Handling End-of-Life Care
Being a pet owner is a wonderful and beautiful experience that brings a great deal of joy to the lives of millions of people each and every day. Unfortunately, it also means that at some point, you may have to make tough, emotional decisions regarding the health of your companion animal, including how to manage end of life care.
Owner-Requested Euthanasia
We love our pets, which is why it is so hard to watch them suffer at the end of their lives, both physically and mentally.
Anti-Cruelty provides euthanasia services for pet owners. To allow family members to spend time with their pets, an appointment is required. Walk-ins may be denied. People with sick or suffering pets can email admissions@anticruelty.org. Please provide a phone number and you will receive a callback shortly.
Owners can choose to be present during this procedure if they wish. Anti-Cruelty understands that everyone manages grief differently and respects each person’s decision. Additional emotional support is available through our Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula - more details are below.
Anti-Cruelty suggests a $50 donation for this service and will be used to provide care to the animals in our shelter.
The Clinic is located at 157 W. Grand Avenue, lower level. Free parking is available in our parking garage just south of Grand Ave. on Wells St.
When you arrive, please take the elevator to the Clinic (LL), not Admissions (1R).
If you need assistance with your pet, please call 312-645-8051 from your car and we will send a representative out to assist you.
Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula
Anti-Cruelty now offers additional emotional support from our onsite Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula, Erin Daly. Should you choose to include Erin in this personal process, she will connect with you before, during, and after your appointment to ensure you and your pet experience a loving, intentional, and private good-bye together.
A Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula is a non-medical person trained to holistically care for the pet and their caregivers during the animal’s end-of-life process - physically, emotionally and spiritually. We offer this in service to everyone making the difficult decision to give their companion a good death through our End-of-Life services and are honored to create a compassionate bridge between the beginning and end of your dear friend’s life with you.
If you would like to work with Erin, please inform the staff during your initial appointment call or email edaly@anticruelty.org.
Communal Cremation
Anti-Cruelty offers a respectful communal cremation service for pet owners that choose to leave the remains of their companions with AC following euthanasia free of charge.Private cremation services are available through St. Francis Pet Funeral Services & Crematory. Please make arrangements with St. Francis prior to scheduling your appointment for euthanasia services and provide us with the reference number given to you by St. Francis.
Pet Loss Support Group
If you are having a difficult time in accepting your pet’s death, you may want to discuss your feelings with someone trained to understand the grieving process. Anti-Cruelty offers a free group program called “Working Through Pet Loss.” The group meets on the first Tuesday of every month from 6–7:30 p.m. Click here for more information about our Pet Loss Support Group.