Dr. Derecka Alexander
Verified Veterinarian
Why I provide at-home pet euthanasia
I understand the heartache of saying goodbye to a beloved pet firsthand. During my rigorous studies at LSU, I navigated the loss of my childhood companion, Creasy. This personal experience fuels my dedication to ensuring a peaceful transition for every furry family member, turning moments of sorrow into moments of comfort and relief.
Education
Undergraduate: Louisiana State University - 2011
Veterinary Medicine: Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine - 2018
Certifications
1CAETA's CPEV (Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian)
- Based InArlington, VA
- Service areasArlington, VA and surrounding areas
- Work Experience7+ years
- Animals ServedAll Dogs & Cats
- Notice Required2 hours
General availability
Wednesday12:00 pm - 6:00 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. Derecka Alexander will help your beloved pet transition peacefully in the comfort of of their home, surrounded by loved ones
Est. CostStarting at $375
Keepsakes
Clay paw prints, wooden urns with personalizations available with ashes returned
Est. CostFrom $25 - $70
Quality of life consult
Schedule a 1-on-1 with a vet over a virtual conference call or at home.
Est. CostStarting at $150
What pet parents are saying
Dr. Alexander was very kind and gentle when helping my Kelsey transition. I really appreciate her explaining what to expect so that my kids would all be prepared for what they might see. She took great care with those last precious moments and while transporting her. Tonight she went out of her way to bring Kelsey’s remains back to us so we could finally be reunited. Thank you Dr. Alexander for your compassion.
Dr Alexander was amazing. Our sweet 13 year old hound’s kidneys were failing and it was an incredibly hard decision to help her pass on. Dr Alexander came to our home last night and she had such a calming energy. She walked us through all that would happen, and our pup’s passing was so calm and peaceful. We will be forever grateful for Dr Alexander’s empathy and kindness and the gentle way she helped our sweet Violet cross the rainbow bridge.
This was the hardest thing we have ever had to do but Dr. Alexander was calm and comforting. She was super professional and explained the process and let us take our time saying goodbye.
It has been very difficult and sad since my soul dog passed but I have comfort in knowing that with Dr. Alexander’s help my dog transitioned in peace, with dignity, and without fear. Dr. Alexander was compassionate, understanding, and respectful throughout the appointment and created safe space for my beloved dog to pass in comfort. Dr. Alexander treated my dog with gentleness, kindness, and care. The decision with my dog’s passing was difficult to make but I feel that doing it in my home where my dog felt at ease was the best decision for my dog and my family.
We had to say goodbye to our pup Leo, who we had for 16 years, and it was one of the most painful things I ever had to do. Leo had advanced kidney disease and his health quickly deteriorated. We had scheduled a Coda Appointment with Dr. Derecka Alexander for a Tuesday, but Leo’s health took a turn for the worse on a Sunday. I emailed Coda Pet to ask if there was any possibility any Vet could come out sooner. Dr. Alexander immediately contacted me and made herself available in our time of need. We were so appreciative of Dr. Alexander’s compassion and kindness in helping our beloved pup Leo cross over the rainbow bridge, especially after it became urgent. She made a very difficult experience of us having to say goodbye to our pup more manageable. We chose to get a Vet to come to our home for our final goodbye to our Leo because we wanted him to be surrounded by the warmth of our love, the comfort of his family, and the smells and sounds he has always known. I wanted his last memories to be of us — his family — holding him, kissing him, thanking him. Thank you, Dr. Alexander, for allowing us to provide that to our pup Leo.
Dr. Derecka Alexander went “the extra mile” to make the “at home pet euthanasia” of our 14 year old retriever mix Lilly as comforting as possible for our family. She arrived very prepared with all of her equipment and immediately, gracefully and professionally took charge of a very emotional situation. She could see that Lilly was stressed and was able to calm her before she began the procedure. She created a peaceful setting with the soothing music and answered in detail all of our questions. Dr. Alexander made the sad and grief stricken passing of our Lilly a beautiful blessing. Thank you Dr. Alexander, your knowledge, organization, compassion and communication make you an outstanding Veterinarian and fellow human being.
