Every pet has a tale to tell - especially ones in need of hospice care. Sometimes, elderly pets find themselves without a family at the crossroads of life. LHS can provide medical care to these special pets, but we rely on fosters like you to provide the extra love and attention from a home environment.  Thank you for opening your heart and home to a pet in need. Here at LHS, we call our hospice volunteers #HospiceHeroes. Volunteering as a foster, you have come into pets’ lives during their greatest hour of need. We are so grateful that together through this program, we provide a loving home for pets nearing their journey's end while treasuring the time spent and cherishing the final chapters you write together. We know that hospice fostering is a labor of love. In order to make the experience as smooth as possible for you and the pet, LHS provides all medical care, supplies, and a community of support for our Hospice Heroes. 

The most important thing is to keep the pet comfortable and free of pain, with a focus on their quality of life and living each day to the fullest. 

Check out some of our Hospice Foster's 

Golden Days!

Please be sure to keep in contact with our medical team about any medical concerns or issues the pet may be having. Any changes in a hospice pet’s behavior should be reported. Undiagnosed medical problems can cause discomfort and rapid deterioration. 

We require hospice pets to be checked out by our medical team regularly. With our medical team’s help, we figured out the signs of a good day compared to a bad day. Keep a record of how often the signs of pain appear and bring this log with you to medical appointments. 

Look for these things:

At LHS, euthanasia is only considered when it is deemed medically necessary due to suffering, quality of life, or extreme cases when the pet is a danger to itself and the public. This means that we never will euthanize a savable pet for reasons of disease, space, or convenience. Euthanasia, however, when used with empathy, can be a peaceful and gracious option rather than keeping a pet in pain. As a Hospice Foster, you may take part in the discussion of the pet’s quality of life, what options we have left, and what is ultimately best for the pet when it is their time. This quote often comes to mind when having these conversations, “I’d rather be a week early as opposed to an hour too late”. Meaning, that when their quality of life declines past management, it is compassionate thing to let them leave on a high note.  Take heart in knowing that you were able to make a difference in their lives and make them feel special even for a little while.