In-Home Pet Hospice and Euthanasia
A Local Family-Owned Practice
Over 20 years experience delivering compassionate veterinary care
Our ServicesWe're here to support you, your family, and your beloved four pawed companion when it’s their time to move onward.
We ensure your pet moves onward with love, grace, dignity, and the peacefulness that embodies their life with those they love most in the place they fear least — their home.
We're here to help. Contact us today.
We practice palliative care with compassion that peacefully eases your pet's transition and helps provide your family with closure
Our fear free approach reduces the feelings of stress in your pet during end of life care by enabling a more peaceful transition
We believe home is where the heart is and the role it has for your pet's wellbeing during end of life care or when saying goodbye
We focus exclusively on home pet hospice and euthanasia which eases the transition from a terminal condition to a humane and peaceful passing of your beloved pet whether they're a dog, cat, or any other home companion.
Our comprehensive in-home hospice and euthanasia services help extend the time you have with your pet by improving their quality of life until it's their time to move onward.
Our pallative hospice care ensures your beloved companion is comfortable and content during the dying process at home
We take the utmost pride in helping your pet experience a fear free and peaceful passing in the comfort of the home
Our full service aftercare includes memorial keepsakes and transporation for a stress and worry free experience
Appointments Scheduled
Monday - Friday
9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM, and 5 PM
Available for after hours (6 PM - 8 PM), weekends, and holidays
Phone, Text, or Email Any Time for Availability
(256) 272 - 1188
robin@onwardpaws.com
* Pets weighing 40 lbs. or more may require family assistance carrying your pet to the vehicle
* Pets weighing 100 lbs. or more require a 48-hour notice to facilitate aftercare pickup
Your Onward Paws Memorial Keepsakes
Find a flexible Scratch payment plan
Unfortunately, we do not accept cash or check
(256) 272 - 1188
robin@onwardpaws.com
Feel free to phone, text, or email me if you have any questions about our in-home pet hospice or euthanasia and pet cremation services.
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Veterinarian and Onward Paws Owner
With over 20 years of experience, Robin is passionate about providing compassionate care to pets and the families who love them. She values clear communication and client education, helping families feel supported and confident in making decisions for their pets.
Robin is licensed in Alabama and previously practiced in Arizona and Virginia. She is known by clients and colleagues alike for her compassionate approach and dedication to the well-being of her patients, while also honoring the needs and wishes of their families.
Dr. Gibbons graduated from Florida State University in 2002 before completing her veterinary training at Ross University and The Ohio State University, where she earned her veterinary degree in 2006. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA), and is a Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian (CPEV).
Memberships and Certifications
Hospice care prioritizes a pet's comfort and quality of life by reducing pain and suffering during the dying process.
See AAHA Animal versus human hospice care for more information
Euthanasia is a humane, peaceful, and respectful procedure that induces death relieving a pet from pain and suffering.
See AVMA guidelines for the euthanasia of animals for more information
Choosing in-home euthanasia enables the entire family, including children and other pets, to say goodbye in their own way within the privacy and comfort of the home.
By selecting in-home euthanasia for your companion, you provide your pet with the most peaceful, loving, and stress-free environment they know -- their home.
If your pet can no longer experience the things, he/she once enjoyed, cannot respond to you in his or her usual ways, or appears to be experiencing more pain than pleasure, you may need to consider euthanasia.
Likewise, if your pet is terminally ill or critically injured, or if the financial or emotional cost of treatment is beyond your means, euthanasia may be a valid option.
Sometimes asking yourself the question, "Does my pet have more bad days than good days?" can help you make the decision.
Yes.
Onward Paws ensures the process is humane and peaceful by using current AVMA and CAETA euthanasia guidance, techniques, and protocols.
Likewise, in-home euthanasia ensures the final moments you and your companion share are stress free because they are in a comfortable environment they know and love.
Unfortunately, a natural death does not guarantee your pet a stress free, peaceful, and painless process. Euthanasia spares your pet from unpredictable changes in quality of life, comfort, and suffering.
Yes.
Some pet owners choose to be present during their pet’s euthanasia, but others choose to say goodbye beforehand and not be present during euthanasia.
This is a very personal decision, and you should do what feels right for you. Do not let others pressure you into making a choice that makes you uncomfortable.
Once the process is complete you and your family will have time to say goodbye and grieve privately.
During this period, it is important to know, your pet may move his/her legs or head or breathe deeply several times. These are reflexes and DO NOT mean that your pet is alive, in pain, suffering, or that the euthanasia process was unsuccessful.
Following your family's goodbyes your pet will be transported for aftercare cremation (if elected).
Yes.
In many cases families wish to assist in carrying their pet to the car because it helps bring closure.
If your pet weighs 40 lbs. or more; the veterinarian may ask for assistance with carrying your pet to the car for aftercare.
If your pet weighs 100 lbs. or more; the veterinarian requires a 48-hour notice to facilitate aftercare pickup.
Yes.
However, we may request that you administer an oral sedative prescribed from your family veterinarian prior to our arrival.
We may also need to use a muzzle for the safety of everyone involved.
We can schedule the appointment, but there can be up to a 14-day waiting period, based on pet health and state or local regulations.
We may also request to contact your family veterinarian or animal control regarding the details of the incident prior to scheduling.
No.
Onward Paws specializes in at-home palliative hospice and euthanasia only.
Anyone who considers a pet a beloved friend, companion, or family member knows the intense pain that accompanies their loss.
The following resources are provided to help you and your family prepare and cope with the loss of your loyal family member.
You’re not alone in this and remember that millions of pet owners have experienced the same intense feelings of loss which are both normal and natural.
Non-profit organization dedicated to helping people grieve the loss of their pet.
www.APLB.org
Provides pet owner guideance and material related to end-of-life care and euthanasia decision
making.
www.AVMA.org
Tufts University Pet Loss
Hotline website
Cornell University Pet Loss
Hotline website
A pet loss community that specializes in finding local resources to help one cope with pet loss.
www.Pet-Loss.net
Curated resources on healing for people and the animals they love.
www.AnimalsInOurHearts.com
General information for anticipating or coping with a significant loss in your life.
www.GriefHealing.com
Saying Goodbye to Lulu When a Pet Dies Dog Heaven Cat Heaven Remembering My Pet
