Lap of Love

I’d give Lap of Love infinity stars if I could. What a blessing this organization is! If you love your animals as much as most people do, I can promise you that THIS is the way every pet would want their last moments on earth to be. To be able to be held, softy spoken to, told how much their loved, surrounded by loved ones, all within the privacy of their own home. Lap of Love was a Godsend when my golden retriever, Duke’s time came to go to Rainbow bridge. They made him feel safe, comfortable, and loved. And the same can be said for us! I will forever recommend Lap of Love to anyone who has a furry loved one, and is faced with the difficult decision of having to say (not goodbye) see you again someday. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Lap of Love, and most of all, thank you Dr. Michelle. You will always be an angel to us!

I could not have asked for a better experience for me and my beloved pet. I used a different at-​home service last year, Pet Loss at Home, and that was just so disturbing it still rankles me… But still, at home better than dragging your poor sick pet to the vet so I tried Lap of Love.
Dr. Stacy came out and was simply amazing. She spent so much time talking to me before hand, and was genuinely caring and sympathetic. She even offered to perform the euthanasia in my cat’s recent hiding space to keep him comfortable — in a dark stairwell in the basement!!! My cat did not have to suffer in any way, not even to be moved out of the stairwell, the injections were done perfectly, and it was such a beautiful peaceful passing for my beloved long time companion.
She was respectful to me throughout, and gave me quiet time while the sedative kicked in. (Whereas the Pet Loss at Home vet had offered quiet time but then sat in the same room checking her messages and chuckling and making other noises 5 feet away from me, even when I offered her «privacy to check her messages» in another room, she didn’t take the hint so my quiet time with that pet was me silently fuming and distracted by the very unprofessional person 5 feet away.)
Back to Lap of Love — Dr. Stacy then very gently moved my cat to his burial box, and stayed to answer questions. She did not rush, she was gentle and caring, she truly made an awful time as bearable as it could be. I can feel good knowing my cat had such an amazingly peaceful passing.
Dr. Stacy sent me a kind email afterward, noting that she had posted a eulogy for my cat on the Lap of Love FB page. I was really touched to see that Dr. Stacy had gathered enough info from her time with me to write a beautiful and very personal tribute. Just wonderful.
I can’t say enough great things about Dr. Stacy, and am so grateful that she was the one that helped my beloved friend of 17 years pass so very peacefully.

I emailed them in the middle of the night thinking my cyver, pet of 23 years was going to be fine and make it one more day, and they quickly got back to me the next day early morning. Even though I did not receive their services because my father took my dog quickly to the vet to be laid to rest and could not wait an extra day, I am writing this review because of the quick action the staff at Lap of Love gave. Their words of comfort and genuine care towards you and your pet is just like families. I thank the staffs of Lap of Love for being there for me, giving me words of comfort when I needed it the most. Thank you very much guys

Lap of Love is exceptional, and based on my experience, integrity and compassion are requirements for everyone in their employ. Nothing I say will ever be enough to describe my gratitude for them. I did a ton of research before setting out to choose a place to help our cat, Smokey Joe, move on to his next journey. I interviewed a few places before finding Lap of Love; my chief concern was Smokey Joe’s comfort during the procedure, thus, certain variables were of utmost importance. There is a big difference from place to place in both the method of euthanasia and the drugs used for sedation. It boils down to whether the business puts compassion ahead of profit. This is the first place I found that was clearly all about compassion.
I spoke with Dr. Juliana on the phone first, and she was patient with my questions, forthcoming, and gave me very thorough answers. She understood my concerns and was so empathetic. By the end of our conversation I was wishing it could be she who did the procedure, because I couldn’t imagine being as comfortable with anyone else. When Dr. Christie arrived though, I felt the same about her almost instantly.
Dr. Christie was so kind and loving with both our kitties, took her time talking with us, explaining everything, including the aftercare. She didn’t give the first injection until she confirmed that my husband and I were ready. Once Smokey Joe was sedated, she gave us as much time as we needed with him, and only proceeded with the final injection when we assured her that we were ready. After confirming that he had passed, she again told us to take all the time we needed, even offering to step outside to give us some alone time.
For all 3 steps of the process, Dr. Christie went at our pace and was so empathetic. Before leaving, she lovingly wrapped a blanket around Smokey Joe and placed him in her basket. When we finished our final goodbyes to him, she asked if we’d like her to cover his face before she carried him out. She thought of every detail that might possibly matter to us.
Another great thing about Lap of Love, is that care was taken by Dr. Juliana herself to find a place for pet cremation that matched her standard of ethics. She told me that she would drop by unannounced to various establishments and ask to be shown the facility, and any place that requested time to prepare for her tour was immediately crossed off her list. Also crossed off was any place that did not meet her expectations of cleanliness, care to treat each animal with dignity, and ensure that private cremation was in fact private, and not mixed with the remains of other animals. Her standards are high, as one would hope is true of all veterinary businesses. It’s comforting to know that from the time Smokey Joe leaves our hands, he will only be in the hands of other caring people.
My husband and I agree that by the time she left, Dr. Christie was starting to feel like family. That’s how comfortable we felt with her, how trustworthy she is, and the fact that she seemed to care about Smokey Joe’s wellbeing as much as we did — that meant the world to us.

