I highly recommend Compassionate Heart and in-home services provided by Dr. Sondra Elson. We used Dr. Elson on two separate occasions to help us with our 2 pets, (Zoey in Jul 25 - and Walter in Mar 26). Dr. Elson brings compassion, understanding and her 20+ years of professional veterinarian services to assist families during this emotional time and decssion. Her kindness, calming demeanor, and thoroughness of explanations throughout the entire process was welcomed and reassuring. She is truly committed to helping families with a peaceful transition and getting your pet ready for their Rainbow Bridge journey and the in-home pet services she provides. read more

Dr. Elson was very empathic and really helped us through this difficult process on Christmas Eve of all days. Even though it was a Holiday, Dr. Elson came out to our home and explained everything to make sure that we understood the process. Thank you for everything. I highly recommend Dr. Elson. read more

At a time that's never fun having someone out to your home helps. Nothing but care and compassion helping our pets cross the rainbow bridge. Thank you for helping make it peaceful and in the comfort of their own home. read more

We are so, so grateful for your gentle, professional, compassion through the process of us saying goodbye to our sweet dog. Your work is a gift to the world. We know we gave our pet the most beautiful, peaceful, loving and gentle goodbye we could and for that, we feel a sense of calm, relief and contentment. The follow up card is so thoughtful nd your words mean a great deal to us. Someone who truly understands how much our dog means to us feels comforting. We highly recommend your work to all. read more

So grateful for Sondra, once again. This was her third trip in 10 years, this time for my 17 year old cat. The calming energy she brings, as I'm always such a emotional mess saying good bye, has helped ground me every time. Seriously appreciate her services and especially how she helped my three greatest companions cross over... very peacefully. read more

Compassionate Heart is less a business name and more a description of Dr Elson and the way she handles her business. I have had to put animals down before. This is the first time I have had it done in the home and I will never do it any other way. Compassionate Heart was recommended by a friend. When it became obvious after a year long illness that the end was near for our beloved 10 year old Lab, I called and talked to Dr. Elson. We agreed it was almost, but not quite, time, and she encouraged me to call when it was. A day later the dog crashed fast. I called on a Saturday morning and Dr. Elson came 3 hours later. She was respectful, gentle and quiet with us and the dog, and I am grateful our family pet passed peacefully in her favorite spot on the couch, in no pain. Thank you, Sondra. read more

Compassionate Heart made a hard process, easier. Dr. Sondra was kind, efficient and informative.

I recently had to use Dr. Elson's services to put my beloved kitty to rest and could not be more grateful to have been referred to her. I spoke to her on the phone and it became clear that she cared about her patients and that we would be in good hands. Dr. Elson arrived timely and had a comforting presence. She explained everything in detail and things went smoothly. I never felt rushed to say goodbye to my pet even though she had other appointments. There were several special details and an overall sense of gentleness and kindness to my pet and to me that brought some comfort to a difficult day. read more

We have used the services of Dr. Sondra Elson at Compassionate Heart twice in the last two years for our kitties. While it is always hard to say goodbye to your pets, ours after 15 and 17 years, Dr. Elson made the process so much more compassionate and comfortable in our home. Our family, including the grandkids, were able to be there with our cats, holding them and giving them love at this time. We are so fortunate in San Diego to have such a wonderful doctor! I wish we would have been able to use her kind services with our other pets in the past. read more

Comfort and compassion in a time of great stress and sadness cannot be rated highly enough. We were extremely sad to say goodbye to our sweet dog, but his body was failing him and we wanted his passing to be as easy and peaceful as possible. Dr. Sandra Elson of Compassionate Hearts showed great kindness and gentleness to our dog, and an abundance of compassion to our family. It was a peaceful and quiet and respectful process, and we recommend her to anyone who faces the challenge of saying goodbye to a furry family member. It eases some of the pain to know that their end of life moments were spent peacefully at home, blissfully unaware and not in any pain. read more

We give compassionate heart a five star rating. Dr. Elson was very affordable and explained the process completely before the procedure.

