment.

Available appointment days for the current and upcoming week are listed below.
Same day appointments can often be accommodated.
After-hours and emergency appointments can be accommodated in some cases.

Available Appointment Days

Available appointment days & times for the upcoming week for in home pet euthanasia are listed below. Please call or text 772-272-1800 to schedule. If you need a date or time that is not listed, please reach out as we may still be able to help.

Sunday (9/15/24): Not available
Monday (9/16/24): 8am-8pm
Tuesday (9/17/24): Not available
Wednesday (9/18/24): 8am-8pm
Thursday (9/19/24): 8am-8pm
Friday (9/20/24): Not available
Saturday (9/21/24): 8am-3pm
Sunday (9/22/24): 10am-5pm
Monday (9/23/24): 8am-8pm

*Please refresh your browser to ensure you are seeing current dates.

About Bridges Veterinary Care

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My name is Dr. JP Shepherd. I established Bridges Veterinary Care so that families could spend those precious final moments with their beloved cat or dog in the familiar surroundings of their own home, where their pet is most comfortable and at ease. I want every pet to be able to pass peacefully, free of stress and anxiety.

I have worked as both an emergency and critical care veterinarian (Pet Emergency of Martin County, Stuart, FL) and as a general practice, family veterinarian (Palm City Animal Medical Center, Palm City, FL) here on Florida's Treasure Coast.

I am Low Stress Handling® Certified, which means I have completed additional training in how to minimize stress and fear when working with pets. It is so important to me that every animal be treated with sincere, gentle kindness and respect to maintain the love and bond that we share with them.

I am passionate about providing kind, compassionate support to families as they navigate the loss of a pet. In home pet euthanasia not only allows a family's dog, cat or other beloved pet to remain in their own home as they pass, it also allows a pet's family to experience and process their grief and emotions in a safe, comfortable space.

I have been very fortunate to have been trusted by countless families along Florida's Treasure Coast to provide care for their special dog or cat during some of the hardest times of their lives, and I have been honored to have been there for them during their pets' final moments.

I would be honored to help you and your family during your difficult time. If I can answer any questions or can help in any way, please feel free to reach out to me via email, phone, or text (772-272-1800) at any time.

Services, Fees & Payment

Our in home pet euthanasia service includes:

Travel to your home at a time that is convenient for your family
Consultation regarding your pet's condition and quality of life
Answer of any questions or concerns you may have
Administration of pre-euthanasia sedation that is tailored to your pet's condition
Peaceful, compassionate euthanasia of your pet
A clipping of your pet's fur, preserved in a small glass vial
A clay impression or wood engraved impression of your pet's paw
Preparation of your pet's body for cremation and transport of your pet's body to our crematory partner (if cremation is elected)
Cremation of your pet's body by our crematory partner (if cremation is elected)
Return of your pet's cremated remains back to your home in your choice of decorative, wooden urn (if private cremation is elected)
Your pet's name engraved on their urn (if private cremation is elected)

Fees
Our in home pet euthanasia and cremation service fees are listed below. We will always communicate the fee for your services with you before your appointment.

In home pet euthanasia - $420

This selection is for in home euthanasia services only
- You retain your pet's body after euthanasia for private burial or for other after-care services, as arranged by your family
This selection includes the following memorial keepsakes:
- A clipping of your pet's fur preserved in a small glass vial
- A clay paw print impression of your pet's paw

In home pet euthanasia with communal cremation - $620

This selection includes euthanasia & communal cremation of your pet's body
- Communal cremation is elected when a family does not wish to have their pet's cremated remains returned
  - Communally cremated remains are scattered respectfully in the ocean by our crematory partner
This selection includes the following memorial keepsakes:
- A clipping of your pet's fur preserved in a small glass vial
- A clay paw print impression of your pet's paw

In home pet euthanasia with private cremation - $765

This selection includes euthanasia & private cremation of your pet's body
- Your pet is cremated individually
- Their cremated remains are returned to you in a decorative, wooden urn
This selection includes the following memorial keepsakes:
- A clipping of your pet's fur preserved in a small glass vial
- Your pet's name and paw print engraved on a wood plaque
- A decorative, wooden urn containing your pet's cremated remains
  - Choice of one of three urns (see photo)
- Your pet's name engraved on their urn

Choice of urns with your pet's name engraved on them, glass vial for your pet's fur clipping, and your pet's paw print and name engraved on a wood plaque.

Pet cremation services only (for pets that have already passed at home)

This selection is for pets that have already passed at home (euthanasia not required)
This service includes travel to your home, preparation of your pet's body, transport of your pet's body to our crematory partner, memorial keepsakes (depending on your cremation selection), and return of your pet's cremated remains back to your home (when private cremation is selected)
- Communal pet cremation only (euthanasia not required) - $360
- Private pet cremation only (euthanasia not required)- $520

Additional fees (special circumstances)
In rare circumstances, there may be an additional fee associated with your appointment. When required, these fees are in addition to our standard pet euthanasia and cremation service fees listed above. We will always let you know if an additional fee applies before your appointment.