A dog is a dog unless it your dog – then it’s part of the family. Last nigth we had to put a member of our family down. It was horrible for us but it was so much more bearable beacsue of lap of Love. the Doctor coudl not have been kinder or more compassionate. Never once did we feel rushed or get the sense they justed wanted to move this along to get out of our house.
This is really a wonderfull service that they provide to make the final day as comfortable as possible for all involved. Our dog went to sleep peacefully. God bless you!

So glad that this service exists — beginning to end (and in this case, there really is an «end»), Lap of Love provided compassionate, attentive service as we prepared to say goodbye to our 16 year-​old dog and bona fide «first baby.» From Nikki in the office, to Dr. Stephanie providing a warm, gentle transition for our dear girl to what we can only hope is a new adventure for her incredible spirit, free of pain and disability. Kudos to LoL for making such a sad experience as positive as possible. And also kudos to our regular vet for recommending the service.

This was the best decision I made throughout my kitty, Paddington’s, leukemia treatment. I’m so thankful that I did not have to make him go to the vet. He hated the vet and was so scared every time we had to go. When it was time to say goodbye, Dr. Juliana and Dr. Stephanie came out on the same day I submitted my appointment request. They happened to be working together that day. Even on the phone, they were so kind and warm. When there were delays because of rush hour traffic, they called to give updates and also answer any questions that I had on my mind. They’re certified vets and answered my questions about Paddington’s anemia and leukemia so I was sure it was the right decision to let him go. They’re very patient and empathetic.
It was a very peaceful and gentle ending. They climbed right up into bed with us; they didn’t make him leave the bed. He Unilocaled when they first tried to give the pain killer and anti-​anxiety shot in his back because he was already in pain and a little nervous about the two strangers. They withdrew and waited until he was calm and comfortable again. The bit of medicine that they were able to inject the first time worked so amazingly. It was like he had already started gently drifting over the rainbow bridge. It was hard to see him lose consciousness of his surroundings, but I am so glad he had that shot so he wasn’t nervous before the final one. He seemed absolutely relaxed and at peace. They could find the exact right spot to give him the last shot (they were massaging his abdomen) and position him correctly (over a pee pad) without him being conscious of what they were doing. It was a gentle transition.
The little tuft of his hair and the clay paw print are so much nicer to me than his ashes. I don’t think the vet would do that. The pet cremation company they partner with gives you the ashes back in a beautiful dark wood box inside of a velvet bag.
When it was time for them to leave, Dr. Juliana and Stephanie snuggled him up in a basket with a soft, thick blanket… he looked so cozy, like he was in a little bed. That was the best way to say goodbye to him and see him leave. They both gave me a hug before leaving and the card that arrived via mail this week was so nice. Thank you for your wonderful service, Dr. Juliana and Stephanie!

I can’t say how wonderful Lap of Love is. I put off saying goodbye to our dog, Finn (16 years old), much longer than I should have. The reason was because he hated the vet’s office, and I couldn’t imagine him spending his last moments in a place he hated. When I found out about Lap of Love, I was so relieved. Finn could die comfortably in our home surrounded by people who loved him. This sad situation was tolerable because of their care and concern for our dog’s welfare and our emotional state of mind. If it is time for your pet, please consider Lap of Love. It was the best decision I ever made. They also wrote a sweet obituary about our dog:
«In loving memory of Finn, a spirited 16 year old Jack Russell Terrier. Finn joined his family when he was just a puppy and from the start, his lively personality was clear! He was an adorable boy with a tail that never seemed to stop wagging. Although he was not the biggest fan of other dogs or people he didn’t know, Finn adored his parents and two human brothers and was so loyal and protective of them. No burglar in his right mind would try to get past small but mighty Finn! Finn loved to patrol the neighborhood and play in his backyard. He also definitely „lived to eat“ and never turned down a treat. In fact, one of his favorite snacks in recent years was gluten free blueberry muffins, which his mom gladly gave him!
Finn’s family took amazing care of him as he got older and developed heart disease and kidney disease. Perhaps because of this care or maybe because of his feisty spirit, he did incredibly well for many years, in spite of these health conditions. Unfortunately, he also began to develop arthritis that limited his mobility and gradually started to affect his comfort and quality of life. When it became too difficult for him to get up and down the stairs or even to lay down comfortably, Finn’s mom knew the time had come to let him go. He was able to enjoy one more muffin before stretching out on his cozy dog bed at home, and with his parents and grandparents by his side, gently drift off. Finn, you were an incredible dog who was truly one of a kind! Your family feels incomplete without you but knows you are at peace now. Rest now, sweet boy.»
Thank you Lap of Love!

