Dr. Cassandra Lewis
Verified Veterinarian
Why I provide at-home pet euthanasia
I am that stereotypical person you hear about that always wanted to be a veterinarian since I can remember. I loved helping take care of any of the sick pets in my home and we certainly had a zoo with anything from cats and dogs to turtles and fish, horses and guinea pigs and others when I was a kid. I love practicing veterinary medicine and do anything and everything I can for the seniors at Young at Heart. I began to consider euthanasia services after a personal experience with a mule my family had for over 20 years. I grew up riding her and she was the sweetest soul. When she was 36 years old she likely developed a brain tumor and was acting a bit wild and difficult to handle. With winter fast approaching my parents did not want to risk her having a traumatic injury from the snow and ice and not being able to give her a peaceful ending in that circumstance. They called a local vet who attempted to to perform the euthanasia but it went horribly and she ultimately refused to continue and recommended we have a wildlife vet dart her down. She had been our baby for over 20 years and I felt she deserved a peaceful and dignified ending to such a long wonderful life. Even though I was 8 months pregnant at the time, I drove down to Indiana and was able to offer her the ending she truly deserved. It was truly a rewarding feeling to myself and my family to know that she passed without fear or pain, surrounded by love and treated with the gentle touch she deserved. Although euthanasia is always a difficult decision, I've always viewed it as the kindest ending we can offer to our patients. and sometimes one of the most rewarding parts of the profession to be able to take away any pain or suffering for an animal that cannot understand what is happening.
Education
Undergraduate: Saint Joseph's College
Veterinary Medicine: Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine -2009
Certifications
1Fear Free Certified
- Based InAlgonquin, IL
- Service areasAlgonquin & Surrounding Northwest Suburbs
- Work Experience15+ years
- Animals ServedAll Dogs & Cats, Canine, Feline, Small Mammals (in ...
- Notice Required2 hours
General availability
Tuesday8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Availability each week can vary based on demand and scheduling. Please provide a minimum 2 hour advance notice for all bookings.
Services provided
At home pet euthanasia
Dr. Cassandra Lewis will help your beloved pet transition peacefully in the comfort of of their home, surrounded by loved ones
Est. CostStarting at $0
Keepsakes
Clay paw prints, wooden urns with personalizations available with ashes returned
Est. Cost
Quality of life consult
Schedule a 1-on-1 with a vet over a virtual conference call or at home.
Est. CostStarting at $250
What pet parents are saying
With a senior dog who had vision/hearing impairment and seemed to be easily stressed leaving the house I had been thinking about next steps, which came quicker than I had hoped. I inquired on Reddit for suggestions and came across Dr. Lewis details. Kudos to Dr. Lewis and the Codapet services for the ease in setting up an appointment online as I didn't think I'd be able to speak to someone on the phone. Dr. Lewis kept me informed of her arrival time and really took great care of Clyde and myself and walked me through the steps of the process. Her calm and gentleness made the transition easier and for this I will always be grateful. Clyde's ashes were returned to me and Dr. Lewis drove out to my home with his urn which was extremely thoughtful and kind. Thank you, Dr. Lewis and also to Codapet.
Dr. Cassandra reached out as soon as I signed up for our in home pet euthanasia. She was kind, understanding and really went above and beyond answering my questions and concerns. On the day of, she was compassionate, kind and so caring. It felt like I’d known her for years because we were so comfortable with her. She described everything, offered options, and when it happened it was so peaceful. My dog was very scared of vet hospitals, and being on her own bed, in my arms, made all the difference. I can’t say enough good things about what would become of the hardest days for any pet owner. Highly recommend!!
Cassandra made a Very Unexpected and Sad Event as smooth as it could possibly be! From heartfelt conversations before, a gentle approach during and a skilled and caring departure, I wouldn't have done this any other way! Plus being done in the comfort of my home was just as easy for my girl Zeena! I would highly recommend Cassandra and her staff to anyone who knows the stress and grief this can cause! Even from the scheduling of this event, the staff was extremely courteous and you could tell they really cared!
My experience with Dr. Cassandra Lewis went way beyond my expectations. I contacted CodaPet to find a vet that would perform in home pet euthanasia. Ivy, our 16 year old kitty had stopped eating and drinking and was telling us it was time for her to go. Her behaviors changed over the course of a few weeks. She became very snuggly and demanding attention at times, but she also hid and seemed disoriented. As much as my heart didn't want to make the call, I contacted CodaPet to set up an appointment. I had heard of this service before and I really wanted to find someone to come to our home because Ivy hated going to the vet. I didn't want that to be her last time with us. The woman I spoke to at CodaPet (don't have her name) was very kind and helpful. I received emails and texts prior to the day that explained the process, and was encouraged to reach out with any questions. They made sure I knew that I could also cancel the appointment if I changed my decision. Dr. Lewis is very compassionate and truly cares about people and their pets. She made the process as easy as it could be. She explained everything she was doing and made sure we were okay with everything that was happening. I chose to have Ivy on my lap where she was most comfortable. She was already very tired and had slept the entire day. Ivy was given one dose to relax her (like an anesthesia) and then after 10-15 or so, another dose to stop her heart. Just a few minutes after the second dose she was gone. I am so thankful I could have her on my lap to cuddle her and talk to her during the whole process. Dr. Lewis asked if we wanted a paw print and some fur to keep. We saved some fur and she put some in two small containers for us. We also had the option for Dr. Lewis to take Ivy with her for cremation but we opted to keep Ivy and take car of her ourselves. I highly recommend CodaPet and Dr. Lewis. I'd give her 50 stars if I could!
During the worst time of my life, I could not have asked for a more compassionate, accommodating, and caring person to come to our home and help my Riley cross the rainbow bridge. Riley’s health declined very suddenly and quickly, sending my husband and I into a spiral, and while part of me wanted to do this with his regular vet, who has spent the last few years doing everything they could to make his life the best it could be, I could not imagine saying goodbye to my best friend of over 16 years in a clinic on a metal table. Finding Dr Lewis was truly the best decision we could have possibly made. She was very communicative from first contact, gave us all the time we needed before and after, and took such good care of my boy, including ensuring the engraving on his urn was perfect and hand delivering him back to us. I am truly grateful that I stumbled upon Dr Lewis in my search and cannot recommend her enough to anyone needing to make this gut-wrenching decision. She’s truly the best ❤️
Tough day, our family had the right partner to get through it with. Dr. Lewis was truly compassionate and read the room well. We were lucky to find someone who was able/willing to help us with our love, Lou, who was a 200lb+ mastiff. We were in a real spot and grateful to Dr. Lewis for her help.
