We are deeply grateful for Jeannie and the care she showed our family during one of the hardest moments we have faced. She arrived on time, gently explained every step of the process, and treated us and our 17-year-old cat with kindness, patience, and compassion. Having someone come to our home brought us so much relief because we did not want to place any additional stress on our cat during her final moments. Jeannie helped make an incredibly painful experience feel calm and peaceful. Our cat passed away quietly in our arms, surrounded by the people who loved her. Jeannie's warmth and compassion meant more to us than words express. I would highly recommend her to any family facing this difficult decision. read more

Lap of Love - Our gorgeous Cat Harvey - Veterinarians Near Me

Lap Of Love was great to work with starting with my first phone call. Compassionate, professional and responsive. Thankful for the quick availability of the veterinarian. Our doggie had a peaceful passing and we were supported during the process. read more

This is not a review of the vets but a review of the service. This goes to a call center of people trained to be compassionate. At first they were really nice. I wanted a specific woman vet. I told them my dog had been abused and I did not want a male vet. I made an appointment with the vet I wanted. I spoke to the pet cemetery and they told me they showed an order for the date and told me the name of the vet, which was a man!?! They changed my appointment without telling me. I asked about other vets and asked if I could speak to the vet. They told me no, I asked if they could speak to the vet, they said no. They made this sad time even worse. Posting both Oakland and Fairfield since both service my area. read more

Our family would like to thank the in office staff and Dr. Ruthie for their tremendous compassion and extreme care from beginning to end. It was difficult processing the thought of having to let our Kaia girl cross the rainbow bridge. We have previously used Lap of Love for our 16 year old year old yorkie and had a great experience under a very sad circumstance. We appreciate everything you've done and allowed Kaia to remain at home with us. Lap of Love made this very difficult time stress free and demonstrated true compassion for our grieving family. Thank you Dr Ruthie for explaining the process and allowing us the time we needed to say goodbye. You are a true professional. read more

I had to euthanize my 16 year old dog due to her declining health and quality of life. For weeks I was going back and forth about it but Lap of Love made me feel better about my decision. I really appreciated the people I spoke to over the phone when asking questions about the whole procedure and setting up the appointment because they were very supportive and respectful. Dr. Renee was amazing. Very sweet to my baby girl on her final day with us and she was comfortable and peaceful in her passing. They offer a complimentary clay paw print and Dr. Renee was able to shave some hair for me. It was a quick procedure and Dr. Renee ensured that she was in no pain during the procedure and she was safe when being taken away. I chose to do private cremation and was able to pick up the ashes from the crematory after a few days. I've had to euthanize previous dogs before but this was my first time using Lap of Love and I thought the whole process was perfect for my old gal. read more

I don't wish having to call Lap of Love on anyone, but if you are looking for someone to come to your home to help your loved pet transition, Lap of Love is an amazing option. I don't want to get into details because it's all still too raw, but after realizing it was time to say goodbye to my 15 year old best friend, I knew I wanted her to be at home and not at a vet's office when she transitioned. I talked to their team and they were very helpful, answered all our questions, and just helped us make the right decision. Dr. Jeannie was so compassionate and kind. She took care of everything, walked us through the entire process. While this was such a hard day, the team really helped us through and helped us give our sweet girl a peaceful sendoff. read more

My wife and I would like to thank all the folks at Lap of Love for their compassionate help with bringing our beloved Ruby to her final resting. Right from our first inquiry on the phone, the folks were very professional and caring. This is of course a very difficult time as all pet lovers know. Dr. Jeannie G. came out as scheduled and was very patient and non-rushed. She explained the entire process and took her time to answer our questions and very much respected the gravity of the event for us. We recommend Lap of Love highly to anyone needing this type of quality service. read more

