A Gentle Goodbye Veterinary Hospice

About A Gentle Goodbye Veterinary Hospice

A Gentle Goodbye Veterinary Hospice is a small, independently-owned mobile veterinary practice that has been serving the Chicagoland area since 2011. The practice was founded by Dr. Juliana Lyles, a veterinarian who earned her degree from Mississippi State University and recognized early in her career that end-of-life care, when done with skill and compassion, could be a peaceful and profoundly meaningful experience for both pets and their families. Based out of Northbrook, Illinois, A Gentle Goodbye's veterinarians travel throughout the Chicago area so that families never have to put a sick or anxious animal through the stress of a clinic visit during their final hours.

The practice maintains a team of experienced veterinarians — including Dr. Lyles, Dr. Kristina Kalivoda, Dr. Molly O'Brien, Dr. Heather Venn, Dr. Mariah Bessette, Dr. Libby McVey, Dr. Nicole Insko, and Dr. Laura Brazelton — each with a personal connection to end-of-life care and a commitment to the practice's unhurried, family-centered approach. A Gentle Goodbye also operates its own aqua-cremation (water-based cremation) service so that your pet remains in the care of the same small team from beginning to end. Most families find the practice through word-of-mouth referrals from trusted friends or their regular veterinarian.

Services Offered

A Gentle Goodbye Veterinary Hospice provides the following services to families in the Chicago, Illinois area:

• In-Home Euthanasia — A two-step process beginning with a sedation and pain-control injection, followed by the euthanasia solution; appointments are approximately 45 minutes
• Veterinary Hospice and Geriatric Care — Ongoing in-home medical management to keep your pet comfortable through illness or age-related decline
• Quality-of-Life Consultations — In-person assessment to help you evaluate whether the time has come to say goodbye
• Telehealth Quality-of-Life Consultations — Virtual discussions of your pet's condition and end-of-life care options
• Eco-Friendly Aqua-Cremation — Water-based cremation performed by their own team; your pet remains in their care throughout the entire process
• Memorial Keepsakes — Ink paw and nose prints, Pawpals kits, resin hearts with ashes, necklaces with ashes, and fur or whisker clippings, all made in-house

What to Expect

When you call A Gentle Goodbye, their team generally recommends scheduling with two to three days' notice, though same-day or next-day availability may exist depending on your location and the size of your pet. The veterinarian arrives at your home and first administers a combination injection of pain control, anti-anxiety medication, and sedation — giving your pet about 10 minutes to become calm and sleepy before the final medication is given. The entire appointment typically takes around 45 minutes and is never rushed. If you also choose aqua-cremation through A Gentle Goodbye, the veterinarian will take your pet with them after the appointment, ensuring continuity of care from the same team that was with you at the end.