Cremation service partner's direct transport of your pet's body from your home due to their large size (may be required for dogs over 90 pounds)
- M-F 8:00am-3:30pm - $45
- M-F 3:30pm-7:00pm - $85
- M-F 7:00pm-8:00am - $105
- Sat-Sun - $105
Travel outside of our normal service area
- Okeechobee - $125
- Sebastian - $125
- Some addresses in the northern portion of Vero Beach - $125
- Other locations north of Vero Beach and south of North Palm Beach - fee based on location
After-hours appointments (between 8pm and 8am) - $200
Cancelled or reschedule appointments with less than one hours notice - $200
In home consultation prior to the euthanasia visit appointment - $295
- May be needed for aggressive pets in some situations so that pre-visit medications can legally be dispensed
- When owner desires an in-home examination and quality-of-life assessment not associated with the euthanasia visit
Additional keepsakes or memorial items - fee based on selection(s)

Cancellations
We completely understand that your pet's condition may change and that you may need to reschedule or cancel an appointment. This isn't a problem at all, but we do ask that you let us know as soon as possible if you need to reschedule or cancel so that we can make that time available to another family in need.

To reschedule or cancel an appointment, simply call us or send us a text message (772-272-1800). There is no charge to reschedule or cancel an appointment when at least two hours notice is given. For appointments cancelled or rescheduled with less than one hours notice, there is a $200 fee as the doctor is already en route to your home.

Payment
Payment for services can be made at the time of your appointment, or prior to your appointment if you prefer. Payment can be made with check, cash, Zelle or credit card. There is a 3.5% service fee for credit card payments to cover the cost of processing. There is no service fee for payments made by check, cash or Zelle.

How Do I Know if It's Time?

At Bridges Veterinary Care we believe that you know your pet best. In most cases, if you have been contemplating the difficult decision of putting a beloved dog or cat to sleep, and treatment changes you have made with your family veterinarian have not helped to improve your pet's quality of life, then euthanasia may be the right decision.

Some of the things to think about as you consider whether or not it is time to put a pet to sleep include:

Your pet is not eating or drinking well, and nausea medications and appetite stimulants aren't really helping
Your pet is not able to make it outside or to a potty pad to use the bathroom anymore
Your pet can't get around very well, and pain medications or supportive devices aren't really helping
Your pet is not as interested in spending time with you anymore
Your pet doesn't enjoy things they used to, such as taking walks, playing, treats, or lying next to you
Your pet doesn't like to be pet or touched as much as they used to
Your pet is spending time in places they normally wouldn't, such as rooms they wouldn't normally use, closets, or they are spending more time outside by themselves
Your pet can't get up, or it is very difficulty for them to get up
Your pet can't walk, or it is very difficulty for them to walk
Your pet falls over when trying to stand or when trying to urinate or defecate
Your pet has difficulty breathing
Your pet does not have a lot of energy any more
Your pet no longer greets you at the door when you come home (if they can still hear well to know you've come home)
Your pet has progressive dementia (also called cognitive decline), and medications or lifestyle adjustments are no longer helping
- Dementia in pets can include:
  - no longer sleeping through the night, getting up and down frequently, for no apparent reason
  - crying or vocalizing frequently, for no apparent reason
  - frequently restless or can't settle, for no apparent reason
  - development of severe anxiety, for no apparent reason
Your pet has aggression issues that have been unable to be resolved with professional assistance or is a danger to people or other animals
Your pet has a debilitating disease that can no longer be managed or the treatments are no longer effective
Your pet is having more bad days than good, or more bad hours than good hours

We have also written an article with more information about assessing a pet's quality of life, as well as other things to consider when contemplating if it's time to put a pet to sleep or not.

The decision to euthanize a pet is a selfless one, made out of love, so that they don't suffer unnecessarily. We are available to listen to your concerns and answer any questions you might have about putting your beloved pet to sleep. We will always help provide needed support in your decision making process. Please feel free to contact us by email, phone, or text (772-272-1800) to discuss how your pet is doing so that we can help you through this difficult time.

Areas We Serve

Bridges Veterinary Care provides in home, mobile veterinary pet euthanasia and cremation services for your family's dog, cat or other beloved pet throughout Florida's Treasure Coast in Martin and St. Lucie Counties, the northern portion of Palm Beach County, the southern portion of Indian River County and parts of Okeechobee County.

We provide home pet euthanasia and cremation services in the following areas in Florida:

Fort Pierce, FL
Hobe Sound, FL
Hutchinson Island, FL
Indiantown, FL
Jensen Beach, FL
Juno Beach, FL

Jupiter, FL
Jupiter Island, FL
North Palm Beach, FL
*Okeechobee, FL
Palm City, FL
Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Port Salerno, FL
Port St. Lucie (PSL), FL
*Sebastian, FL
Sewall's Point, FL
Stuart, FL
Tequesta, FL

Tradition, FL
Vero Beach, FL

*Travel is included in our pet euthanasia fee to the above locations, with the exception of Okeechobee, Sebastian and some addresses in the northern portion of Vero Beach ($125 travel fee to these locations). If you need in home pet euthanasia services outside of our normal service area, please contact us to see if we can help.