Events

Upcoming Events

Charlie and Cap

We love our pets and want only the best for them. But as they age and develop chronic problems, or when we receive a terminal diagnosis, it’s hard to know what “the best” really means. How can we maximize comfort and minimize stress—for them and for us as their caregivers? How do we make end-of-life decisions?

These are hard questions, and thinking about them is often painful. And yet this stage of our pets’ lives can be a beautiful time for connection and love. Join Dr. Erika Bruner at one of our upcoming workshops where we’ll take a closer look at how we can negotiate this time with grace, recognizing both the joy and the sadness that are always with us.

End-of-Life Care for Pets Workshop

Saturday, June 3, 2023. 10 AM – 1 PM.

Capital City Grange Hall, 6612 Vermont Route 12, Berlin, VT 05602 (Four minutes from downtown Montpelier!)

 

Dr. Erika Bruner has been in practice as a vet for over 20 years in Central Vermont. For the past five years her focus has been home visits for end-of-life care. She will lead this morning of conversation with empathy and without judgement.
We’ll cover these topics:
  • Why this stage is hard for us to understand, and how it’s normal to feel stuck or lost
  • Mobility and confusion: the two most common quality-of-life issues for aging pets
  • Other quality-of-life issues: appetite; issues specific to diseases like cancer, kidney failure, etc.
  • Low-tech solutions and basic medications
  • Does medical intervention (tests, procedures, etc.) make sense for you and your pet?
  • How does the euthanasia process usually go (a gentle, basic explanation)?
  • Options and planning for euthanasia and aftercare
  • A simple framework (the JOURNEYS scale) to help you specifically assess your pet’s quality of life
  • How to approach thinking about end-of-life decisions; making a plan
We will take time to go through the JOURNEYS scale together. There will be lots of time for questions and answers, and there will be hourly bathroom breaks! Your participation is welcome but not required, and you can come just to listen; you will not be expected to speak.
Admission: Suggested donation of $20 to cover promotional costs and as a contribution to the Grange for hosting us.