Guides
Ashes and goodbyes

How do I stay with them on the day?

It can be at home or at the clinic; some vets make home visits. Whether you stay is your choice, and it is okay if you can't.

For: While they are still here　9 owners asked about this

A real example

In summer 2025, Penn Vet's Ryan Hospital in the US reopened its renovated Comfort Room, a home-like space with couches and dimmable lights, most often used for euthanasia. It sits near a rear exit so families can leave without crossing the lobby, and the social work team meets families there.

Organisation, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 10 Nov 2025Read the original

What others said

「I'm about to have my dog put to sleep.」

Shared online (reworded)　English-speaking, Oct 2026

「This morning I stayed by my dog's side until the end.」

Shared online (reworded)　English-speaking, Oct 2026

「Today might be my last day with my dog, and I'm sad my dog won't see me finish my degree.」

Shared online (reworded)　English-speaking, Oct 2026

「We got our dog in 2021, and this year the legs got worse and couldn't be fixed, so we let our dog go today.」

Shared online (reworded)　English-speaking, Oct 2026

「Today is my very old dog's euthanasia day, and I want to make it a really good last day.」

Shared online (reworded)　English-speaking, Oct 2026

「I spent the afternoon at my cousins' house to say goodbye to their dog before tomorrow's euthanasia.」

Shared online (reworded)　English-speaking, Oct 2026
Show 2 more

「My dog's dementia has gotten worse, so we are letting my dog go this weekend.」

Shared online (reworded)　English-speaking, Oct 2026

「My 10-year-old dog has skin cancer, and tomorrow we are letting my dog go.」

Shared online (reworded)　Reddit, English-speaking, Oct 2026

What people do in different places

Say goodbye at homeUS: some vets offer home euthanasia
Spend a last evening at homeA way to say goodbye named by the AVMA
Bring family or a friendUK: PDSA advice
Give each family member time aloneUS: American Humane advice
A few minutes alone afterwardUK: PDSA usually offers this
Bring your other petsUK: some people do this
If you won't stay, tell the care teamUS: University of Illinois vet hospital

Sources

PDSA: When it's time to say goodbyeOrganisation, PDSA
American Humane: Euthanasia, making the decisionOrganisation, American Humane, 25 Aug 2016
AVMA: Pet euthanasia brochureOrganisation, American Veterinary Medical Association（Boulder Humane Society 網站轉載）
University of Illinois vet hospital: End-of-life FAQOrganisation, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
Penn Vet: Comforting PhilanthropyOrganisation, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 10 Nov 2025
9 posts from owners online: reworded and anonymised, showing only the platform, region and month. We keep the original links privately.

Updated 25 Oct 2026. This page updates daily from owners’ posts.

Read next

How do I know when it is time?Ask your vetI keep blaming myself for choosing euthanasiaThey don't have much time left. What can we do together and what memories can I make in these last days?
Create a memorial page for them