Business & Tech

Saying Goodbye: Local Vet Offers 24-Hour In Home Euthanasia Service

This Northborough woman offers an softer way to say goodbye to your beloved pets.

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is one of the most harrowing experiences a pet owner can undergo. It's heart-wrenching for the "parent" of the pet, and stressful for the animals involved. 

Christine Maxfield, DVM, who is from Northborough, wanted to soften some of the unpleasantness that surrounds euthanasia by offering an in-home euthanasia service. She started In-Home Euthanasia to answer the growing desire for this service. 

She and her business are based in Northborough, but In-Home Euthanasia services are available to anyone in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, seven days a week, including holidays. 

"There are a few reasons that I think this is an important option," said Maxfield. "Cats, in particular, can get very stressed when traveling and I think it is very important for everyone to have our last moments with our pets be peaceful and calm. Keeping them in their own environments can prevent stress and fear related to travel and the 'dreaded vet's office.' Many dogs also get stressed, but I find most dog parents are more concerned with the pain of getting into a car for older dogs or when a family has a larger dog and simply can't get them into a car."

Maxfield is a Massachusetts native and went to UMass for undergraduate school and Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine for graduate school. She graduated in 2006. 

The procedure costs $175, and there is a travel fee if she must go more than 20 miles from Northborough. She also works with Forget-Me-Not Pet Crematory, which is based in Northborough. 

"It's also helpful to be able to have other pets present for the passing of a pet," she said, "because those left behind do grieve and when they are allowed to a be a part of the passing, they are better able to process the passing.

While in vet school, Dr. Maxfield was the Student Director of the Tufts
Pet Loss Support Hotline, a student-run free hotline that provides
counseling to those grieving the loss of a beloved pet. Students who work
on the hotline undergo training in grief counseling as well how to talk to
children about pet loss.

"People often ask me how I can do this job," said Maxfield. "I consider this to be a wonderful gift that we give our pets, and I am honored to be able to help
families give their loved ones this gift."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Northborough