When families face their animal companions’ final days, in-home palliative care and peaceful euthanasia—surrounded by love, not fear—have become trusted options. These hospice services not only support ailing animals, but also provide a compassionate environment where pet guardians can uphold a promise: that their beloved companions will not suffer unnecessarily and will be treated with dignity and comfort.

Founded on empathy and decades of veterinary experience, Till We Meet Again (TWMA) is changing how families approach end-of-life care for their animals. “Our mission is, first, to give your pet the most peaceful and dignified goodbye possible. And secondarily, provide for you, the pet owner, the knowledge that you gave the very best goodbye to your pet, that you could ever hope to offer,” says co-founder, Dr. Mark Huber.

Huber’s wife and co-founder, Stacey Huber, adds, “The heart of TWMA is the sincere compassion and love of animals who dedicate their entire lives to pleasing us—often in exchange for our unspoken promise that we will not let them suffer.”

A Focus on Comfort and Quality in Hospice Care

Palliative and hospice care for pets focuses not on curing, but on comfort. Common in pets facing cancer, advanced age or chronic illness, this specialized care helps ensure that an animal’s remaining days are lived with dignity and minimal discomfort.

In-home pet hospice can begin with an observational exam. Though they don’t offer diagnostics like X-rays or blood work, Dr. Huber—who brings over 25 years of veterinary experience and 16 years in emergency medicine—provides a professional, unbiased assessment in the pet’s most familiar environment.

“Hospice care can be tricky sometimes,” Stacey explains, “but in-home observation is extremely valuable. Sometimes, after a scheduled euthanasia assessment, Mark has said, ‘Today does not need to be the day.’” The focus is always on what’s best for the animal, not on a timeline.

Saying Goodbye, Surrounded  by Love

For many families, the idea of their pet’s final moments occurring in a clinic—sterile, stressful and unfamiliar—is heartbreaking. TWMA’s in-home euthanasia service offers a gentle alternative. In the quiet of their own space, pets pass peacefully, often in their favorite bed or on a well-worn blanket, surrounded by the voices and hands they’ve known all their lives.

“When someone contacts us, we already know there’s a unique bond,” Stacey says. “They don’t want their family member to pass in crisis or at a vet clinic. They want peace, not panic.”

The decision is never easy. A loss of appetite, incontinence or changes in behavior are all signs that Stacey Huber helps families watch for. “No one sign determines it,” she adds. “But when the bad days begin to outnumber the good, we help them understand it may be time.”

Supporting Families Through Grief and Transition

Grief doesn't begin when a pet passes—it often starts the moment a family begins to consider the end. Stacey Huber recently completed her certification as a pet loss bereavement specialist and now provides compassionate guidance through anticipatory grief, the decision-making process, and beyond. “The anticipation of pain is real pain,” reflects Mark. “The anticipation of grief is real grief. We let the owner know: This is as hard as it gets.”

TWMA also helps families navigate how to include children in the process. “We always tell parents they know their children best,” shares Stacey. “Mark explains everything clearly. With younger kids, he always emphasizes that the medications are for pets only and explains what’s happening in gentle, respectful terms.”

Some children bring “heaven-to-go” bags filled with letters or toys for their furry friend, finding comfort in ritual and creativity. TWMA also recommends books to help children understand and process their grief.

A Philosophy Rooted in Compassion

For the Hubers, this work is more than just a service—it’s a calling. Their shared philosophy blends veterinary expertise with empathy and reverence for the human-animal bond. They work collaboratively with family veterinarians and make it a point to respect each family's emotional journey.

“It is a gift,” Stacey says, “to allow our pets to pass, their dignity intact, in their home, peacefully, avoiding crisis.”

Each appointment is conducted with care and presence, sometimes lasting over an hour as families say their goodbyes. For TWMA, time isn’t rushed—it’s honored. Till We Meet Again’s work is helping to normalize difficult but necessary conversations around pet loss. In a region where animals are often seen as family, their presence is a source of comfort and education. By offering both practical support and emotional guidance, they serve not just animals, but Lancaster County’s broader community of animal lovers.

A Final Gift

Compassionate pet end-of-life care isn’t just about letting go—it’s about holding on, in the right way. The growing desire for at-home hospice and euthanasia helps families give their pets the final gift of peace, love and dignity, and normalizes holding the last moments with beloved companions in the comfort and familiarity of a home that was shared.

For more information or to make an appointment, call 717-808-4654 or visit TillWeMeetAgain.com. 

Trella Dubetz is a trauma-informed bodyworker, holistic and human design practitioner, graphic designer and writer based in Lancaster and Huntingdon counties, PA. She blends creativity with healing practices to support personal transformation. Connect with her at TrellaDubetz.com.