Compassionate In-Home Pet Euthanasia and Comfort Care in Norfolk, VA
Facing the moment when a beloved pet is near the end is one of the hardest decisions a family will ever make. For families in Norfolk, Ghent, Ocean View, and Larchmont, including those connected to the Naval Station Norfolk community, Hampton Roads Veterinary Hospice is here to ensure that transition is handled with the utmost compassion, dignity, and peace. We understand the unique bond military families form, especially with dedicated K9 veteran companions. We provide AAHA-accredited, Fear Free Certified care, including Comfort Care and peaceful in-home euthanasia, honoring the service and loyalty of every pet throughout the greater Norfolk community.
Why Norfolk Families Choose Hampton Roads Vet Hospice
1. AAHA Accredited: Gold-Standard Veterinary Care at Home
As part of an AAHA-accredited end-of-life veterinary team, we follow the highest standards in medicine, ethics, safety, and client communication. This ensures your pet receives the same level of excellence you’d expect in a top veterinary hospital, delivered gently in the comfort of your home.
2. Fear Free Certified Professionals
Every HRVH veterinarian is trained to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress. Our visits are quiet, calm, and built around your pet’s emotional well-being. For pets struggling with mobility, pain, or cognitive decline, this approach makes a profound difference.
3. Specialized In-Home Comfort Care & Hospice Support
We offer comprehensive end-of-life comfort care plans tailored to your pet’s medical needs and your family’s goals. Comfort Care can be the bridge that allows pets in Ghent, Ocean View, and Larchmont to enjoy more time with less discomfort, surrounded by the people they love.
4. Quality-of-Life Assessments Grounded in Compassion and Clarity
When families are unsure how their pet is truly feeling, we provide a structured, compassionate assessment of:
- mobility
- appetite and hydration
- breathing comfort
- pain levels
- emotional well-being
- meaningful daily activities
We help you understand what your pet is experiencing, offering guidance without pressure.
5. Peaceful In-Home Pet Euthanasia
When the time comes, we provide a gentle, unrushed, deeply respectful experience in your home. Our veterinarians guide your family through each step with quiet compassion, ensuring your pet passes away in comfort and peace. You choose the space. You choose the moment. We take care of everything else.
6. Same-Day Availability
Pets decline quickly, and families need support when symptoms change. We are available every day, often with same-day openings for Norfolk residents. We prioritize urgent needs and make every effort to be there when your pet needs us.
7. Seamless Aftercare
For total peace of mind, your pet’s body care is handled through our trusted partner, Agape Pet Cremation. This ensures a respectful and seamless transition after your pet’s passing. We manage every detail with dignity, allowing you to focus completely on your family.
Serving Norfolk’s Most Loved Communities
Hampton Roads Veterinary Hospice serves every community in Norfolk, including:
Ghent: A historic, densely populated area where our mobile team brings quiet, specialized comfort care right to your apartment or townhome.
Ocean View: Serving waterfront homes where pets spend their final moments near the bay. We ensure dignity and peace in a familiar setting.
Larchmont & Colonial Place: Established neighborhoods where families rely on our professional, unhurried service for hospice assessments and gentle at-home passing.
Regardless of your neighborhood in Norfolk, our commitment remains the same: to deliver unparalleled compassionate care when your family needs it most. We believe that a peaceful goodbye, guided by specialized expertise, is the final act of love you can give your cherished companion. Our mobile service ensures that this profoundly personal moment happens exactly where your pet feels safest: at home, surrounded by your love.
Supportive Resources for Military Pet Families
Norfolk is the heart of the Navy, and we understand the unique bond you share with your companion. To support our military families and K9 veterans, we offer guidance that addresses the emotional journey unique to the armed forces community.
Find Support and Guidance:
The Value of At-Home End-of-Life Care for Military Families’ Furry Companions
Written by Dr. Chelsea McGivney, Hampton Roads Veterinary Hospice General Manager and Military Veteran
Meet Dr. Tyler Carmack: Your Local and National Hospice Care Leader
Dr. Tyler Carmack, DVM, CVA, CVFT, CHPV, CTPEP, CPEV, CVPP, is our highly credentialed lead veterinarian who founded Hampton Roads Veterinary Hospice and oversees your care in Norfolk. She is also the National Director of Hospice and Palliative Care for Caring Pathways.