Like many, we struggled with knowing when the time was right to put down our 19-​year-​old cat. She was our loving companion for our entire adult life, and it was so hard to say goodbye even when signs were apparent. We knew we did not want to take her to the vet’s office, a place she never felt comfortable and had not been in years. We spent weeks researching our options and found Lap of Love. Dr. Stacy seamlessly entered our life without knowing anything about us or our situation and made us feel like she had been our vet for years. She said exactly what we needed to hear in the manner in which we needed to hear it, and we knew, then, we had come to the end. The time, space, and respect given, along with the small, thoughtful gestures to check on us as we grieved, was more than expected and so appreciated. It takes a specific calling and ability to facilitate the end of life. Dr. Stacy will always hold a special place in our heart. We can’t thank her enough.

Dr. Christie Comm from Lap of Love helped us to get through a very difficult time. Our thirteen year old Jack Russell, Chance, was in his last hours battling cancer. It was apparent that his body was shutting down and he was in a lot of pain and discomfort. My husband called and spoke with Dr. Julie late on a weekend evening. Dr. Julie spoke with him for about an hour and was very compassionate to our situation. She explained the process, asked questions about our little guy, and answered all our questions. She let us know that there were other appointments scheduled and that Dr. Christie might have to come in her place. Dr. Christie called about 20 minutes before arriving to confirm, and when she arrived, she spent time talking with us and getting to know us and Chance. While resting in his favorite spot, she gave him an anti-​pain and anti-​anxiety medication so that he would not feel any pain for the first time in many months. She was kind and very comforting. She even walked away to give us some private time with him. We had about 30 minutes with him before she administered the final injection. Dr. Christie did not rush us, and she waited until we were ready for her to take him. She gently placed him in a basket with his favorite blanket and toys. Dr. Christie has a key to the crematorium, so although it was after hours, she was able to take him. It was comforting knowing exactly where he would be. Dr. Christie followed up with emails throughout the week to see how we were doing. She wrote up a beautiful obituary and posted a sweet message about Chance on their website. We also received a card. We are very grateful for Dr. Christie’s compassion during this very difficult time.

Dr. Christie came out yesterday to help our 15 year old boxer boy Cozzi cross over and she made the whole experience tremendously easier on all of us. We never wanted to say goodbye and knew we definitely couldn’t do it at the vets office. Our boy gets so nervous at the vet, we didn’t want that for his last moments. Dr. Christie was so gentle and comforting to Cozzi as he crossed over and it was very peaceful. We will be forever grateful for the kindness and compassion she showed him, and us as well! It never gets easier saying goodbye to a fur baby, but at least his journey was a peaceful one. Thank you so much for the piece of mind you have given our family!

We had to say goodbye to our Bob today, and Dr. Juliana came to our home. She did a wonderful job explaining the process and helping our family and our dog Bob have a graceful parting of the ways. I highly recommend using this service to say goodbye to your pet. She offered us a clip of hair, a pawprint, and some grief resources while having a wonderful bedside manner that put all of us at ease.

We were heartbroken when we learned that our sweet cat Linky of 17 had a cancerous tumor her mouth and her health would decline fast. Sometimes in life the hardest choices are the right ones. We wanted to make sure Linky was cared for and loved in her last moments in the comfort of her home and not in a cold sterile room in a veterinarian’s office.
Lap of Love was recommended to us and we cannot begin to say enough good things. Dr. Christie could not have been more empathetic and patient. She was extremely professional and made Linky and us feel secure. She took her time explaining the process and let us take our time saying our goodbyes. I was always away at college or had moved away by the time of my pet’s passed on so I did not know what to expect.
Although is was sad to see Linky go before our eyes Dr. Christie assured us we made the right decision at the right time so she would not suffer in pain any longer. We cannot thank Dr. Christie enough. She was kind and thoughtful and everything you would hope for. The eulogy she later wrote and posted on their facebook page could not have been any better. You could tell Dr. Christie really listened to us and cared.

