- Based InWest Sacramento, CA
- Service areasSacramento, CA and surrounding areas
- Work Experience19+ years
- Animals ServedAll Dogs & Cats
- Notice Required2 hours
General availability
Friday8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Availability each week can vary based on demand and scheduling. Please provide a minimum 2 hour advance notice for all bookings.
Dr. Lori Thomas
Verified Veterinarian
Why I provide at-home pet euthanasia
My love of animals first drew me to work as a veterinary assistant and eventually train to become an RVT. It was as I was learning to care for animals in this capacity that I realized that I wanted to learn and do more, so my attention turned to becoming a veterinarian. I have been fortunate to be able to use my education to care for dogs and cats for almost 35 years, 19 of those as a veterinarian. My transition from general practice to providing in home euthanasia stems from my belief that we owe our beloved pets, who have given us so much love and happiness, a peaceful transition of their own in familiar, loving surroundings.
Education
Undergraduate: California State University-Hayward - 2001
Veterinary Medicine: University of California-Davis - 2006
Certifications
1CAETA's CPEV (Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian)
- Based InWest Sacramento, CA
- Service areasSacramento, CA and surrounding areas
- Work Experience19+ years
- Animals ServedAll Dogs & Cats
- Notice Required2 hours
General availability
Friday8:00 am - 5:30 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. Lori Thomas 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 $225
What pet parents are saying
Dr. Thomas made a bad situation into something peaceful and comfortable. She shows caring and compassion. Very grateful to have been referred to Dr.Thomas.
Dr. Lori was the perfect choice when it was time for Bobby, our cat, to be euthanized. She made the difficult process as easy as it could have been. Thank you.
We recently had to say goodbye to our beloved dog, Oliver, at home, and Dr. Lori Thomas helped us through one of the hardest moments of our lives. From the moment she arrived, she was kind, patient, and incredibly compassionate—not just with Oliver, but with us as well. She explained each step with such care and gave us all the time we needed. Oliver was calm and comfortable in his favorite spot, surrounded by love, which meant everything to us. Dr. Thomas made a heartbreaking experience peaceful, dignified, and filled with compassion, and we are so deeply grateful for the gentle way she helped Oliver and our family.
Dr. Thomas was wonderful throughout the process. She is a compassionate doctor that displayed care every step of the process while we said goodbye to our beloved dog. Thank you Dr. Thomas❤️
Dr. Lori was the best. She showed our pug kind and dignity during the last moment in his life. She also was wonderful with the 3 grieving adults who were losing their furry family member too soon. I highly recommend Dr. Lori Thomas. She does a difficult job with grace and caring.
Dr. Thomas was exceptional in every way that mattered to us and my Mom's wonderful greyhound on that difficult evening. Our entire family is grateful to Dr. Thomas for her expertise and compassion.
Dr Lori is amazing. Through one of the most difficult times, it was reassuring to have someone care about a pet they've never met. Thank you for being so special during one of our darkest days
*Thank you* is not enough to express the appreciation my mom and I have to Dr. Lori Thomas in her kindness and care to us and our dear pup Sophie in her hour of need, as she was in end stage congestive heart failure and suffering. Dr. Lori gave us a beautiful goodbye to our girl, as hard as that was, and we will never forget it. 💝🌈
This was one of the hardest things I have had to do and Lori helped us through it she is understanding patient and kind throughout the whole process highly recommend her to help get you through your difficult time.
We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Lori Thomas for her accommodation to arrive 12hours early. She informed me of the full process before hand and gave me grace to gather myself. It was also her patience, kindness, and compassion during one of the most difficult moments of our lives. Saying goodbye to my boy Sammie was heartbreaking, but she made the process as peaceful and gentle as possible. Her empathy, patience, and professionalism provided us with comfort, knowing our beloved furry son was treated with the utmost care and dignity. Thank you for helping us through this time with such care!