I have thought about writing this review since we had to put our chocolate lab down about a year and 8 months ago. The experience we had with this company was traumatic. The Dr. that came to our house was over an hour late because she needed to pick up a prescription for herself (which is fair), but difficult when you're counting down the time you have left with your pup. When she arrived, she seemed out of sorts, and the entire process of putting our dog down was honestly awful. She attempted to give our dog the first injection to sedate her and was unable to do it, the syringe went flying, almost hit my partner and the dog ran off yelping in pain. She then said, "maybe it's better if I come back another day." Which is almost unthinkable when you've reached the point that your dog is whining constantly because she's in so much pain and you've wrapped your mind around this being her last night. We said no. She then told us we should have sedated the dog, but didn't tell us that beforehand. She changed what she was going to do and gave her a shot in a different place, which took infinitely longer for the dog to be sedated (at least 20 min) before she could euthanize her. When the dog finally calmed down, she was on the hard kitchen floor and we all laid around her, instead on on a bed or somewhere the dog was comfortable. It seems like these reviews are great and I'm sure she is. Maybe this was an off day and she was struggling with something herself, but this was honestly a horrible experience and I would not recommend to anyone read more

Dr. Elson was wonderful. She was sweet enough to reschedule a personal appointment to make time to come out and help put our Bella at ease. She was amazing at explaining every step. Although an extremely tough situation to go through, my husband, boys and myself are very thankful for her compassion and professionalism. Our 15.5 year old Bella is finally at peace and back home with us once again. read more

Compassionate Heart - Our old lady, Bella. - Veterinarians Near Me

See all

It's taken me 2 weeks to write this review as this grief is something I've never experienced but I feel it in my soul. Saying goodbye to a dear pet is one of the biggest decisions you'll make so I hope this review provides some comfort to those in their search for the perfect vet. Our beloved 14.5 year old pup DaisyBug was diagnosed with kidney failure back in March & our vet said she had about 4-6 months. I rescued her when she was 6 weeks old while I was living in Italy. She survived being poisoned twice in Italy, the journey back to CA, & was an overall fighter. She was my first dog..the best little girl. Over the past months I saw Daisy's health deteriorating. I'd called Dr. Sondra Elson back in June to ask questions about the process & she was so helpful & compassionate, I knew she would be the one when the time came. I'd been cooking for Daisy since her diagnosis, taking her for walks with her sister, but really waiting for her to give me a sign of when she was ready to go.10 days before Christmas, Daisy had a stroke to the point I thought we'd have to find an emergency vet. The panic & fear in her eyes is something I'll never forget. We gave Daisy an amazing last night & day with us before Dr. Sondra came to our home. Our hearts absolutely shattered in letting our beautiful girl go, but she lived longer than originally expected & every moment was a blessing. This process is truly an emotionally devastating one, & I'm so thankful to have found Dr. Sondra to help us through the process. She was so caring, giving us all the time we needed to say our goodbyes & hold our girl, & she treated our girl with much love & respect, from the moment she walked in, to the moment she carried her out. The note I received from her after was beautifully written & comforting in the heartbreak I'm still experiencing. Thank you Dr. Sondra... I'm forever grateful for you transitioning our girl to her peaceful rest. read more

Compassionate Heart - Veterinarians Near Me

See all

We struggled with coming to terms with our 14 year old family lab,such a difficult decision.We are so grateful for Dr.Elson she was compassionate explaining each step of the process and what to expect. She arrived on time and took her time to make sure our beloved was comfortable and reassured us with walking us through this difficult moment.Thank you Sondra for showing us your grace through losing our Ben,we know it can't be easy to do in between tears.We are forever grateful and would highly recommend you to anyone facing this situation. read more

My dog Guinness recently had passed just about An hour before my appointment with Dr Sondra. She came nonetheless to help me through the heart wrenching process of letting my beloved big pup go. I was sobbing like a mess and she was kind and absolutely professional. I wish no one ever had to go through the process but if I have to do it again, I will be calling Dr Elson and highly recommend her any day. Until then please hug you pup at home. read more

Compassionate Heart - My pup - Veterinarians Near Me

When it was our beloved dog's time to go, we called Compassionate Heart. We just found Dr. Elson in a Google search. I'm so glad we called her. We called at about 7:30 p.m. and left a voicemail not expecting to hear back until the next day but within the hour, Dr. Elson called us back. She made time in her schedule to come out to our house the next morning and relieve our pup from his suffering in a kind and gentle manner. She was so compassionate and professional. It made losing him just a little bit easier. About a week later, we received a nice card in the mail from her with a thoughtful handwritten note. We will be forever grateful to Dr. Elson and we highly recommend her services. read more

