Understanding Our Services

Tender Paws Veterinary Care is available by appointment on weekdays and weekends. Additional fees for after hours, public holidays and out of area appointments may apply. 

While we will endeavour to help find a suitable appointment time, we do not operate on an emergency or on-call basis. If your pet’s condition has deteriorated suddenly, you may need to contact your regular veterinarian or Animal Referral and Emergency Centre on (02) 4957 7106.

We know that making decisions around end-of-life care for your beloved pet can be incredibly difficult. You might feel ready to talk, or you might find that typing feels a little easier right now—and that’s completely okay.

However you choose to reach out, we’re here for you. You can contact us by phone, text, email, or through our social media pages—whatever feels most comfortable. 

Please remember that we may not be able to answer phone calls straight away, as we might be supporting another family and their beloved pet, attending to clinic work, or on the road between visits. 

We do genuinely want to connect with you—so if you could leave a voice message with your name, contact details, and how we can help, or send this information as a text – we will reach out as soon as we can. 

Tender Paws Veterinary Care focuses on providing peaceful in-home euthanasia for pets that are elderly and reaching the end of their life, or those that have a chronic, progressive disease or life limiting condition that is affecting their quality of life.

If you are considering euthanasia for your pet but are feeling unsure about any aspect of making this decision, then you might consider booking a Quality of Life consultation. This  home visit includes a thorough physical exam, review of medications and home environment and discussion about potential options and/or ongoing management. 

For all other veterinary services, including prescription of any medications that may be required for palliative care, you will need to contact your regular veterinarian. If you are interested in this option, please contact us.

Some of the benefits of choosing an in home euthanasia visit is that your pet’s farewell is relaxed, unhurried and without the sights, smells and sounds of a veterinary clinic. As an independent veterinary service, we endeavour to schedule appointments so there are not signfiicant time pressures or constraints. 

However we recognise that this is a different experience for many owners, or that owners may need to make arrangements with family members or aftercare providers. A typical in-home euthanasia appointment will take around one hour, taking into consideration opportunities for conversations, time for medications to take effect and for memorial items to be created. 

To book an appointment, simply reach out by phone, text or email. Daytime, evening and weekend appointments are available. 

After an appointment time has been booked, you may be asked to complete a patient registration form. This simply allows us to find out important information before the appointment about your pet and also any special instructions or requests you may have, without the need for an extended conversation. If you would prefer not to complete the form online, we would be happy to go through the information required in another format. 

For patients with complex medical conditions, or for Quality of Life consultations we may need to request your pets medical history from their regular veterinarian. 

Saying goodbye to our precious pets is never easy. We believe that our beloved pets deserve a peaceful and dignified farewell. It is important to us that you have all the information you need to feel comfortable about moving forward. 

When our vet arrives they will perform a physical assessment of your pet address any questions or concerns that you might have. This is also the time that they can talk through options for after-care with you if you have not already made a decision.  

Although there is no perfect time for paperwork, you will be asked to complete a form giving our vet consent to proceed with euthanasia and complete payment. We understand this can be difficult to do, but once this is done we can focus our attention completely on you and your pet.

Our vet will talk you through what to expect at each stage of this journey. It is your special time with them, for cuddles, for extra treats or simply loving them. Your pet will be given a gentle sedative to help them relax into a deep sleep. Only once your pet is comfortably asleep will our vet make preparations to administer the last anaesthetic injection.  

At the end of the visit, our vet will talk through your chosen aftercare plan and what to expect – whether this be private cremation or home burial. It is also at this time that we will create memorial items if you would like them – paw print, nose prints and fur clippings are complimentary.

It can be difficult to make decisions about after care at the time of an appointment. Many pet owners find it helpful to consider the options available well before even making an appointment for in home pet euthanasia.

Tender Paws Veterinary Care works directly with trusted partners Newcastle Hunter and Pet Crematorium and Patch & Purr to arrange private pet cremation services. For private cremations, our veterinarian will respectfully transport your pet to our base and transfer their remains to one of our trusted partners. Once your pets ashes have been returned to Tender Paws, we will arrange to personally return them to your care. 

For those pet owners who may not wish to have their pets ashes returned to them, both private cremation with respectful scattering of ashes, or communal cremation are available.  

If Tender Paws is arranging your pets after-care and they weigh 20kg or more, we request that there is a helper present to transfer them to our vehicle. 

If you prefer, you are welcome to arrange for your own preferred provider to collect your pet from your home. To allow for an unhurried experience for you and your pet, we would generally recommend booking collection for approximately 2 hours after your appointment time.

Depending on locality, burial on your property may also be an option – please contact your local council for specific guidelines. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you require information about pricing or options available to you. 

Payment is required at the time of your appointment.

Tender Paws Veterinary Care accepts payments by cash or card. Direct deposit is available for pre-payment only.