I hate to leave a review for this veterinary service, because using them means you have lost someone dear to you. Two weeks back I lost my sweet blessing of a feral turned snuggle monster girl kitty. She was diagnosed with cancer. She'd been through so much already that I could not stand the idea of taking her to a cold vet room to say goodbye. I read about Lap of Love here on yelp, and called. The initial call I was a basket case blubbering on the phone to a kind human on the other end. She was infinitely patient with me. Listened. Held space. I set an appointment up. Later that week, Dr. Rene arrived with a calm, reassuring demeanor. She was so good with my sweet girl. I'd let her out into the garden for her last morning in the sun that likely gave her the cancer in the first place. She basked gloriously in her favorite spots. Dr. Rene talked me through what would happen at each stage. I will not say this was easy. It's not easy making this choice, it's not easy holding your baby while she leaves this earth. It's just not easy. But I have to say, I will never do this any other way if faced with it again--hopefully not any time soon. (It'll be a while before I find some fur to give my heart and soul to again-still healing and breaking into sobs over my girl now.) This was the most humane and loving thing I could for my girl. It was hard to let her go, but I could not let her endure pain any longer. Even with the most extreme interventions, we could not prolong her life much more than a couple months, and those would have been awful and harrowing for her. And for us. Dr. Rene's service is the final kindness and love we could give to her. She took our girl out in a sweet little basket, and drove her to the crematorium. I received her ashes back within four days in a little cedar box. Heartrbreaking. I plan to put her under the grapevines she loved. Ironically, when out there this morning, If found tufts of her fur right. under the shady vines where she loved to sleep. Fur Dr. Rene had shaved off her leg when she administered the sedative. I guess my girl found her way home. It's hard to know you are doing the right thing for your pets, and I know it's got to be strange that they are just basking in the sun one minute then, being scooped up and sedated the next. As it was going down, two doves came and sat near us. I'd asked her spirit at the end of it to forgive me for letting her go to the other side, and to send a sign she was ok there. The next morning, I pulled my car out of the garage, and looked up to see the same two doves SITTING on the top of my car as if they'd been there all night in the garage somehow. I took it as her sign that she was on the other side. Happy. Out of pain. I guess I've rambled enough here. I thank Dr. Rene for all she does to bring peace at the end to so many. I hope I don't see her again for a VERY long time, but at that time, and if needed, I would not hesitate to call her again. read more

Lap of Love - Sweet girl the day she left. - Veterinarians Near Me

Very professional and caring. At such a heartbreaking time it was so comforting to us to have our little Lucy pass away surrounded with love. Lap of Love helped us through everything and we will always be thankful. We highly recommend this service. read more

We were so lucky to have found them and our vet, Dr. Aaron Sholin. We had been canceled by another vet, and were making phone calls in the early evening. Dr. Aaron answered our call and made arrangements to come the next morning and was so beyond kind and caring and our beloved dog left peacefully, painlessly and surrounded by love. We can't say enough good things about a heartbreaking experience that he made gentle and compassionate. We live in Petaluma, and Dr. Aaron covers Marin and Sonoma up to Santa Rosa. read more

Dr Renee got us scheduled quickly so our sweet Stanley could get the relief he needed. Being at home was the only way to go. First class service done with complete empathy. read more

Lap of Love - His ashes were returned to us quickly. Very satisfied! - Veterinarians Near Me

Had to say goodbye to my sweet girl this weekend. It would have been traumatic for her at the vet's office - what a blessing to have her pass in my arms on the couch she lounged on for years. Finding Lap of Love was exactly what I didn't know I needed. Dr. Rene explained everything, was so understanding, and wasn't phased at all by me and my two best friends bawling over the loss of my little Shih Tzu. Can't recommend Lap of Love highly enough. I was dreading this day for weeks but this process was such a wonderful option. I love the vet she went to for years and the staff there are wonderful, but doing this at home made it bearable. read more

Lap of Love - My sweet girl - Veterinarians Near Me

Thank you Dr Renee for helping us again. Our 10 year old Fitz needed help to cross the rain bridge this morning. As hard as it is, Dr Renee makes it all some comforting and respectful. Thank you again for being such a caring person. read more

Lap of Love - Veterinarians Near Me

Where to even begin.... Dr Rene and her team were absolutely wonderful support to me and my little dog Lexi. This time has been one of the most stressful situations in my life and having Dr Rene come to our home and spend time with us to create the best plan for Lexi meant the world to us. Everyone I spoke with was so kind, patient and empathetic. I am beyond grateful to have the Lap of Love team in our lives. read more

I can never say enough about Dr. Rene and the whole concept of in-home euthanasia when that difficult time arrives. It was night and day compared to my previous experiences of taking my dog to a clinic, waiting there for your appointment in a full reception area, trying so hard to hold it together with my stressed-out dog next to me. The woman who scheduled the appointment via phone was so supportive and kind. When Dr. Rene arrived, I thought I was prepared by watching the informative videos on the site, but she again walked me through the process and answered all my questions. My 17 yr plus ACD went gently to the Rainbow Bridge with zero stress, happily nibbling on treats in the comfort of his home. I will always treasure that paw print. Dr. Rene Butler & Laps of Love is a Godsend to all of us companion pet guardians. read more

