Meet Dr. Jessica Young
My name is Jessica Young. I am a certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian who practiced small animal clinical medicine for fifteen years following graduation from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. I became a veterinarian because I wanted to help ease suffering if I could—whether it was an ear infection or a debilitating chronic disease. To me, the quality of existence matters more than the many medical options that could be used but would likely cause more suffering to the animal or a disruption to the human-animal bond. In that sense, I have always been called to quality of life work, both for the companion and the human.
I opened Sacred Bond because I wanted to give our beloved companions the experience I often got to create with my own pets when their time came to cross. We would have a “normal” morning full of all the traditional rituals of our daily life together. There was no doctor’s office visit, no agitation or fear. They would become sleepy in a family member’s arms, surrounded by all their creature comforts, favorite snacks, and most beloved people. Their passing would be gentle, and we, as a family, had time to honor them within the privacy of our own home. I chose the name Sacred Bond to reflect both the beautiful and unique nature of the human-animal bond we can experience with our companions, as well as the sacred nature of making a challenging decision to help shepherd them gently through the doorway from life to death.
Sacred Bond is dedicated to the service of those most dear animal friends and to their humans, who have loved and cared for them in this lifetime. I hope to help you help them to make that transition as peaceful and comfortable as possible while creating space for a respectful and reverential experience for the humans honoring those companions. I serve the communities of Boone and within a 25 mile radius of Banner Elk in Watauga and Avery County, North Carolina.