Partnering in compassion: How pet death doulas can help clients and veterinary teams

A veterinarian speaks gently to a white-faced German shepherd, lying comfortably on his own bed in the center of the living room, surrounded by his family. The doctor is fully focused as she calmly administers a sedative, while an end-of-life doula sits on the floor with the family, guiding them through what to expect. Soft music plays in the background. Later they will take nose and paw prints for the final page of the keepsake album they have been creating with their doula.

This peaceful scene is an example of the growing role of compassionate and collaborative care in helping pets and their families through the end-of-life journey. But in many cases, it is a far cry from the in-clinic euthanasia experience, where veterinarians often find themselves squeezing in this essential service between routine vaccinations and emergency cases, leaving veterinary teams emotionally drained (and families, too.).

Now, a new approach is emerging with the rise of certified companion animal end-of-life doulas, (or, as they are commonly called, pet death doulas). Doulas, some of whom are veterinary professionals themselves, collaborate with veterinary teams to help families create more personal, peaceful, and meaningful farewells. As awareness grows, end-of-life doulas are becoming allies in delivering compassionate care.

The evolution of veterinary end-of-life care

Ken Gorczyca, DVM, is a Palliative Care Veterinarian (CHPV) with A Gentle Rest in-home pet euthanasia service in California, and a Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula. His journey to this work and to becoming an instructor and facilitator for the University of Vermont’s Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate began during the AIDS crisis in 1980s San Francisco. Supporting grieving loved ones, he gained a deep understanding of death and a commitment to compassionate end-of-life care.

Later, as a veterinarian, he recognized how deeply those early experiences informed his work with animals and their families. “We already are death doulas if we didn’t know it,” he reflects. “The end of life is one of the most important appointments that a client will make.”

The concept of end-of-life doulas for pets is still relatively new. The University of Vermont’s certification course only launched in 2019. Yet, as Gorczyca pointed out, many veterinarians had already been fulfilling that role, often without realizing it. Today, however, many busy vets no longer have the time to provide that kind of dedicated support. “I’m a big believer that veterinary practices should have someone in that role and they could be called a doula or you could call them an end-of-life navigator,” he said.

Denise Osborne, DVM, is a clear example. During her 18 years in general practice, she had never encountered the term “death doula” until this interview, but immediately connected with the idea. “You’d spend a week saving a life and get yelled at over the bill,” she says. “Then you’d euthanize a pet and receive flowers.” That emotional seesaw eventually led her to leave general practice and specialize in home euthanasia, where she discovered how deeply personalized care could transform the experience for animals, families, and herself as a veterinarian.

What death doulas actually do

Death doulas are part of the collaborative team providing end-of-life care for companion animals. In practice, a companion animal end-of-life doula provides both emotional support and practical guidance to families navigating a pet’s final stage of life. Veterinarians may refer clients to a doula after a terminal diagnosis or when death is clearly near. In some cases, doulas are called upon to assist only on the day of euthanasia. Ideally, however, they support families in the days or weeks beforehand, helping them process emotions, prepare for what lies ahead, and consider meaningful rituals to honor their pet’s life.

Doulas, particularly those with a background in veterinary or animal care, also offer critical observational support. They help families recognize subtle shifts in behavior, physical condition, or routine that may indicate discomfort or decline. These signs are often overlooked or misinterpreted by overwhelmed guardians.

By guiding families to monitor changes using structured tools and helping them to report those changes clearly, doulas ensure that the veterinary team receives accurate and timely information. Often, the doula communicates directly with the care team. This collaborative approach supports more responsive and compassionate veterinary care, aligned with the pet’s evolving needs. As a result, doulas enhance the quality of the end-of-life experience for both animals and their families, while also supporting veterinary professionals in delivering the best care possible during this critical time.

A bridge between the care team and family

Doulas come with a range of backgrounds, training, and areas of expertise. Companion animal end-of-life doula Lorrie Shaw, CAHP, CHPA, is also a Certified Animal Hospice Practitioner. This certification, from the Animal Hospice Group, is similar to training received on doula certification courses, but also provides additional training.

While CAHPs and CHPAs are not licensed to diagnose, prescribe, or alter treatment plans, their certification includes in-depth training in animal hospice philosophy, basic nursing care, quality-of-life assessments, environmental adaptation, caregiver support, grief education, and end-of-life planning.

A full spectrum of services

Shaw’s work includes overnight care, respite for overwhelmed families, medication administration, environmental assessments, coaching, and one-on-one grief support. “We’re all working together for the same goal, to provide an excellent quality of life, not only for the pet but for the family,” she explained. “And for the vet team, we want this to be a good experience because they’re doing this every day.”

Many clients come into the process feeling emotionally raw and confused, particularly when faced with the decision of euthanasia.

Some initially express a desire for what they imagine to be a “natural death,” not realizing that this may lead to prolonged suffering. Doulas assist families through these difficult realities, helping them understand what a compassionate and humane goodbye might truly entail. “When people say, ‘I want my pet to die naturally,’ ask what they mean,” Shaw advises. “Most can’t answer. Our job is to educate, not just about death, but about how to make it peaceful.”

Helping families create meaningful rituals, whether it is crafting pawprint keepsakes, fulfilling “bucket list” experiences, or holding spiritual ceremonies, is a profound part of an end-of-life doula’s role. Veterinarians like Osborne, who works with Hearts and Halos, a specialist end-of-life veterinary practice, understand just how powerful these moments can be. She recalls one family who arranged for a relative in Scotland, a traditional death dirge singer, to perform via Zoom during their dog’s final moments. “It was beautiful,” she recalls.