I called Lap of Love recently as it was time to say goodbye to our beloved German Shepherd. They had been recommended to me one week prior by another friend who had just used their services.
Dr Stacey could not have been more accommodating. She was very empathic and professional. She explained everything to us clearly and I felt their process was much better than what I had experienced in the past.
After being given a sedative, I was able to see my dog as pain free, magnificent, and strong. I had not seen her this way in the last year. It was a wonderful parting memory for me and could not have been more perfect.
Thank you again Dr Stacey.

My first real pet (in the sense I bonded with her) and they made a potentially traumatic situation of having to put down a family pet as stress free as possible. I’m keeping it short but if you’ve made it as far as this review trying to decide *IF* you should put your pet down at home, then I would say after reading this I urge you to do it and work with Lap of Love in doing so. Very nice, very good job of explaining the process.

Sadly, our amazing dog, Sampson Simpson, was just too ill to make better. After being his humans for 10 years, it was clear we had to do our best to make sure his crossing over was without fear, pain or anxiety.
For me, death is a part of life that we ignore, fear and focus on as a sad thing. I wanted to celebrate Sampson Simpson so that he would cross over feeling loved, adored and safe. He was such an awesome dog who brought so much love, laughter and joy to me, my husband and our family and friends. His companionship made some of the harder and bumpier parts of life’s road easier and I wanted to honor that. It was indeed one of the saddest days of my life but also, it was an honor to be a shepard for Sampson in this life and to the next. Sampson Simpson had the best end possible for any living creature: at home, surrounded by his favorite humans, being loved and adored, and then he went to sleep. It was an ending fit for a king and one that most humans hope they get when it is their time.
In home euthanasia was the only option for us. You see Sampson Simpson hated the car, he hated car rides, they made him so nervous he’d vomit and drool the entire time in the car. In this way, he was unique. I’d never met a dog who hated the car. On the way to his ultrasound appointment yesterday morning, we promised him it was his last car ride and we’d never make him get in the car again once we got back home.
The vet recommended Lap of Love and said that «she was amazing.» I called and was very quickly given all the information I needed. We scheduled an 8 pm appointment and then spent the rest of the day making Sampson comfortable and happy. He slept most of the time.
I invited friends over whom Sampson had loved and enjoyed playing with. He had so many people that he loved and loved him back. A total of 22 people showed up to give him love, hugs, pets and kisses. He soaked it all up. Can you believe that? He was a dog and 22 people came to say goodbye to him! That’s a testament to the spirit and personality of Sampson Simpson. (As well as how fortunate we as a couple are to have such wonderful and supportive friends.)
Dr. Juliana Lyles arrived at the time we agreed. She came in and was very calm and loving. She was surprised at all the people who were there but started explaining the process. Throughout, she told us what she was preparing to do, what we could expect and what was happening. Sampson got a little nervous because he was surrounded by all the people he loved and who loved him and suddenly this stranger arrived. He got up and took one last walk. We got him back to his resting spot with some cajoling and treats. He was so tired and in pain that he quickly agreed to join us again on the couch. Dr. Juliana patiently waited and understood his last minute anxiety. She spoke softly and moved with certainty. Sampson settled back in and Dr. Juliana was kind and gentle with him. He let her do what she came to do.
Sampson was very sick so when he got the first shot, a strong painkiller, he fell asleep within two minutes. Dr. Juliana told us that it was a sign that he was ready to go, reacting that quickly to the first shot. Then after about 10 minutes, he received the second shot and he was gone within about 30 seconds. It was a peaceful and quiet passing, he was so sweet, at rest and finally without pain. The whole room burst into tears at this point.
Dr. Juliana made a paw print and clipped some of his hair as a momento. We arranged for private cremation for Sampson. She then put him on the carrier and my husband and her took him out to the car. It had started snowing when she first arrived. By the time Sampson was carried out of the house, it was fully snowing and a beautiful moment for Sampson’s last walk outside, I thought. Once he was in the car, we gave him a last kiss and Dr. Juliana drove away.
It was an amazing experience, one that was fitting for such a wonderful dog like Sampson Simpson. Dr. Juliana made the experience much easier for us. We cried all day and night but despite the fact we knew he had to go, the service Dr. Juliana provides allowed us to give Sampson the going away party he deserved.
I highly recommend Lap of Love for in-​home euthanasia. It allows you to celebrate or mourn your animal friend the way you need and want to, in the comfort of your home, so your animal is not nervous or more afraid than they already are. Dr. Juliana has a lovely demeanor, very kind and gentle, and is good at her job. She is professional, knowledgeable, compassionate and understanding. I’m thankful we had the option to call on her when our dog needed help crossing over.