We are so grateful for the compassionate care we received during such a difficult time. Dr. Lori Thomas was—wonderful, so kind, patient and understanding. She brought her own treats to help make our pet feel comfortable, and she gave us all the time and space we needed to say goodbye in our own way. She handled everything gently with great respect. It truly felt like our pet was treated with love and dignity we couldn’t have asked for a better person to help us through this moment.
Dr. Thomas was compassionate and caring during the entire process. Although it was a very sad situation I felt at peace at the end. My dog couldn’t have been in better hands. Thank you again Dr. Thomas for all you did for Cody and myself.
Thank you to Dr. Lori Thomas for coming out a day before our scheduled appointment because our cat was in so much pain. Dr Lori made this experience of the passing of my cat smoothly and she was incredibly kind and allowed us time to say goodbye to my cat. I highly recommend Dr Lori and appreciate her so much for coming out.
Dr. Lori was so kind and compassionate both to my cat and me. She gently answered my many questions, giving me time to come to the necessary conclusion. Upon reflection, I believe that she knew how ill Scamps was when she first saw her, but she examined her gently, giving me time I needed. Scamps died peacefully in my bed with us loving on her. I highly recommend Dr. Lori as an at-home vet.
Dr. Thomas was compassionate and has a gentle demeanor that made my cat Domingo's passing peaceful. She explained the procedure clearly and gave me time to process in the moment what was happening. I was grateful to have held him as he passed in our home. I would recommend to any pet parent that if it is economically feasible on their end, to opt for an at home euthanasia.
Dr. Lori provided compassionate care during the difficult process of euthanizing our dog and even sent a condolence card afterward, which was deeply appreciated.
Needless to say, losing my 16 year old kitty, Tama was devastating. I knew I didn't want his life to end in a cold sterile room that he hated going to, so I sought out at-home pet euthanasia when I knew it was time. Dr. Lori was who I reached out to (randomly) and from that first message, her texts were mindful of the place I was at mentally and emotionally. Dr. Lori comes to my home the very next day, her energy is kind, empathetic, gentle, and professional, which is important when trusting a human for such a difficult job. I was an absolute mess, yet she came in and explained everything. Was sweet to my boy, to me. She was swift and offered me keepsakes, which she was respectful about collecting always asking me if everything she did was ok with me. I'm grateful for her and recommend her as a caring transition doula for our sweet fur babies when the time comes.
Dr. Lori was so kind and went above and beyond to make our kitty as comfortable as possible. She was great about communicating each step and preparing us for what was to come. We could see how much she loves animals through the kindness she showed our kitty in the end.
Dr. Lori was very professional and explained everything exactly as to what she was going to do and how my Honey was going to react. Dr. Lori made Honey relax and calm by giving her a treat and talking to her while Dr. Lori injected a sedative which Honey was fast asleep in a minute or two. She then proceeded with the euthanizing shot. Honey passed away in just about a minute without any problems. I was very saddened but my Honey was in no more pain. Thank you Dr. Lori for making this a lot easier for me to handle making Honey pass away so calmly and quickly.
"Dr. Thomas was compassionate and caring during the entire process. Although it was a very sad situation I felt at peace at the end. My dog couldn’t have been in better hands. Thank you again Dr. Thomas for all you did for Cody and myself."
Doctor Thomas was very compassionate and thoughtful in taking care of Cece. She explained everything that was happening and it was a peaceful time for all. My emotions were very high at this time and Dr. Thomas was able to comfort me and take care of Cece. I couldn’t ask for a more compassionate Dr. to have.
We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Lori Thomas for her accommodation to arrive 12hours early. She informed me of the full process before hand and gave me grace to gather myself. It was also her patience, kindness, and compassion during one of the most difficult moments of our lives. Saying goodbye to my boy Sammie was heartbreaking, but she made the process as peaceful and gentle as possible. Her empathy, patience, and professionalism provided us with comfort, knowing our beloved furry son was treated with the utmost care and dignity. Thank you for helping us through this time with such care. Thank you the hug before you left and the card days after. The emotional support you gave was above and beyond.