Local Roots:
Dr. Carmack is a Virginia Beach native, giving our practice deep local roots and a clear understanding of the Hampton Roads community. She founded this practice in 2011 and has practiced exclusively in hospice and palliative care for over a decade.
Dedication to Expertise:
Dr. Carmack’s dedication is demonstrated by her numerous advanced certifications (CHPV, CVPP, CVA, CVFT, etc.) and her service on the Board of Directors of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC) since 2016.
The Result for Your Pet:
This unparalleled level of training ensures that every patient in Norfolk receives comfort care that is guided by the highest standards of specialized, compassionate, and evidence-based medicine available today.
When You Need Us, We Come to You
Our Hampton Roads Veterinary Hospice team is honored to serve pets in:
Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, and surrounding communities.
If you live in or near Norfolk and have questions about your pet’s comfort, we are here for you.
Schedule a Visit
If your pet is declining or you’re wondering how to evaluate their quality of life, contact us today.
Our team will guide you with clarity, compassion, and same-day support when needed. Your pet’s comfort matters. Their dignity matters. And in the quiet of your Norfolk home, we’re here to help you honor both.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cost for In-Home Euthanasia and Comfort Care in Norfolk?
Because our compassionate care is personalized and based on your pet’s size, time of service, and aftercare choice, the total investment varies. Call or email us directly for a clear, detailed estimate and a no-pressure consultation. We prioritize financial clarity to ease your burden.
How does in-home pet euthanasia work in Norfolk?
Our veterinarian comes to your Norfolk home, meets your pet, and gently reviews your wishes and answers any remaining questions you might have. The visit is unhurried, compassionate, and centered around your family’s needs.
Do you offer same-day in-home euthanasia or hospice visits in Norfolk?
Yes. We often have same-day appointment availability for families in Norfolk, including Ocean View and Larchmont. Same-day availability depends on the time of your call and our veterinarian’s routes.
What is a pet quality-of-life assessment?
A quality-of-life assessment is a structured evaluation of your pet’s comfort and daily experience. We assess mobility, appetite, hydration, breathing, pain levels, sleep quality, emotional well-being, and meaningful activities. Our veterinarian then discusses what your pet is experiencing and provides clear, compassionate guidance on the next steps, whether that is hospice support, continued monitoring, or euthanasia.
How is hospice or comfort care different from regular veterinary care?
Traditional veterinary care focuses on diagnosis, cure, or long-term management. Hospice and comfort care focus on maintaining comfort, reducing stress, and supporting senior or terminal pets when a cure is no longer the goal. Our comfort care plans may include pain management, mobility support, nutrition adjustments, and environmental modifications to improve your pet’s day-to-day comfort at home.
Are Hampton Roads Veterinary Hospice veterinarians AAHA-accredited and Fear Free Certified?
Yes. HRVH is an AAHA-accredited end-of-life care veterinary practice, following the highest standards for medical quality, safety, and client communication. Our veterinarians are also Fear Free Certified, using low-stress handling techniques and gentle pacing to minimize fear, anxiety, and stress during each visit.
Do you serve Ghent, Ocean View, and Larchmont in Norfolk?
Yes. We regularly serve families in Ghent, Ocean View, Larchmont, and all surrounding Norfolk neighborhoods. As a dedicated, local practice led by a Virginia Beach native, we are deeply connected to the communities we support throughout the entire Hampton Roads area.
Can you help with aftercare and pet cremation arrangements?
Yes. After your pet’s peaceful passing, we can help with aftercare and cremation arrangements through our trusted partner, Agape Pet Cremation. We will explain your options clearly, assist with respectful transport if desired, and ensure you feel supported throughout the process.
Client Testimonials
“Sam and I are so grateful for Dr. Carmack. She guided us through the sadness of Belle’s last weeks. When the time came to put her down, Dr. Carmack was professional and extremely compassionate. She is remarkable. Thank you again, for your support and kindness.”
From a recent client, Kandi