There really are no words to describe how we feel about Lap of Love. To say that they were our saving grace with our terminally ill dog, Otis, would be an understatement.
We met Dr. Juliana about a month before Otis passed. At that time, we really had no idea how soon we would be losing him. Due to his illness, it was no longer possible to bring him into the vet for visits and we decided it was time for hospice care. We wanted to keep Otis comfortable and happy for the rest of the time we had left with him. Dr. Juliana brought Dr. Kara with her for his eval and they were both terrific. Otis was an anxious boy and could be very iffy about strangers coming into his space. They were totally respectful of Otis’ feelings and worked around a pretty disagreeable boy that day.
Dr. Juliana could call in all of Otis’ meds filled through Walgreens. This saved us so much time and money. We signed him up for their savings program and paid a fraction of the cost of what the animal hospital was charging us. It was super convenient being able to run out ²⁴⁄₇ to get his meds and not be stuck to clinic hours, as well. Any animal specific meds that we couldn’t get there, would be sent directly to us, and again, at a fraction of the cost. Those of you with pets, especially sick ones, know how the costs add up.
I love that they completely understood where we were coming from. Our old clinic wanted us to bring Otis in for blood tests to continue his meds. Why??? We needed to keep him on the meds regardless of side effects. There were no other options. It would have meant a painful car ride and vet visit (bad bad back legs and a tumor on his shoulder blade) filled with anxiety with a large bill at the end. They didn’t seem to have his best interest at heart. Dr. Juliana understood all of this. She told me she didn’t even have an account at a lab! This woman gets it!
Otis took us on a bit of a roller coaster ride and there were several ups and downs where we weren’t sure it he was just having a few off days or was in serious decline. During those times, we were in constant contact with Dr. Juliana. She was SO communicative with us about his medications and what we could do to keep him comfortable, what to watch out for, etc. It didn’t matter what time we called. We never waited long for a call back. You would never get this kind of service, especially at night, with a regular vet.
When it came time to put Otis to sleep, Dr. Stacy came out for the appointment. She was just as amazing. She showed us and Otis so much respect and compassion. We were so devastated and she never rushed us. I think she would have sat there all night with us if we had wanted to. Losing Otis such an awful experience, but having him at home, on his bed, in his familiar surroundings, in peace and quiet, not on some cold, sterile vet ER office floor made it the best possible way for Otis to leave us and made it the most comforting way to say goodbye. It is such a personal thing to lose a pet. Bawling at the vet’s office just feels ten times worse. Everyone in the waiting room staring at you with dread because they all know what happened to you the minute they see your face. Being able to say goodbye and cry our eyes out in the privacy of our own home was definitely a better way to go.
It is very clear that all the vets at Lap of Love care. They take the extra steps and go the extra mile to help you as much as they can through this heartwrenching process. We are so thankful for them and will never forget everything they did for us. If you are in an end of life situation with your pet, please contact them. They will be able to lighten the load of worry you have on your plate, even if just by a little bit. And it will make a difference.

I will be forever grateful for the kindness and compassion showed by these vets to our sweet Ginger at the end of her life (as well as to us, her family). What would have been a traumatic and terrifying (for all of us!) trip to the vet was instead a peaceful, gentle transition, done in the comfort of our home, surrounded with love and affection. They did a wonderful job explaining the process to us, and were extremely helpful, answering our questions and encouraging us to share with them all the good memories of our beloved pet. I highly recommend them for hospice care and euthanasia when that unfortunate time comes.

Our 17 year old pug Joe was nearing the end and we had scheduled an in home euthanasia appointment with our vet for a few days out. Unfortunately our dog took a turn for the worse in the evening and we were determined to take him to the emergency vet if we didn’t have to as it would put a lot of stress on him. Dr. Juliana Lyles from Lap of Love was recommend by some friends so we called her at 7:00 in the evening and after about a 20 minutes phone consultation determined that it was a good idea to come out.
The phone conversation with was amazing as she wanted to determine what was happening with Joe, his medical history and what he was experiencing. In about an hour she was at our home. Once she got here it was such a relief as her bedside manner was terrific, she was compassionate, listened, made our dog feel as ease and most importantly validated our concerns.
No one wants to watch a pet die but the manner in which it was handled brought our dog peace and comfort and was handled with the utmost dignity and grace. We cannot thank Dr. Juliana enough for giving our dog Joe such comfort and serenity in his final moments with us.
The quality of treatment from arrival to carrying him out of the house was comforting as is Dr. Juliana’s choice for cremation and other services. We are truly luck to have found her.