Dr Lori Thomas has been a part of my pet family care team for more than 10 years. I have been lucky to have her care for my cats and dogs and most recently when my dear Riley was showing signs of aging and other neurological issues I knew that there was no one else that I wanted to be there other than Dr. Thomas . Dr. Thomas has always been extremely professional, insightful, caring. and mindful of my pets and their quality of life. My experience with Codapet was very warm and friendly. The staff was amazing at taking my calls and patient when answering all of my questions . Dr. Thomas was extremely thorough and engaged throughout the process. For such a difficult time, I felt at ease and I knew that my Riley was at peace. From scheduling the appointment to the actual event and even the beautiful paw print and card afterwards, I was very appreciative and grateful for the love and kindness that was shared. Thank you, Dr. Thomas and Codapet.
Dr. Thomas came to the house. She gave my sweet Chuck a thorough assessment to be sure he was ready to pass. She was kind, gentle and respectful of Chuck and of me. We were given all the time we needed to make the difficult decision to let him go. I thank Dr. Thomas for making Chuck's passing dignified and kind.
I can't Thank Dr Lori enough!! You communicated with me through a text and a phone call prior to our appointment. You came on time and you got right to work because you knew my boy was in need. Thank you thank you so much! I will refer you to everybody and anybody when in need. Thank you for the biggest hug ever. And thank you for the paw prints. Adding Smokey's name and the time and date was amazing.
Dr. Thomas supported us through the transition of our 12-year-old dog. She was great. Even though she had no history with our family or our pet, she stepped in, told us what we needed to know, and guided and comforted us through the transition. I couldn't have asked for a more peaceful end to Seamus's life; we are very grateful.
Dr.Thomas was so compassionate towards my family and treated our dog with such respect. After he passed she let us hold him and carry him out. She treated his remains with kindness and respect.I would recommend this services to anyone who needs it.
Dr. Lori Thomas is an outstanding Veterinarian. She is compassionate and really cares about making your pet as comfortable as possible throughout the process. I will always be grateful to for her helping my family through a very difficult time.
The service was really good for us. I was a little hesitant as I just wanted to get it over with asap. So glad I reached out to Dr. Lori Thomas. She was very professional and had a sincere caring side as well. Dr. Thomas was such a blessing in a difficult time. Thanks Doc, Greg
We are so grateful to Dr. Thomas for her patience, kindmess, and compassion in helping our precious Bear-Bear cross the Rainbow Bridge. She made what was a heartbreaking decision for us as peaceful and lovely a moment as possible and gave us the time we needed to get through the process. Thank you so much, Lori!
Dr. Lori was fantastic, she made sure my dog never felt scared or anxious, and he was able to peacefully pass in his favorite bed surrounded by his humans and treats. I live in a fairly rural area, but the travel fee was fair. Would definitely use them again when the time comes. They make a really hard day a little easier.
I am so glad I found this service and wish I had done with past animals. Dr. Thomas was extremely compassionate and kind. We are extremely grateful
We had to make a fast difficult decision for our beloved pet. I was able to book Dr.Lori for the next day. She came prepared and ready to give any information we needed and calmly guided us through the process.
Dr Lori Thomas is one of the most caring and compassionate people I have ever met. She was so thoughtful and kind through out the process for myself and my dog Joe. She went over and above providing treats fir him and a special keepsake for me. This was one of the most difficult decisions to make and I am truly thankful to have found Dr Lori Thomas to help me through it. I know Joe is now not in pain and watching over us still. ❤️
Dr. Lori was so comforting and compassionate. My wife was having the hardest time and Dr. Lori was such a great person to provide this service for us.
Dr. Lori Thomas was very respectful of my home and extremely gentle with our cat, Freya, RIP. My cat wasn’t afraid and made her feel welcome.
Dr. Lori Thomas was very kind and welcoming. She made my family feel calm and comfortable during such a hard time. We're so grateful for all her help.