Distraught clients can often struggle to communicate with their veterinarian when a pet is reaching the end stages of life. “A death doula can be a communication bridge,” notes Gorczyca. “A lot of times, clients can’t hear what their veterinarian is saying.”

Specialties for special cases

Behavior specialist Kate La Sala CTC, CBCC-KA, PCBC-A, CSAT, FFCP-E, BSc, became certified as a companion animal end-of-life doula through the University of Vermont. She said that adding doula training to her work was transformative.

“I worked with aggressive dogs for years but had no tools for the grief that follows behavioral euthanasia,” she says. Now, she supports clients who are navigating the uniquely difficult decisions surrounding behavioral euthanasia. “People don’t arrive at the decision of behavioral euthanasia out of convenience,” she emphasizes. “This is not something that anyone is like, ‘Yeah, I can’t wait to euthanize my dog.’”

La Sala collaborates closely with veterinarians, who often refer clients to her when time constraints or emotional complexity exceed what can be realistically handled during a standard appointment. “We know vets are busy. Behavioral euthanasia is not necessarily something they want to spend their exam time talking about,” she explains. “But if they know they have a trusted professional on their side, they can say, ‘I have Kate and I can refer you to her and I know that she will be able to help and guide you through this process better than I can.’”

Seeing the full picture

When it comes to behavioral euthanasia, a decision often fraught with guilt, stigma, and safety concerns, doulas with a background in animal behavior can provide valuable support that veterinarians may not have the time or training to offer. As La Sala notes, “What is the public safety risk? What is the quality of life for this animal? What is the quality of life for you living with this behaviorally challenged animal?” By helping clients work out realistic answers to these difficult questions and preparing them both emotionally and logistically, doulas can ensure the process remains centered on safety and compassion. This creates a better environment for veterinarians to do their work.

La Sala’s background in behavior also enables her to spot subtle shifts that might signal pain, discomfort, or cognitive decline. These are things that can be more challenging to notice in the exam room during routine checkups, when a pet is already behaving differently than at home.

Through her professional observations and detailed feedback to veterinarians, animals with behavioral and medical end-of-life needs can be made more comfortable. This input allows vets to make more informed decisions, which in some cases may mean that euthanasia is not as imminent as originally believed, especially when better pain management and supportive care are implemented. She often encourages clients to return to the vet with specific, measurable and observable changes: “You can share this spreadsheet if you want. So, they’re not just going in like, ‘My dog is off.’ They’re going in with, ‘My dog is hesitant to do X, Y, or Z. My dog no longer does these things. What might this mean?’”

Why veterinary teams need this support

Integrating doula principles into veterinary practice can impact not just clients and their pets, but the wellbeing of the veterinary team itself. One of the most significant benefits is a reduction in burnout. By sharing the weight of grief and decision-making with trained doulas, veterinary professionals can focus more fully on the clinical aspects of care without becoming emotionally drained.

There are also long-term benefits to client relationships. A well-supported and compassionate end-of-life experience does not just provide closure; it often brings clients back. “When families have a good end-of-life experience, they’re more likely to welcome a new pet sooner,” notes Shaw. “What does that do? It repeats that cycle and they come back to their vet practice.”

From a clinical standpoint, doulas can also contribute to more accurate medical outcomes. Because they spend extended time with families, they are often the first to notice subtle changes in a pet’s condition that might not emerge during routine exams. “Aging is not a disease,” says La Sala. “Arthritis is a disease. Cognitive decline is a disease. When we lump these things into ‘he’s getting old,’ that animal is potentially suffering.”

Training and certification for companion animal end-of-life doulas

The route to becoming a companion animal end-of-life doula is as varied as the individuals drawn to this role. While there is no national accreditation or governing body, certification programs help define scope of practice and ensure quality care.

A number of respected institutions offer training open to veterinary professionals, trainers, behaviorists, pet caregivers, social workers, and others committed to animal welfare. The University of Vermont’s Companion Animal End-of-Life Certificate is a six-week online program covering doula essentials, hospice and palliative care, and after-death options. Since 2019, it has certified over 600 participants and emphasizes both emotional and ethical dimensions of care.

The University of New England offers a similar online certificate focused on ethical decision-making, legacy building, and emotional support. These programs are flexible, accessible, and grounded in real-world application.

The International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC) provides a recognized certification with an emphasis on hospice best practices, ethical standards, and a formal exam. Its specialist course for veterinary professionals is RACE approved.

Although there is no single route to becoming a pet death doula, training programs offer structure, credibility, and professional grounding. For veterinary practices, having a certified doula on staff or building referral relationships adds layers of care to end-of-life services. Certification assures clients that their pet’s final moments will be guided by someone qualified, empathetic, and aligned with best practices.

Bringing death doulas into the care team

“Every veterinary practice should have a designated end-of-life navigator or doula,” said Gorczyca. “This isn’t about scope creep—it’s about deepening the care we already provide.”

At a time when veterinary burnout is reaching crisis levels and clients are seeking more personalized care, doulas offer a path forward—one that honors the deep bond between pets and their families while supporting the professionals who care for them. How we say goodbye matters just as much as how we care for the living.

 

Photo caption: Kate La Sala and her husband pose with Boo during their end-of-life photoshoot. 

Photo credit: Misty Lynn Photography 

Disclaimer: Trends content is meant to inform, educate, and inspire by providing an array of diverse viewpoints. Any content published should not be viewed as an official stance, position, or endorsement by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) or its Board of Directors.