Although a very sad day, this service made it as smooth as possible. Everything was handled gently and with love. I would highly recommend Lap of Love. read more

10/10 from start with the calling for information to finish when the doctor loaded up our beautiful dog. Couldn't have asked for anything else and was more than convenient for my family. Dr. Rene - thank you again. read more

So thankful for Dr. Rene Butler and Lap of Love during this difficult time. I debated taking my kitty to the vet and I'm so glad I chose these services instead. We followed Covid19 protocols while still getting to be there and touch and kiss my kitty during the process. Dr. Rene explained everything slowly and thoroughly and made it so I could focus on my cat instead of paperwork and procedures. My kitty was 17 and in end stage renal failure, so she got to lounge comfortably in the sun in her favorite spot and go peacefully. My kitty was completely relaxed and stress free, I don't even think she noticed Dr. Rene walk in the front door. I would have very much regretted taking my cat to the vet and putting us under unnecessary stress and fear. This gave us a sweet end and closure to our story. Love you so much Tabby. And thanks Dr. Rene for coming out during a pandemic and accommodating my requests and Tabby's comfort. read more

Lap of Love - My girl - Veterinarians Near Me

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They made some scheduling mistakes with me initially but after they fixed it we were very pleased with the doctor who came to help us. As difficult as this time was, she made it as comforting as possible. Their service is excellent. Thank you. read more

Sad time in my life but an excellent and compassionate company to help us through it!

I have submitted a review for the East Bay location when I had to put down my cat, Layla, in early November. Fast forward a month and I find myself again in need of their services with my other cat, Cleo. She was scheduled for at home euthanasia on Thursday, but Tuesday night she began declining rapidly and I knew she wouldn't make it until Thursday. I emailed Lap of Love in the middle of the night in a panic and they called me first thing in the morning to inform me Dr. Rene Butler could see Cleo that same day. I was so relieved she would be able to pass peacefully instead of having to take her to the vet, which she hated. Dr. Butler arrived right on time and assured me I was making the most compassionate choice for my cat. She took her time with me and explained things I hadn't experienced with my first cat's passing. Of course, it was an extremely devastating day for me and my family, but I found solace in knowing Cleo was able to pass in my arms (her favorite place to be). We are now a petless home, but I would definitely recommend lap of love to anyone having to make this difficult decision. read more

I cannot express enough our gratitude to Lap of Love in the SF East Bay. From the staff answering your call, to the veterinary staff, the care is so kind and supportive. Dr Dominique was so lovely, with her expertise, gentle manor, and support to our sweet kitty, my daughter and myself. My cat suffered a neurological incident, requiring emergency care, and they arranged an in home euthanasia within 3 hours of my call. It was everything we could have hoped for in a devastating situation. Thank you forever Dr Dominique and Lap of Love. read more

I am so grateful for this service. This was never going to be easy but lap of love helped beyond measures. Thank you for the compassion and care. A heartbroken doggy mom, read more

Thank you Lap of Love, Dr. Catherine, and your support team, for the kindness and compassion you shared with me today as we put my sweet fur baby to sleep. Sophie was instinctively afraid of everything, but she seemed to understand that you were there to help her. Sincerely, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for making her transition so peaceful read more

If you are looking for this , it is coming at one of the darkest challenging times of your life . I HIGHLY recommend you call these people if you have to make the extremely difficult decision for your pet family member. From the person who took our call who was EXTREMELY compassionate , kind, tender, and guided our family through the process. The Dr who came to our house was Dr. Rene And she is literally a God send. She was very kind and loving to our old boy who we loved so dearly. She was considerate of our time we wanted to spend with our wonderful dog. The fact that our boy got to spend his last days with his family in his bed in his own home was such a blessing that your loyal trustworthy friend deserves. Once our sweet boy passed away , the Dr provided some of his hair , a paw print , and took him away to the crematorium in loving and dignified fashion. If you are looking at this, again I am so sorry for you and your family and what you are going through. If you have to make that tough decision, I would recommend Lap of Love to the highest degree. God bless your family and your beloved family member during this unthinkable time. read more

Thank you Dr. Torrie and everyone at Lap of Love. I was not prepared for how hard it would be to say goodbye to the cat to whom l had given my heart - my Bombay, Xion. But l also had no idea that there were peoole who would go to any lengths necessary to help me. That is what Dr. Torrie and Lap of Love did for Xion and l. read more

