Q: How do I know that I will be receiving my own pet’s ashes back?
Q: How will my pet’s cremated remains be returned to me?
Q: Do I need “proof” of sickness or my veterinarian’s permission to make a euthanasia appointment?
Q: How much advance notice do you need to schedule an appointment?
Q: When will the doctor arrive? Do they call first?
Q: What if there is severe weather the day of my scheduled visit?
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
Q: Do you offer home visits in my area?
Q: How long does the typical appointment take?
Q: What do I need to do during the appointment? Do I need to be present the entire time?
Q: Are your doctors all veterinarians? Do they work at a regular clinic, too?
Q: Can I take photos or videos during the appointment?
Q: I’d like to send a note to our doctor. What is the mailing address?
Q: What payment methods do you accept? Is tipping customary?
Q: Will you notify my veterinary clinic?
Q: Who can I talk to about my grief?
Q: How can I learn more? Are there other resources available?
Q: How do I know that I will be receiving my own pet’s ashes back?
We partner with a wonderful crematory, the Veterinary Hospitals Association, who has been in operation in Minnesota for more than 25 years. VHA uses state-of-the-art equipment and procedures, ensuring your pet’s identification throughout the cremation process so you can be assured that you receive only your own pet’s ashes. VHA is proud to be accredited by the International Association of Pet Cemeteries & Crematories (IAOPCC).
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Q: How will my pet’s cremated remains be returned to me?
If you selected separated or individual cremation, your pet’s ashes will be returned to you. They will be sealed carefully inside a beautiful wood urn. This urn can be opened by removing a small screw on the bottom, in case you wish to spread the ashes or transfer them to another vessel.
Q: Do I need “proof” of sickness, or my veterinarian’s permission to make a euthanasia appointment?
No, that is not necessary. We’ve learned over time that the best person to know when it’s time to consider euthanasia is the person who loves the pet and knows more about the pet than anyone else. As veterinarians, we can help you understand your pet’s medical condition. The euthanasia decision can involve other factors, however, including your pet’s quality of life, required nursing care, and even finances. It is always your decision and we will support you when you have come to this painful and difficult decision.
Q: How much advance notice do you need to schedule an appointment?
We have several veterinarians on staff to make appointments available seven days a week. Contacting us 2-3 days ahead should ensure that you get the appointment date and time that you prefer. Some people like to schedule an appointment several weeks out, too, which is perfectly fine.
Q: When will the doctor arrive? Do they call first?
We schedule our doctor’s arrival time within an arrival window. They will arrive sometime during that given window of time, usually within an hour. Our doctor will call you before she arrives to discuss the appointment and let you know when she’ll be there.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
To cancel or reschedule your visit, please call or email us no less than 2 hours before the beginning of your appointment’s arrival window. Cancellations with less notice will incur a $50 cancellation fee. For example, if the doctor is arriving between 10:00-11:00am, we ask that you notify us by 8:00am to avoid a cancellation fee.
If the doctor arrives to your home and the visit does not result in euthanasia, there is a house-call fee of $355. This fee covers the cost of the doctor’s time at the house call, and the administrative and mileage costs. For example, if you decided not to move forward with euthanasia, if the doctor is unable to safely approach or handle your pet, or if you are not home at your scheduled visit time. If the visit does not result in a euthanasia, the doctor is able to spend time talking with you about your pet’s condition, make comfort care or referral recommendations, and help you in determining your next steps. Cremation costs are refunded.
Q: What if there is severe weather the day of my scheduled visit?
In the case of inclement weather, such as a severe winter storm, our support team will be in contact with you as soon as possible to update you on the doctor’s arrival window and any necessary schedule adjustments. We will do everything that we can to help you at your scheduled time; however, in order to keep our doctor safe when road conditions are poor, we ask for your flexibility and understanding in scheduling. While rare, in cases of a MnDOT issued No Travel Advisory, MN Pets will temporarily cease visits for safety reasons and our support team will be in contact with you as soon as possible to reschedule for a safer time or day.
Q: Do you offer home visits in my area?
Click this map of our coverage area. Our doctors visit homes throughout the seven-county, Minneapolis-St Paul community, including western WI. Feel free to call us with any questions about service in your area.
Q: How long does the typical appointment take?
Most visits in the home take about 45 minutes to an hour. Occasionally it takes us a little longer. We take whatever time is needed, both for the people and pet involved.
Q: What do I need to do during the appointment? Do I need to be present the entire time?
There is really nothing that you need to do to prepare your pet or home. You can put some thought into what part of the home you would like us to be in. During the appointment, you can be a part of as much or as little as you prefer. Some clients have chosen to step out of the room during the medication injection. Most clients choose to be at their pet’s side during the procedure and find that it is peaceful and tranquil.
Q: Are your doctors all veterinarians? Do they work at a regular clinic, too?
We are all licensed veterinarians. Some of us work in clinics also, and some of us feel called to only provide euthanasia services. Collectively, we have over 100 years of veterinary experience. See the “About Us” section to read more about us and our work history.
Q: Can I take photos or recordings during the appointment?
People take photos or video and audio recordings for many different reasons. Sometimes they want to be able to remember the time they were able to spend with their pet, how their pet looked or the things that they enjoyed doing, or to share with family or friends who could not be present to say goodbye. We encourage people to create visual mementos of their pet. MN Pets just asks that you refrain from including the veterinarian in your photo and from taking video and audio recordings of the visit. We value the privacy of our veterinarians and the assurance that recording content from pet euthanasia will not appear online due to its sensitive nature.
Q: I’d like to send a note to our doctor. What is the mailing address?
You can send correspondence to 5155 East River Rd, Ste 412, Fridley, MN 55421 and address it to the veterinarian who visited your home. We’ll be sure they receive it.
Q: What payment methods do you accept? Is tipping customary?
We accept check, cash, and credit card payments. Checks can be made out to MN Pets. Our doctors only carry a very small amount of change, so it is best to plan to have the exact amount if you are paying by cash. You can pay with a credit card over the phone before your visit, which many families prefer to do so that they don’t need to worry about payment at the time of the visit. However, if you prefer not to prepay, our doctor can take credit card payment while in the home. We also accept Care Credit.
Tipping is not customary. If you would like to give in honor of your pet, we would encourage you to donate to our Buddy Fund, which you can read more about here.
Q: Will you notify my veterinary clinic?
During scheduling, we will ask you the name of your pet’s regular veterinary clinic. This clinic will be listed on your pet’s medical record and we will notify them of your pet’s passing for you. This is a standard practice so that your clinic can update their records, avoid sending you unwelcome appointment or vaccination reminders, expect to receive your pet’s urn there for you to pick up (if applicable), and offer their condolences.
By sharing your clinic’s name with us, you are giving permission for us to notify them of your pet’s passing. If you prefer that we do not notify your clinic, please let us know during scheduling.
Q: Who can I talk to about my grief?
Sometimes the feelings of grief can be very intense. The loss of a pet is comparable to other significant losses, including other loved members of the family. You don’t have to struggle on your own. You can reach our trained Support Specialists Monday-Friday 6am-7pm and Saturday/Sunday 6am-5pm at (612) 354-8500 or (651) 354-9423. There is no charge for the call. Our staff is experienced in helping you think through this decision and in helping you work through your grief after you have lost a pet.
Q: How can I learn more? Are there other resources available?
Call us at (612) 354-8500, send us an email, or watch this video. Or visit our RESOURCE page