Dr. Sondra, we can't thank you enough for the deeply compassionate service you provided us and our sweet Ginger today. You were extremely patient with me as I called you several times and asked you questions that I know you have answered 1000 times before. You helped us to know that we were doing everything we could to make Ginger as comfortable as she could be, and that we made the right decision at the right time. When you arrived, thank you for describing clearly what was about to happen so we would be at ease with the transition. We love that you had Ron sit on the floor with Ginger so that she could see him throughout the process and know that we were with her. We fully believe that she was ready to leave. And thank you for giving me time to hold Ginger after it was over...to say my goodbyes. I know you were on your way to another appointment and needed to get moving along, but I didn't feel rushed at all. I can't imagine how draining, how difficult it must be for you to put your own needs, your own personal issues, aside - all day, every day - as you are in service to grieving families. Please know that we are deeply appreciative that you were willing to be of service to us, and to dear Ginger, in your own gentle and compassionate way. I hope that this little note will fill your kind heart with gratitude and compassion from us, as your heart continues to unselfishly provide compassion for families during such a heart-wrenching time. Wishing you all the best Dr. Sondra. In deep gratitude, Ron, Connie and Ginger read more

The vet who helped us with my little dog "Cricket" had moved on and so although I couldn't use her I was certain that I was never going into the vets office to do this again. I looked meticulously through websites and after through review I found Sondra. Sondra was so sweet and friendly, she explained everything before we decided to move forward. It is never an easy decision to put your senior dog to sleep but if you find yourself at this crossroad I wholeheartedly recommend Sondra. She even mailed me a thoughtful card about Thor. She really cares about our doggies and their transition. Thank you Sondra. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated and I thank you for helping us. read more

See all

I've had to take some time to write this as I'm still processing the grief of my loss, but I am eternally grateful for Dr. Sondra Elson. For those of you who are looking through reviews looking for validation or comfort in your decision or upcoming decision, you've found the right person. I recently used Dr. Elson to send off my 14-year-old German Shepherd Bindi. I rescued Bindi as a Senior at 9-years old and struggled with the decision of letting her go. All the questions popped into my head, is it the right time? How do I know? What should I do? Dr. Elson provided me all the context I needed and with the utmost care answered any lingering questions. On the day of the appointment, Dr. Elson showed up promptly and could not have been any more thoughtful. Carefully explaining the procedure and made no attempt to rush me in my grief and my goodbyes. She was accommodating to the situation and even allowed me to send off Bindi in her favorite bed, in her favorite room upstairs even with the COVID. I could not have asked for a more peaceful, serene goodbye for my dog. In the deepest parts of my heart and soul, I could not have asked for a better person to show up to my door to help me through this all. I am truly grateful for her and what she has committed to as a profession. I don't know I would have been able to recover as much as I have without her. Thank you again, Dr. Sondra Elson... your calls and letter after means the world. read more

Oso (14 yrs) had been fighting cancer since April 2019, and was progressively having more pain and trouble breathing. 4 days ago, I made the tough decision to let Oso rest peacefully and wanted to have him pass at home. I called many companies that offer in-home euthanasia. Dr Sondra with Compassionate Heart was the most professional and was super considerate about my time preference (8pm so everyone would be home to say goodbye). There was no additional "late-night" fee for that time frame. I opted for the "private cremation" package, which made me feel better than his remains wouldn't get mixed up with any others'. Dr Sondra reserved my appt for 2 days later even though we were playing phone tag and could only get in touch with voicemails (no fault of hers, I was in class all day long). She quickly sent me what information I needed to provide her regarding Oso and his condition. Dr Sondra was prompt with her arrival and had a very calm demeanor. She greeted Oso respectfully, letting him smell her and didn't overwhelm us with starting the process right away. She explained her process, the "maybes" that can arise during euthanasia and what she expected from us (comforting him and keeping him still). She was very thorough, informative and empathetic. When the time came to begin, she gave us as much time to do or say what we needed. We said our goodbyes, gave him hugs and kisses and, always at my discretion, administered the sedative and injection. Prior to the final injection though, she again gave us time with him while he was still conscious. He passed quickly, peacefully and respectfully. She gave us another few moments while she prepared him for transport, and offered us to carry the stretcher to the vehicle. It actually was a really nice touch that I wasn't expecting, to be a pall bearer for my very best friend. Once in the car, she allowed time for me to say my goodbyes before leaving. I can't put into words how thankful I am that we chose Dr Sondra. I appreciate so much the professionalism and care she took with Oso. He was my very best friend, my big happy boy since I was 16. When she arrived, it was almost as if he knew she was there to help him get peace. And my heart is content knowing that. Thank you Dr Sondra, for taking care of him, and of us as well. Oso - I miss you dearly, My Boy. Rest easy big guy. Come see me in my dreams so we can swim and hike together! I love you always. read more