Last week it was time for Emmi to rest peacefully. She found her place of comfort on the back lawn in the sun. My husband was really having a tough time. Dr Lori put every at ease, most importantly Emmi. The process was appeared to be painless. I was able to sit and talk with her throughout the euthanasia. Dr Lori took care of her aftercare as well, taking away another level of stress.
I can't say enough good things about Dr. Thomas. She helped us on one of the most difficult days of our lives. She was kind and patient and treated Bella with the utmost care. She walked us through every step of the way and let us have time to say goodbye to our precious 18-year-old Bella. I am so glad we did this at home, as Bella passed peacefully in my arms surrounded by her family who loved her. Dr. Thomas followed up with us to make sure we were doing OK.
Dr.Thomas was extremely patient with this wish-washy dog mom. She took time to discuss with the family, and gave us time and space to make the final decision. She was extremely gentle with my Freckles, and made her passing calm and pain free.
Just put my baby down. Lori was so fabulous. Not saying it was a pleasure to put my baby down but I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. It was so peaceful to have it done at home. I held my baby through the whole thing and will never ever use a vet office to put any of my babies to sleep. Lori guided us through each step and even when she was taking Mia to the cremation place she put her on a wonderful blanket and stretcher. Dr. Lori Thomas is an angel, my baby loved her and was so at ease with her! Thank you guys. It was worth every penny!
Dr. Lori was so thoughtful and caring. She brought light and love to a very difficult day. I was so grateful for her calming and reassuring presence.
I highly recommend Dr. Lori! Lori helped us say goodbye to our sweet companion, Baxter. The first time we scheduled her visit Baxter rebounded and started eating and playing again, and she counseled us through our decision to postpone euthanasia. A week later she came back for Baxter's in home pet euthanasia, and she was so kind, compassionate, and patient. I'm thankful we were able to give Baxter a calm, comfortable, and dignified transition at home.
Dr Thomas was very professional and caring. She definitely made our loss a little easier. I highly recommend her to anyone who is facing the hard decision of sending their pet over the rainbow bridge.
Dr. Lori Thomas was wonderful. She was communicative, patient, and supportive of our wishes. Helping our 13 year old Grey tabby, Zeus, cross the rainbow bridge was one of the most difficult decisions we had to endure, but the simplicity of scheduling the appointment on CodaPet and reading helpful articles on what to expect from the process helped immensely. We’re so glad we could help Zeus cross over in the comfort of our home. I would definitely recommend CodaPet.
Dr. Thomas was very kind and accommodating. She walked us through the entire process and made sure that our sweet cat was able to pass peacefully in the place he was always happiest. Thank you, Dr. Thomas!
Dr. Lori Thomas showed a great amount of compassion toward our old gal, Shyloh. And even though it was a heartbreaker, there was a peacefulness to the journey, we so appreciated. Dr. Thomas was so understanding of our ache and proceeded with a tenderness that made it all a bit better. Thank you Dr. Thomas.
We had our dog Astro for 15 years, he was actually 16, we picked him up from the local animal shelter when he was one. He helped raise all of our children, and was a huge part of our family, loved by all. When the time came, and we had to let him go, we were unsure what to do. But we chose Codapet, because we really wanted him to pass at home, not after a car ride to a veterinarian, even though we always had good experiences with our vet. Lori Thomas was so professional, so kind, and guided us through the process. There were tears of love but he passed at home, with his family at his side. I can’t thank Lori enough, she made it as special as you could. It has taken me a few months to write this review, not because I was not totally satisfied with the process, but I was just not ready to talk about losing Astro. Thank you Lori.
Dr. Lori Thomas was amazing helped us put our 11 year old dane to rest made us feel super safe and comfortable throughout the whole process showing love and compassion for such a difficult moment. Truly appreciated Dr Lori love and support through the whole process.
Dr. Lori made this difficult and sad experience a calm and peaceful one for all of us. I highly recommend using Dr. Lori for a compassionate and dignified home euthanasia.
