The appointment takes between 1 to 2 hours. We start by walking through the process together, then discussing your preferences, concerns or fears, and lastly aftercare options. We then proceed with an injection that provides gentle relaxation and pain control that allow your companion to rest comfortably where you choose: a warm bed, your lap, or under a favorite tree. Next, the final medication is given while your companion is soundly asleep. We then can memorialize (if you wish) through a clay pawprint, ink nose prints, decorating the dignity bag, collecting a lock of fur or other special requests. Depending on your aftercare election and the size of your companion, either Dr. Young or High Country Pet Cremation will collect your companion for aftercare.

This service is designed to support the chronically ill, immobile, geriatric, or declining companion where travelling to the home clinic is undesirable due to stress, pain, or fear or for those who just wish to be home for the process. This service is for the humans supporting their companion to whom they are greatly bonded. It is for all who may wish to share a reverential experience around the transition of life to death.

It is not designed for young, aggressive animals with significant behavioral challenges, as Dr. Young is a solo practitioner and is limited in the range of animals that can be safely seen without additional trained assistance.

Sacred Bond is not an on-call, in-home emergency euthanasia service. It is a by-appointment service between the hours of 9am and 3pm.

Dr. Young sees companions within a 20 mile radius of Banner Elk, North Carolina. If you are outside of this service area and Dr. Young is able to come to you, there is an additional out-of-area service fee of $150.

Sacred Bond recommends this decision be based on what would be most comfortable for your companion. You are the best judge of that. Ultimately, if your companion is comfortable with the individuals around, anyone you would like to be present can be there. Whether just yourself, a few intimates, or 20+ family members and friends or other fur babies, all are welcome.

Dr. Young specializes in dogs and cats. However, if you have another type of companion that lives with you (and can fit) within your home, such as a bunny, gerbil, bird, etc., please contact us anyway. We may still be able to help.

Euthanasia means ‘good death,’ and the process is designed to mimic what it would be like to pass in one’s sleep. The primary discomfort your companion may experience is the needle poke of the sedation, which is given in the same place your pet has received vaccinations. Dr. Young uses VERY small needles, so most animals do not mind very much, especially if distracted by treats and affection. Your companion will then become very relaxed and may even dream. As the medicine works longer, they enter a deeper plane of sedation. Your companion is not paralyzed-they are sedated, just like during a minor surgical procedure.

The rest of the experience is painless. Because your companion is sedated, they do not experience discomfort or fear during an IV catheter placement, which is used to give the final medicine into the blood vessel. This medicine is an overdose of liquid anesthesia that stops neurologic function. This medicine does NOT cause death by a heart attack or by suffocation.

Yes.

If your companion is still eating, please give food. They also can have any special treat items you would like to provide, things they never got before.

If they are not eating, no need to force that or make them eat.

If their medications make them feel better and they take them easily, please give them or if they require relaxation before the visit. If they hate getting their medications and it is a battle of wills, please skip it.

The goal is to make the morning peaceful, pleasant, and relaxing for them.

Yes. If you would like to not be present for the process or present for only part of the process, that is perfectly ok. And if there are individuals present you would like to take out during the process, that is ok, as well. This is a space where everyone is honored and free to do what feels best to them.

Yes. If you and your companion have a favorite place on your private property, we absolutely can honor that. If there is a special meaning for you around any personal objects or locations and it can be done, we will do it. The only restriction is to highly public areas where the sensitive nature of this procedure would be problematic.

That is absolutely ok. This decision can be incredibly difficult to make. If you are unsure, it is ok to cancel the visit or change from a Euthanasia call to a Quality of Life or Pre-planning call instead. These options allow us to discuss your companion together and help set everyone up for making informed decisions around this topic. Sacred Bond’s goal is to create support around this decision making process to where you feel comfortable with the choice and the timing.

Generally, no. A euthanasia appointment can be set up without these other two options. The only time it is required is if you are aware your companion will be highly fearful and/or highly aggressive. A pre-planning call will allow us to discuss and plan for a less stressful, more gentle visit.

If a pre-planning service call is required, a $75 credit will be applied to the in-home euthanasia service call if utilized in the future.

If your companion’s behavior required a pre-planning call, a $75 credit will be applied to the in-home euthanasia service call fee if it is utilized in the future.

There is no credit applied towards the euthanasia service call for a quality of life service call having been utilized.

This is usually something we can work within, depending on the level of fear or aggression. Often we will use oral medications that Dr. Young will provide in a pre-planning service call. These allow your companion to feel more relaxed and less fearful of a stranger, especially a veterinarian. This situation does require an initial consultation in the form of a pre-planning service call if you feel your companion will be aggressive and, very occasionally, the euthanasia call turns into this if Dr. Young cannot safely handle the animal.