There is not a higher rating or adequate words to describe Sondra Elson DVM for her care, compassion, and competence. She assisted our loved dog Mya to allow her to pass peacefully in our home. We would not hesitate to recommend Dr. Elson to anyone in need. She helped my wife with the decision by conferring with her ahead of time, took the time to answer any and all questions including our choice of cremation. Dr. Elson wrapped our little girl in a warm and comfortable blanket after she passed and handled the transport of our "Good Girl" to the next step in the process. Mya was a part of our family in any and all adventures and travel for 13 years. read more

Caring compassionate understanding I couldn't imagine a better person to call to put your pet to sleep. Dr Sandra was wonderful. She even talked my 11 year old down from being extremely angry at losing her cat. She shaved off some fur to save and made a paw print to save. She talked us through every step and made sure we were ready. She had a full schedule the day I called and after hearing where we were at she fit us in because she felt like our bubba needed to be free from his suffering. She was wonderful in a horrible moment. I will never take an animal to the vet after what I experienced with dr Sandra. read more

It's been very hard to say good-bye to our almost 18-year old pup. She's been a part of our lives for so long. We knew we wanted to say goodbye to her at our home, where she was comfy and at ease, without the stress of the vet waiting room. I appreciated Dr. Elson's gentle manner on the phone, and she explained everything ahead of time, answering all my questions. She gave us an overview of all her actions during the euthanasia process, without disrupting our goodbyes. She was extremely compassionate and professional. I reached out to her a few days after our dog's passing just to inquire about the transfer of our dog's remains and she was quick to respond, again professionally and with sympathy. Thanks for being there for us and our beloved little Jones girl. We miss you, Dr. Jones, and will always. read more

Compassionate Heart - Always in our hearts - Veterinarians Near Me

Dr. Elson was extremely patient and caring. She explained everything in detail through each step. I highly recommend Dr. Elson and Compassionate Heart. read more

Sondra Elson came into our home at a very difficult time as we prepared to put our beloved Cinnamon Bear, 9 year old Bernese to rest. Sondra was extremely compassionate and brought a level of comfort to both are pet and our family as we went through the process of pet euthanization. I must say that without Sondra's assistance, the experience would have been much more difficult. With words and skill, she put out pet at ease as well as our minds and hearts as the process took place. Sondra is a truly wonderful human being and I am very greatful to her for helping us through such a tough time. Thank you Sondra! Rich Valentine read more

Compassionate Heart - Cinnamin Bear' and Toby Monster Valentine. Our sweet children. - Veterinarians Near Me

I had to say goodbye to my best friend a Chocolate Lab named Semper that I had spent almost 16 years with this past November, 2018. It has taken me some time to be able to write this review. Prior to his passing, I had made the decision to have an at-home euthanasia if possible for both my dog and myself. I'm so glad I decided to do this because it was so much more peaceful for him to be at home as he passed. I can't say enough great things about Dr. Sondra Elson. She has such a peaceful presence about her that helped my dog be comfortable and at peace during the process. She was also very patient and I didn't feel rushed at all as I asked a lot of questions prior to beginning. She also sent a really kind hard written note which felt more sincere than the one I received from his personal vet. It's of course never an easy decision to make to let a pet go, but I'm glad I was able to provide such a peaceful transition to my best friend and soul dog. I couldn't have provided this without the compassion and support of Dr. Elson. read more

I have used Dr. Sondra three times for in house end of life care for our pets. She is so personal and caring, went out of the way to accommodate our needs. I cannot give her a high enough rating. read more

