For veterinary clinics across Perth, pet euthanasia has always been one of the most emotionally demanding services provided. While it is a necessary and compassionate part of animal care, it brings with it a unique set of challenges that affect not just the pet and their family, but the veterinary team and clinic environment as a whole—including clients at the practice waiting for their regular appointments, etc.
Increasingly, vet clinics are choosing to outsource euthanasia services to dedicated providers like Dr Patrick Africano from Ark Angel Vet, who offers at-home pet euthanasia across the Perth metropolitan area.
This shift is not just about convenience—it’s about protecting the wellbeing of staff, supporting pet owners during one of the most difficult days of their lives, and making better use of clinic time and space.
Here’s why more Perth vets are choosing to refer end-of-life care to a trusted third party.
1. Removing the Trauma from the Clinic Environment
One of the most significant reasons for outsourcing pet euthanasia is the emotional association clients form with the physical space. When a pet is euthanised in the clinic, that space often becomes a place of grief and loss for the owner. Many pet owners share how difficult it is to return to the clinic afterwards—whether it’s to collect ashes, return unused medication, or bring in a new pet.
This discomfort can have a lasting impact. When another clinic offers a more emotionally neutral environment, clients may be more inclined to switch. Referring euthanasia services to an external at-home provider can help avoid this emotional burden. It separates the sadness of the farewell from the place of routine veterinary care, potentially improving client retention long-term.
2. Operational Strain on Staff and Space
Euthanasia appointments often require more time and privacy than the average consult. A room may be occupied for longer, limiting scheduling flexibility for higher-value services. Meanwhile, the rest of the clinic must quietly carry on, ensuring a peaceful and respectful atmosphere for grieving clients—often while juggling emergencies, barking dogs, and a busy reception.
From a business operations perspective, it’s a high-emotion, low-margin service that demands more time and sensitivity than the clinic may be resourced to give. Outsourcing the service allows staff to focus on preventive care, diagnostics, and surgery, where their time is more effectively utilised. It also helps avoid scheduling bottlenecks, particularly during peak clinic hours, when balancing urgent care with extended euthanasia appointments becomes a logistical and emotional challenge.
3. Mental Health and Staff Wellbeing
The emotional toll euthanasia takes on veterinary professionals is well-documented. Saying goodbye to a beloved animal in front of a grieving family is one of the hardest parts of the job—one that leaves emotional residue long after the appointment is over.
Veterinary professionals already face some of the highest rates of psychological distress. According to a 2021 parliamentary submission from the Select Committee on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, veterinarians in Australia are nearly four times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. While no single factor is responsible, repeated exposure to euthanasia—especially in a high-pressure clinic setting—contributes significantly to compassion fatigue and burnout.
By engaging a specialist in at-home euthanasia, clinic staff are spared the emotional load of both administering the procedure and supporting distraught owners. It offers mental health relief while still ensuring that the pet receives compassionate, professional care. Importantly, it helps create clearer emotional boundaries between the healing work of veterinary medicine and the grief-filled moments of end-of-life care.
4. Reducing Pet Distress During Final Moments
For many pets, going to the vet clinic or hospital may be associated with stress and fear. The car ride, unfamiliar smells, and waiting room noise can cause anxiety, particularly when the animal is already unwell. This stress is magnified during end-of-life visits, adding further trauma to an already painful experience for both pet and owner.
An at-home euthanasia service allows the pet to remain in a familiar and calming environment—on the couch, in the garden, or wherever they feel most at peace. It’s a humane experience for the animal and a gentle farewell for their family.
5. Better Client Experience Leads to Stronger Referrals
Pet owners who experience a peaceful, private farewell at home often share their appreciation with friends, family, and even online communities. Their gratitude reflects positively not only on the at-home provider but also on the referring clinic.
Recommending at-home euthanasia shows compassion and attentiveness to a client’s emotional needs—qualities that foster lasting trust. This type of positive word-of-mouth builds your clinic’s reputation as one that truly cares for both pets and their people, even in the hardest moments.
6. Clear Separation Between Treatment and Farewell
When euthanasia is performed in-clinic, the transition from regular treatment to end-of-life care can be emotionally jarring for both staff and clients. By outsourcing, clinics establish a clear distinction between routine care and final goodbyes. This helps staff emotionally compartmentalise their work and contributes to a healthier workplace culture.
7. Support for Clients with Mobility or Access Challenges
Some pet owners are elderly, disabled, or without transport—making it difficult to bring a pet into the clinic. Offering an at-home option via referral shows a commitment to inclusive care. It helps your clinic continue serving these clients without putting pressure on your staff or schedule.
8. Professional Liability and Risk Management
Referring euthanasia to a third party can help reduce a clinic’s exposure to emotional and legal risk in situations that are, by nature, delicate and sometimes unpredictable—e.g. behavioural euthanasia for aggressive dogs.
Why Vets Are Choosing to Outplace Pet Euthanasia
Support from Dedicated Veterinary Providers
At-home euthanasia vets like Dr Patrick are not the pet’s primary care provider, which allows for a small but significant degree of emotional detachment. While still deeply compassionate, these veterinary professionals are able to handle the unique emotional dynamics of euthanasia appointments. They can provide calm, informed support to pet owners and their families—including young children—without the added pressure of a long personal history with the pet.
They also focus on this type of care, bringing a wealth of experience, techniques, and emotional tools to guide families through one of the most difficult days of their lives.
Routine Communication with Clinics
Clinics referring patients to Ark Angel Vet can trust that all relevant information will be relayed back. Dr Patrick communicates post-visit details, ensuring patient records are updated, and can even provide owners with medicine return packs for safe disposal at the clinic. This keeps the clinic informed and connected, without needing to be present during the emotionally intense event itself.
A High Standard of End-of-Life Care
At-home euthanasia providers treat this work as a core part of their practice—not a side offering—and do not compete with local clinics and hospitals for routine veterinary care. They bring tools, techniques, and a process designed to make the experience as smooth and pain-free as possible.
At-home vets often carry a selection of sedatives and anaesthetics and allow more time during pre-sedation, pain relief, anaesthesia, and finally the euthanasia via the overdose of anaesthesia (Pentobarbital) when the family is ready to say goodbye to their beloved pet.
Final Thoughts
Outsourcing euthanasia to a trusted at-home service benefits everyone involved: the pet, the owner and family, the veterinary staff, and the clinic itself. It ensures a better client experience, frees up time and space in a busy practice, and helps protect the wellbeing of veterinary professionals.
As more Perth vet clinics look to balance compassionate care with long-term sustainability, partnering with a service like Ark Angel Vet makes emotional and operational sense. For many, it’s not just a practical shift—it’s the kindest one too.
If you would like to discuss working with a dedicated at-home euthanasia practice, please reach out to Dr Patrick on 0408 915 550 or via email at drpatrick@arkangelvet.com.au.
About the Author
Dr Patrick Africano is the founder of Ark Angel Vet, a dedicated at-home pet euthanasia service based in Perth.
With over 44 years of veterinary experience, Dr Patrick is known for his calm presence, gentle approach, and deep respect for the bond between pets and their families. His work focuses on helping pets pass peacefully in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by love.
Through Ark Angel Vet, he offers a compassionate alternative to in-clinic euthanasia—supporting both pets and their people through one of life’s most difficult moments.
Dr Patrick – 0408 915 550
