Bentley Veterinary Services: In-Home Euthanasia

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween from Bentley Veterinary Services!

Our pets have rocked a few different costumes throughout the years.

Throwback to our vet school years when Art and Bentley (company namesake) were dressed up as Dumbledore and Harry Potter for an Auburn Vet School Halloween dress up contest. Our two little wizards won best overall.

Have a Happy Halloween! (and guard your candy bags from your pets)

We'd love to see your pet's best Halloween outfits as well!

10/27/2026

What Happens During an In-Home Euthanasia Appointment?

When Dr. Smith comes into your home, we want families to feel at ease with the process before she ever arrives. So how does an appointment usually go, from start to finish?

First, Dr. Smith will send the family a text message with an updated ETA when she is en route. When she arrives, she will introduce herself to the family and the pet. We prefer to get paperwork and payment out of the way so that the remainder of the appointment can be solely focused on giving a loving goodbye to a deserved pet.

We recommend having your pet somewhere special to you or them. A favorite spot on the couch, under a tree outside or their favorite sunny spot in the living room. Other pets, children, friends and family are all welcome to be or not be present. We want the experience to be what is best for each family. She will talk through everything that is going to happen, and how she evaluates the pet, all in an effort to assure you that they will feel no pain. She welcomes questions and wants you to feel as at ease with the process and what she is doing as possible.

After your pet has passed, she will offer to make a clay paw print and cut a lock of hair to go into a decorative glass vial as keepsakes.

At the conclusion of the appointment, if you elected for a home burial, she will then thank you and excuse herself. If you desire cremation, she will give you some time with your pet, before coming back in to transport your pet for cremation. Generally speaking, appointments take 45 minutes to one hour, but are not bound to any certain amount of time. We want each family to move at a pace that they are comfortable with and feels appropriate for them.

Bentley Veterinary Services partners with Faithful Companion for cremation services. We coordinate with them and they pickup your pet directly from us. Those that elect from private cremation will be contacted by Faithful Companion to arrange for their pet's remains to be hand delivered in a cherry wood urn within 1-3 days.

We know there may be a number of questions surrounding In-Home Euthanasia.

What questions would you want answered before an appointment?

10/22/2026

A frequently asked question we get is:
Can other pets be present?

Yes. ❤️

Many families choose to let their other dogs or cats be present for the goodbye.

There is no single “right” way to do this. Some pets stay close. Others prefer to observe from across the room. And some families decide their other pets shouldn't be present at all. We believe it can serve as helpful closure for other pets to see their family member peacefully pass.

The important thing is choosing what feels right for your family.

Your pet's final moments don't have to look a certain way. They simply need to be meaningful to you.

10/20/2026

Meet the Veterinarian

Today, we'd like you to meet the person behind the stethoscope.

Dr. Amy Smith is a mother, wife, friend, travel fanatic, pet lover (3 dogs, a cat, a turtle and a fish) and veterinarian who believes in offering a peaceful and graceful passing to a deserving pet.

Dr. Amy Smith has a deep passion for stepping into one of the hardest days a family will experience, the passing of a beloved pet and family member. Dr. Smith views in-home euthanasia as a final graceful gift from a loving, caring family to a pet that deserves to pass at ease, at home, surrounded by the ones that loved them the most. She considers it an honor to be invited into such an intimate moment with each and every family.

Dr. Smith received her DVM from Auburn University in 2016. Upon graduation she worked in private practice and relief work before starting Bentley Veterinary Services In-Home Euthanasia in January 2024. In the nearly three years since Bentley Veterinary Services began, Dr. Smith has been honored to partner with hundreds of families who just want to know there is someone there that will help them love their pet well through the very end.

When Dr. Smith enters your home, she's not there simply to perform a procedure.

She's there to listen.
She's there to answer questions.
She's there to give you time.
And she's there to help your pet feel safe and loved.

Because at the end of the day, this is about much more than medicine. It's about family.

10/09/2026

Kona was the best lap dog. He loved his mom, and her heart will always be with him. He will be missed forever. Read his memorial on our website (link in bio).

10/08/2026

10/06/2026

Where Is Their Favorite Place?

If your pet could choose their favorite place in your home, where would they pick?

The sunny spot by the window?

Their favorite blanket?

The couch where they've spent countless evenings beside you?

The kitchen, where they somehow always know when food is being prepared?

One of the beautiful things about in-home euthanasia is that your pet can spend their final moments in a place that already feels like home.

Tell us: Where is your pet's favorite spot? 🐶🐱

10/03/2026

Stanley was the sweetest, snuggliest boy who loved being with his "inner circle." He was full of personality and love and had a special way of bringing joy to everyone's lives. Read his memorial on our website (link in bio).

10/01/2026

Happy National Black Dog Day!

Meet Art (left) and Sylvester (right) our two black labs. Long before kids and the existence of Bentley Veterinary Services, we were puppy raisers for Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. Not all puppies become working dogs, so these two eventually found their way back to us to live out their days as pets. Art is 12 and Sylvester is 8. We love our two black dogs!

Picture is from hiking the Continental Divide in Colorado back in 2022.

09/29/2026

Thinking About Quality of Life

One of the hardest questions a pet parent may ever ask is:

“How do I know when it's time?”

There isn't one answer that applies to every dog or cat. But looking at quality of life can help.

Consider:
• Are they eating and drinking?
• Can they get comfortable?
• Are they able to move around?
• Are they able to appropriately relieve themselves?
• Are they having more good days than bad?
• Are they still interested in the people and things they love?
• Can their pain or discomfort be adequately managed?
• Could their ailment become an emergency situation?

If you're struggling with this decision, talk with your veterinarian. You don't have to figure it out alone. We also have resources available on our website under FAQs that can help pet owners work through when is the right time.

And remember: asking questions doesn't mean you're giving up. It means you're advocating for your pet. ❤️