Dr. Young does not see young, aggressive animals with significant behavioral challenges, as she is a solo practitioner and that situation requires an additional trained professional assistant.

For cats and dogs, an up-to-date rabies vaccination is usually necessary for an appointment. However, Dr. Young takes this situation on a case by case basis. For example, if you have a medical exemption agreement with your current veterinarian based on your companion’s unique health circumstances (ex. cancer diagnosis, vaccine reactions), those will be honored. Sacred Bond will request proof of rabies vaccination, even if overdue, before setting up an appointment time.

Dr. Young only sees quality of life and end of life appointments.

She does not perform regular veterinary house calls for wellness or sickness appointments.

To make an appointment, please reach out by email.

DrYoung@sacredbondveterinary.com

Appointments generally are made at least 16-18 hours out (or longer if desired). Same day appointments can occasionally be seen if the schedule allows, but this is not the norm. Also, please still reach out as things can change on a daily basis.

This is an appointment based service which operates between 9am and 3pm Monday-Saturday. Neither evening nor emergency appointments are available at this time.

If you have an emergency, please contact ANIMAL EMERGENCY CLINIC OF THE HIGH COUNTRY at 828-268-2833 or your regular veterinarian’s office if it is during their operating hours.

However, if your companion develops an emergency while Dr. Young is present for a euthanasia visit, it will be addressed on site.

Yes. Sacred Bond will send a notification of our appointment directly to your home veterinary office.

This service is handled by High Country Pet Cremation (HCPC). This is a local business in our area, and the owners are part of our community. Dr. Young has been to visit and seen their operations, which are well-kept and surrounded by peaceful woods and fields.

If your companion is under 50lbs, Sacred Bond will transport them into HCPC’s care. If your companion is over 50lbs, HCPC will come to your home at the end of our appointment and transport them. Please see their website below.

‍ ‍https://www.highcountrypetcremation.com/

Home burial is handled by you own arrangements.

High Country Pet Cremation will return your pet’s urn to you within 2 weeks. They will follow-up with you directly regarding when the urn is ready.

Absolutely you can. There are a few important factors to consider when making this decision. The medication that is given during this process can be harmful and cause death in other animals that may ingest it, so a deep grave site (between 3-5ft) is very necessary to prevent this possibility.

Below are a few on-line resources available for information and support about the grieving process associated with this loss.

https://vmc.vet.osu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/coping_with_loss_brochure_2024_web.pdf

https://petloss.lapoflove.com/?_gl=1*1vpxiu6*_gcl_au*MTM5NDA1NjU1MS4xNzc5ODIyNjQz

https://caetainternational.com/about/caeta-pet-loss-resources/

www.VeterinaryWisdom.com/petparents

ASPCA Pet Loss Helpline: 877-GRIEF-10 (877-474-3310)

Here are a few children’s books recommended by our clients who had positive experiences with them:

When A Pet Dies by Fred Rogers

The Invisible Leash by Patrice Karst

The Rough Patch by Brian Lies

The total cost will be the In-Home Euthanasia service call plus the cost of aftercare. If a pre-planning call was necessary, a $75 credit will be applied to the total cost.

For example, if your pet is 25lbs and you elect for private cremation with the urn, the total invoice cost will be $700 ($375+$325).

This cost does not apply to out-of-service areas. If Dr. Young is able to see you outside the service area, there is a out-of-service area fee of $150.

Payment is required at the time of service. This is generally handled through a pay link to your phone or an emailed invoice, which accepts credit/debit cards or ACH transfer. This is sent the morning of service. Cash is also acceptable, but we do not carry change. No payment plans are offered at this time.

The best way to contact Sacred Bond is by email:

DrYoung@sacredbondveterinary.com

Dr. Young will respond to your email within a few hours to 1 business day, except Sundays.

If you are a current client, have an appointment already scheduled, or are a clinician, please email. Dr. Young will be in touch as soon as she is available.

It is truly important to Sacred Bond that each email or communication is responded to in a timely manner.

For new clients, please expect a reply email within 24 hours, with the exception of Sunday. If you have not heard back within 24 hours, please check the spam folder. If still no communication, please reach out again, as something has gone amiss.

For scheduled clients with questions or clinicians, expect a response as soon as Dr. Young is available, usually within hours.

In all cases, if you have not heard anything within 24 hours, this is abnormal and something has fallen through a crack. Please check spam and/or reach out again, as the crack may be on our end.

Yes, certainly you may reach out! Just send an email. In this way, you can be aware of all your options for your companion when it does come to that time. In addition, Dr. Young is aware of your companion’s situation, as well.

Please note that a scheduled appointment will still be needed in the future for the service and are generally scheduled at least 18 hours in advance.

Sacred Bond does NOT provide on-call emergency euthanasia services.