Some friends and family referred us to Dr. Sondra Our loving little guy was starting the end phases after failed chemo lymphoma treatment. We wanted to keep him comfortable and never let him suffer nor enter an emergency vet in his end days. We spoke to Dr. Sondra and she helped us make arrangements for a date we had in mind. That morning he was starting to have trouble breathing, we called Dr.Sondra and she was there in 15 minutes and made this sad event so peaceful, comfortable, and intimate for us in his final moments. There was no pain or suffering and we couldn't imagine having to go through this any other way. Thank you again read more

We have used this caring vet euthanasia services twice in 6 years for our beloved older dogs. Most recently last week. Both times we appreciated their care and concern for our dogs and us. Especially their compassionate hearts. read more

I highly recommend Dr. Elson for end of life services. She was extremely professional and compassionate with us and our elderly dog Duke and I can't recommend enough how peaceful and calm it was having Duke euthanized in familiar surroundings and in the arms of those who loved him. Everything was explained and all questions addressed beforehand and during the process she calmly explained what was happening. It definitely put us at ease and allowed us to remain calm for Duke in what could have been a traumatic event for all of us. I am very thankful for finding Dr. Elson and her service and very much recommend her. read more

Yesterday, my beloved boy, scout, crossed over the rainbow bridge. I could not have asked for a more wonderful, professional, knowledgeable person to help him. I was an absolute mess, she explained everything very well and prepared us for what we could expect. My pups passing was quick and it was painless, I know he felt surrounded by love. She was wonderful from the minute she got here until the minute she left. I did not feel in any way rushed to say my final goodbyes, and she sat patiently, giving my other pup treats while I kissed and held my boy. Thank you so much for making one of the most difficult decisions of my life, just that much easier to handle. Thank you for understanding, and being so incredibly kind. You are wonderful. read more

See all

My beautiful cat, Daisy, passed away 3 months ago and I'm finally able to write this review. Though there were many signs, this still felt like an unexpected occurrence to me. I brought Daisy to the vet with a last minute appointment on a Saturday. She had been sick for a while but always got better and kept living life. I truly thought they'd patch her up and we'd head home. But it became clear, and reality set in, that she was suffering and dying. The vet wanted me to euthanize her then and there. But I just felt so strongly that I wanted to do it at home, not in the sterile, impersonal environment of a vet office. I also did not want to wait over the weekend, however, as Daisy was so sick, I knew if I couldn't find someone last minute I would have to do it at the vet. I asked my vet for a list of names. I got voicemail after voicemail and was losing hope when Sondra answered the phone! I continue to be ever grateful that she was willing to come so last minute on a Saturday. I brought Daisy home and had an extra hour to just be with her. The only thing I had to do was decide if I wanted her cremated and from where. Sondra helped with that decision as well, sending me some recommendations. I chose Thanicare with Ron Robinson and am so glad I did. Sondra made what is always a very difficult and devestating situation into as loving and beautiful as it can be. She took her time, explained the process to us, asked us questions about Daisy's life and personality. She was also very compassionate in explaining she thought I was making the right choice. She was accommodating in how I wanted things done (where in the house, on my lap etc.). She made an adorable foot print of Daisy afterwards. I am so grateful for Sondra. My memory of Daisy's last moments are filled with sadness and grief and also gentleness and care because of Sondra. Sondra also left me with recommendations for grief therapists and sent me a heartfelt card afterwards. I couldn't have asked for a better person to join my little family during this time. Thank you so much Sondra. read more

Compassionate Heart - Sweet Daisy with one of her favorite toys. - Veterinarians Near Me

See all

Dr. Sondra Elton, DVM, was a real blessing when we made the decision to let our first born fur baby, Junior, go to peaceful pastures beyond the earths grip. It was an unexpected illness that brought us to find a compassionate professional to assist us. The entire family needed a peaceful surrounding for Junior and home is where he loved the best. On short notice, Sondra booked our appointment for a Sunday. After describing what our Vet had done that Friday, she too expressed hope that Junior would respond offered to call on Sunday morning to inquire if there were any changes or that we had changed our minds. That single, kind gesture was proof we had selected the right service and professional. Unfortunately, there was no change in Junior. He enjoyed the morning with his "siblings", Josie and Barney (BT) and our course us, his proud parents. Sondra arrived and was met by the dogs, including Junior, with his tail wagging, as if he knew she was he to help him, and us. The experience we had that day was like nothing else we've ever witnessed. The peace we all felt is indescribable. This was done on his terms, he picked his spot in the house for a final rawhide treat, and we were allowed to say our "see ya laters" to our Bubba! Away he went, loved in peace! This is absolutely the right person for your loved fur babies, when the time comes. Sondra even went the extra mile for us, providing an additional ink print for a tattoo. Sondra, you ROCK! Thanks for taking great care of our Junior! And us, his family, too!! P.S. The card your sent was beautiful! Hugs to YOU!!!! read more

