Pet insurance can assist with end-of-life costs and soften the pain of grieving . The type and scope of coverage vary . When considering insurance , experts suggest comparing policies on the following points .
• Does coverage provide for pre-existing conditions as defined for pets ?
• Will the policy pay the pet parent or the care provider directly ?
• How much out-of-pocket funds will the pet parent have to spend first , and how are claims handled ?
• How are different animal species and sizes covered ? This is especially important to exotic and large pet owners , as pricing varies widely .
• Do insurance and aftercare providers take seriously the dignity pet owners want in their bereavement ?
Dr . Kimberly Beck- Frate , LMHC
Dr . Ericka Mendez
This last consideration is crucial , says Dr . Kimberly Beck-Frate , LMHC , a licensed grief and bereavement counselor of 29 years with Halifax Health Hospice Services . Appreciation for the impact the loss of a pet has on the owner has prompted the phrase “ disenfranchised grief ,” says Dr . Beck-Frate . This refers to the waning perception that a pet ’ s death is inherently less impactful on people ’ s emotional state than the loss of a close human loved one . “ It is not unusual to find among the many sad losses to suicide , accidents ,
drug overdoses and homicides that people are also grieving the loss of a beloved pet in the mix ,” Dr . Beck-Frate added . She leads Halifax Health ’ s post-COVID return to regular meetings of Tender Paws , pet loss group counseling sessions offered in partnership with other community groups like Sophie ’ s Choice Rainbow Bridge .
Most end-of-life services are led by veterinarians who have their own networks for ancillary services . These generally revolve around a trio of core services : at-home hospice , euthanasia and final disposition of the pet ’ s remains . Extending from these are supportive counseling and grief-sharing communities for pet owners , special remembrances ( e . g ., web pages ), memorials ( urns , boxes , plaques , grave markers ) and keepsakes that enable owners to lay their pets and their own pain to rest . Dr . Ericka Mendez of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia serves the greater Daytona Beach area . Lap of Love has a growing network of over 520 vets in more than 35 states across the US . “ Because pets are family … we help them leave this earthly existence the way they want to — in the comfort of their homes , in the warm embrace of their favorite people ,” proclaims the Lap of Love website . Dr . Mendez stated , “ newer generations of pet parents
often don ’ t have children or don ’ t plan to have them , so their pets are like children to them .” End-of-life pet services are gently migrating from the clinic to the pet parent ’ s home environment , providing a more personal , intimate and less stressful experience in
a non-clinical environment . Expressing how this mode of pet care has changed her practice , Dr . Mendez , a 20-year veterinarian who joined the Lap of Love network in 2022 , said , “ This level of service isn ’ t for pet owners who think of their pet as ‘ just an animal ,’ but as a friend or family member deserving tender care in their final hours , and they ’ re willing to pay for it .” These services are not cheap , and as such , clients have the means to drive this growing demand . While these clients may represent a small percentage of a vet ’ s practice , rendering these services can bring special fulfillment , knowing they ’ ve helped every pet family achieve their specific goals during a critical life event .
To prospective service providers , Dr . Mendez offers the following advice , “ You really need to be deeply compassionate about helping animals and the people who care for them during one of the worst moments of their lives .” Beck-Frate adds , “ If you do this , do so with an open-hearted willingness to do the right thing by people . Major in compassion in addition to what business economics demand . This kind of support to grieving families sets the Daytona Beach community apart .” In exchange for all the proven benefits pets provide their human friends , it isn ’ t surprising they are being honored with one final good turn .
Nate Mathis is a freelance writer for EVOLVE Magazine with rich experience in business and organizational communications .
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