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This review is long overdue. Dr Rene helped us when our 16 year old lab, Hank, declined drastically in March 2018. When Hank started declining, we originally booked a hospice appointment but Hank's conditioned worsened to the point where he became paralyzed and his quality of life became poor. We were able to change our appointment type without any difficulty and Dr. Rene confirmed that Hank was ready to go. Also, our other 2 dogs were able to be with us and see Hank go all in the comfort of our home. I can't recommend this service enough. Thank you, Dr. Rene. read more

We made the very difficult decision to put our beloved cat to sleep after a sudden diagnosis of severe heart failure. It was the hardest thing I ever had to go through and didn't want him to pass away without us by his side (the local vet wasn't allowing family members into the room due to COVID precautions). I found Lap of Love through a search engine and Yelp. I have to say that when I contacted them they were very kind and understanding; they were so supportive and reassured me that this was the best thing for my fur baby. I didn't feel quite as bad because I knew it'd end his suffering but it was still painful to lose him forever. We scheduled euthanasia at home and Dr. Rene performed the procedure. She was professional, if not a bit methodical, but I felt that she could have been more empathic. I made a comment that I thought at first my cat could pull through this and I had postponed euthanasia initially for that reason. A week later I realized that his health took a nosedive and he wasn't going to make it so I scheduled the home visit. Dr. Rene said something along the lines of "yeah, didn't think so" after what I said and I guess was trying to make light of the situation but to me it felt a little cold. She may have thought that I was being overly optimistic but no need to make a snide remark. She gave him the injections and let us spend time with him for a while after he took his last breaths. I'm glad we got to hold him before she took him away in a basket. She didn't say anything like "I'm sorry for your loss" after it was over and it just seemed like she was detached from it all. I guess you sort of have to be detached in that profession but a few comforting words would have been nice. She told us that she would be contacting us later about the cremation but when I didn't hear from her the next day I reached out to Lap of Love and they said that the crematorium would be reaching out to us directly in a couple of weeks. Two weeks went by and I didn't hear anything so I called the crematorium and they told me that they still needed more information from me for the engraving. I'm not sure why we weren't informed of this at the start so it could have been dealt with right away but at least they got it done quickly after that. We are finally bringing his ashes home tomorrow and I'll keep them with the clay paw print Dr. Rene made after our cat passed. We did get a condolence card from Lap of Love a week after the euthanasia at home. Oddly the envelope was addressed to Sarah but the card itself had the right names in it. It was a nice gesture but again the name error made me question Dr. Rene's attachment to her clients and care towards them. I'm not doubting her skill as a vet but certainly her bedside manner could be better. read more

I am so impressed by the compassionate service I received from my first tearful call to the sweet reminder that my fur baby's ashes will be arriving soon. Dr Matt was wonderful. He was so good with my girl. I have had to help pets pass on before, but this is the first time I had it at home. I will never take my pet to a hospital for this service ever again if I can help it. My girl died in my arms eating ice cream in her bed, and that was beautiful to me. Thank you all who work in this caring company. You made a horrible day as beautiful and peaceful as possible. read more

Very thankful we came across Lap of Love when we decided to say goodbye to our dear pet. They offer services to come to your house, and can make all the arrangements for aftercare. We felt this was the best decision, so that our sweet Pepper could be in a familiar place, instead of being scarred of being at the vets office, and surrounded by those who love her. We are SOOO thankful for professionals that really care and understand little furry creatures. Every communication I had with them, phone or email, was full of compassion. Mikki and Bailey were genuine and caring. I appreciate that even more now that my sweet Pepper is gone. Dr. Torie was equally loving and compassionate. She explained every step of the way, gave us the time we needed to say bye to Pepper and gave us comforting words. Even when Dr. Torie drove away with Pepper we noticed she drove away slowly. We felt like that was a caring and honoring way to carry away our faithful friend. Saying goodbye isn't easy, but we really appreciate Lap of Love's support and services. read more

We are so thankful for Dr. Goedken and her service. She was professional, kind, and empathetic while taking care of Loki, and my husband and I. Loki was calm and relaxed the entire time, and I couldn't imagine him leaving us any other way. Thank you for seeing this process through to the very end, and making it as easy as possible read more

