HANDOUTS
How to Bury a Pet
While burial is restricted or prohibited in many areas (except in certain rural or farm settings), some families still choose this option. The BURYING A PET handout provides safe, respectful guidance for those who decide to proceed.
– Learn how to bury a pet properly to protect wildlife and the environment.
– Visit Farewell Pet to check burial laws by state (note: we cannot guarantee the accuracy of third-party sources).
Important Reminder
According to the AVMA 2020 Euthanasia Guidelines, veterinarians are responsible for informing clients of proper remains disposal. They are very clear on the veterinarian's liability:
"Serious repercussions may occur when veterinary health professionals who should be well informed about the necessity for proper disposal of animal remains, fail to provide it, or fail to inform their clients how to provide it. Cases of suspected wildlife death from animal remains containing pentobarbital are investigated by the regional US Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement office. Animal remains containing pentobarbital are potentially poisonous for scavenging wildlife, including birds of prey, carnivorous mammals, and domestic dogs. Federal laws protecting many of these species apply to secondary poisoning from animal remains containing pentobarbital and may carry civil and criminal penalties, with fines up to $500,000 and incarceration for up to 2 years."
Pain Scales: Recognizing Discomfort in Pets
Help families better understand and identify signs of pain through body language and behaviour.
Visual tools to help pet owners recognize subtle signs of discomfort in their pet’s posture and expression.
Feline Grimace Scale
A scientifically validated tool for assessing pain in cats — available as a free PDF and mobile app.
Quality of Life Questionnaires
Help families reflect, together, on their pet’s comfort and their own emotional readiness.
A thoughtful guide developed by Ohio State University to help families start the conversation.
ONLINE QUALITY OF LIFE CALCULATOR
An interactive tool to assess the pet’s well-being.
THE QUALITY OF LIFE ASSESSMENT FOR THE FAMILY
Created by the Euthabag team to include the whole family’s perspective.
A user-friendly app to monitor and track a pet’s quality of life over time.
Poems
Beautiful poem by Christine Davis, click on the image to download.
IF IT SHOULD BE: We've highlighted this poem, as it was wonderfully designed to help clients and the veterinary team deal with any guilt they may be experiencing. It can also be given before euthanasia to help clients with their grief or to help them make the right decision at the right time.
Helping Children Navigate Pet Loss
Support families in guiding children through grief with sensitivity and age-appropriate tools.
A handout by Euthabag to help families talk about death with compassion and honesty.
Helping Children Cope with the Serious Illness or Death of a Companion Animal
A thoughtful guide from Ohio State University’s Honoring the Bond program.
Download and share these pages to help children express emotions before or during the euthanasia discussion.
FAQ’s & Other
Share the Aftercare For Pets FAQ and the Saying Goodbye FAQ to guide clients through their options with clarity and compassion after their pet’s passing.
Learn everything about our bags and how to use them with our Euthabag User Training Guide.
Download and complete the Euthanasia Consent Form with your clinic’s information.