We recently had to say good bye to our elderly chi mix, and there is no one else I'd rather do this with than Dr Sondra Olsen. She's respectful, friendly and informative. This was our second experience with her, and she has been professional and friendly both times. read more

I reached out to Dr. Sondra shortly after our 14-year-old chocolate lab started to severy lose function of his body and mind. He was the first dog our family had ever had to put down and during COVID times we couldn't have all of our family join to say goodbye to him, so it was especially rough. Even though it was extraordinarily difficult and uncomfortable, Dr. Sondra was super professional and respectful with everything she did. She explained the process/possible outcomes thoroughly, gave us time to say goodbye, and always asked for permission before she did anything. I know at home euthanasia is a luxury that many may not be able to afford but if you are debating whether you should do it or not, I highly recommend that you do. My boy had no pain or anxiety and was just really happy to be surrounded by his family. It has taken me some time to write this review as we still miss our baby, but after receiving a handwritten sympathy card from Dr. Sondra, and coming to terms that it was the best decision for my dog I decided it was finally time. As MANY others have mentioned, I'm eternally grateful for people like Dr. Sondra. The courage, resilience, and strong mind that it takes to handle difficult situations like these is just incredible read more

Though this isn't a review I'm enjoying, I hope It will help others facing such difficult decisions. We are grateful to Sonja because she not only was so kind and compassionate in our hour of need, but also in counseling us in the hours leading up to our decision to say goodbye to our dog. She explained the process of how the medications worked, what we should expect, and how our dog would feel. The whole process was peaceful and as stress free as it could have been for the most important being in the room- our dog. RIP, good boy. Sorry we didn't have longer together. read more

Dr. Sondra Elson came to my home three weeks ago as I prepared to say goodbye to my beloved 17 year old kitty cat, Kiki. As difficult as it was to say goodbye to our precious little girl, Dr. Sondra Elson immediately showed compassion when I called her on the phone by really taking the time to understand what was going on with our sick kitty. Of the five or so euthanasia services I called, Dr. Sondra Elson was the only one to ask questions and listen to what was going on, which instantly put me at ease. Many of the other companies seemed like they were just running a business and didn't really have compassion for the pet owner or pet, so I immediately knew that Dr. Elson was a step above the rest before I even met her. When she came over, Sondra was extremely patient and kind. She took the time to explain the entire process and made me feel really comfortable with everything going on. Dr. Elson was also incredibly patient and understanding as I said my final goodbyes to sweet Kiki. She made this difficult process so much better through her compassion and if you ever have to make a similar choice for your beloved pet, don't hesitate to work with Dr. Sondra Elson at Compassionate Heart. read more

Dr Sondra Elson is a god send. This was the most difficult time as my sweet boy was dying from congestive heart failure but seemed to bounce back over and over until one day he couldn't get up. I called Dr Sondra Elson and she said she would come. One hour before she was to come he started eating, drinking and walking around so we decided to not end his existence. He ended up living for one more week and decided to go on his own which was heart wrenching but it was on his terms. Even though we did not use Dr. Sonya I cant recommend her enough as she is compassionate, caring and just a wonderful being. I am so thankful for her heart felt advise and if you use her you will be grateful for her. These humans do exist and they really only want to help as much as they can. Thank you so much Dr Sondra Elson read more

Dr. Sondra spoke to me for a long time when I rang and she couldn't have been more kind. I booked a time to suit our family, as her sister wanted to be here with her. Our Little Zena passed so peacefully, it was soooooo the right time and to see her darling body be free of pain was wonderful. She was my precious little princess, rescued 12 years ago and we promised her she'd have the love she deserved all her life. She's now in Heaven, pain free and happy. She'll be waiting for me when I too go to join her in Heaven. God Bless you Dr. Sondra read more