Lap of Love - Veterinarians Near Me

I am not at all surprised to see that Lap of Love already has a 5-star rating, but I will add mine because it is so rare to be touched by a stranger's compassion. My dog was ill but comfortable until last night when all went downhill quickly. By Saturday morning, when his usual vet hospital was closed, it was clear that there was no choice but to put him out of his misery. I so wanted him to be able to stay at home, and I Googled to find a vet that comes to your home for euthanasia. From the moment my call was answered at 7:30am to the time when Dr. Renee left with him for a private cremation, the kindness and sincere compassion was so unique and appreciated. I couldn't even speak making the call but I was told to take my time, provided loving understanding, and told my options with care and concern. When Dr. Renee came in the house, she had such a peaceful nature and gently explained what to expect. After it was over, she went out to her car so my family could say our last goodbyes to our precious pup, then she came in with a basket with soft, beautiful blankets to lay him in. My sons watched their first pet leave this Earth and both said how peaceful it was and how it was clear it was the right thing to do. She made a paw print keepsake, put a cutting of our dog's hair in a plastic holder, and left a book full of beautiful poems and useful tips for dealing with grief. I cannot express my gratitude so I will instead offer other families the insight we got today--use Lap of Love to make a horrible decision more bearable by surrounding yourself with these amazing people. read more

Dr. Torie was amazing with our sweet animal in her last final hours. We really appreciated her explanation of how their service works and the gentle and kind way that she worked with us to make our pet's transition meaningful and gentle. I am so grateful that they were available the weekend that our girl was ready to pass. Huge thank you to Dr. Torie for the aftercare and allowing us to accompany our pet to your car. Thank you for making the close of a beautiful 20 yr chapter with our favorite fur baby a beautiful day and a little less painful. read more

After almost 18 years of smiles it was an unfortunate time for us to have to say goodbye to our beloved Shi Tsu Scooter. I had to take a dog to the veterinarian to be euthanized years ago and I knew I didn't want to go through that impersonal experience again. The intimacy that Lap of Love offered by coming to the house was something that made this tough time much easier for all of us. Scooter never liked taking a trip in the car... he knew the second you put him in there he was either going to the groomer or the vet... he disliked them both equally. From the first phone call to the actual in house visit the entire process was comforting. Dr. Rene is a complete pro and the service she provides is priceless. She managed to make this time of closure meaningful and respectful. I highly recommend Lap of Love. 5 stars isn't enough. RIP Scooter. read more

I am incredibly grateful that my regular vet's office recommended Lap of Love when our sweet old cat Tiberius's life was coming to an end. He had struggled with several chronic health conditions and it was sad to see him declining and be questioning his quality of life. Dr. Torie Neff and the Lap of Love staff were incredibly compassionate and thoughtful, and it really felt like every detail was taken care of with kindness and grace. I would definitely recommend Lap of Love to anyone who knows their pet is nearing the end of their life. It was wonderful that our cat could finish his life at home surrounded by familiar people and things. read more

Really grateful to have found Lap of Love for last minute in-home euthanasia for our beloved dog. They were accommodating and easy to work with. Dr. Rene Butler was so wonderful. She came on a Sunday morning and gently guided us through the process, making a very difficult day much easier. All around compassionate, professional, and worth every penny. Highly recommend. read more

You appreciate compassion and professionalism in the toughest obstacles life throws at you - like having to say goodbye to a loved one. Dr. Rene provided us a wonderful experience and ensured we were left closer to peace throughout Lap of Love's services. read more

This is the second time I've had to use Dr. Rene. Best experience I've had. I lost my cat today, but got to hold her through the procedure. She was so sweet and understanding about losing a loved animal. The best way to go. And that basket with the pink blanket for Sophie was the best. Thank you so much. read more

I'm unsure which location Dr. Rene Butler is with but she was amazing. Even in a tough situation, Everything was explained and in the most compassionate way. Thank you Dr. Rene Butler for helping us during a time of need in the comfort of our home. read more

There is nothing easy about saying a final goodbye to a family member. Having gone through the process with previous pets at various vet clinics over the years we knew we wanted to do better by our precious big boy. We wanted his final day to be peaceful, without the stress of a car trip and waiting room on his 107lb body. Dr. Rene helped us make his passing everything we had hoped for. Having a set appointment allowed us to schedule his last day. From a pancake and bacon breakfast, slow walk around the block to final hotdog lunch right before she arrived. She was on time, sat with us and talked about his life and carefully set up and explained the process. We selected a spot on the back lawn and set up under his favorite tree. After he passed Dr. Rene allowed us time to have our other dog say goodbye, the she transported him for cremation. Everything was so professional from my first phone call, to the moment Dr. Rene drove away. We hope to not need Lap of Love for a long time to come, but when we do we won't hesitate to use them again. read more