One of the hardest things I've had to do in my 36 years is putting my 13 year old dog Grom down. He took a drastic turn overnight and I knew it was his time. I found Coda pet online and gave them a call. Dr. Lori Thomas was able to see us the following day due to his severe decline. I cannot speak highly enough of Dr. Lori. professional, caring and understanding. Made such a difficult time for us a little easier. I felt as if I gave him the dignity he deserved with in home pet euthanasia to make my grief a little more bearable.
I can't say enough about Dr.Thomas! The compassion, the calmness, her voice, her hands,her hugs. EVERYTHING was exactly what I envisioned with a Veterinarian. She made a very sad day a little brighter knowing my baby was being well taken care of. I highly recommend Dr.Thomas.
Dr. Lori was really exceptional. She made the experience as stress-free as possible on both me and my dog. Couldn't recommend her more when your pet is at that point.
Dr. Lori Thomas was amazing! So sincerely compassionate and gentle with myself, my family, and my dog. She never rushed and allowed us the time to say goodbye to our girl. And allowing her to pass in the comfort of her own home/bed was so important to me. Thank you for this amazing service you provide!!
Dr. Lori was kind and compassionate in handling the passing of our beloved Titus. She explained everything to us and allowed us time. Such a blessing to have the option of our pets peacefully passing at home.
This is a very sad time but I have to say Dr. Thomas made the process go so smooth. My son even said, mom I think this is not the right job for her because she was so caring and this is such a sad job- but i said no this a perfect job for her!!! I would highly recommend her if you are needing this service. She texted for days before and arrived on time she went over ever step. After she took our Roxy girl away with her and gave us a paw print as a keepsake.
One of the hardest things I've had to do in my 36 years is putting my 13 year old dog Grom down. He took a drastic turn overnight and I knew it was his time. I found Coda pet online and gave them a call. Dr. Lori Thomas was able to see us the following day due to his severe decline. I cannot speak highly enough of Dr. Lori. professional, caring and understanding. Made such a difficult time for us a little easier. I felt as if I gave him the dignity he deserved with in home pet euthanasia to make my grief a little more bearable.
Needless to say, losing my 16 year old kitty, Tama was devastating. I knew I didn't want his life to end in a cold sterile room that he hated going to, so I sought out at-home pet euthanasia when I knew it was time. Dr. Lori was who I reached out to (randomly) and from that first message, her texts were mindful of the place I was at mentally and emotionally. Dr. Lori comes to my home the very next day, her energy is kind, empathetic, gentle, and professional, which is important when trusting a human for such a difficult job. I was an absolute mess, yet she came in and explained everything. Was sweet to my boy, to me. She was swift and offered me keepsakes, which she was respectful about collecting always asking me if everything she did was ok with me. I'm grateful for her and recommend her as a caring transition doula for our sweet fur babies when the time comes.
Letting go of your family pet is never easy. Dr. Lori made this experience very peaceful. She gave us the time and space needed to say goodbye properly. Would recommend 10/10.
Dr. Thomas was so compassionate and an outstanding vet. She made my 18 year old cat’s passing so peaceful. She was just so thoughtful and kind. I have recommended Dr. Thomas (and Codapet) to other pet families experiencing the same up coming loss.
It was the best possible experience for the absolute hardest thing you have to go through with pets. Dr Lori Thomas was incredibly patient and kind and I cannot express enough gratitude for how well she took care of all of us during the process.
I think she did an exceptional job, she knew how to handle this sensitive and important moment with a lot of empathy and professionalism. It was a blessing to have chosen her. She proved to be an excellent professional and human being. Thank you very much.Maxi's family
Dr. Lori was exceptional. She was so kind and gentle through the whole process of sending our little Paco over the rainbow bridge. Thank you for being so amazing.
CodaPet was outstanding, and the Veterinarian (Lori--can't recall her last name--I think I was too upset) was one of the kindest, most compassionate people I've met. I will certainly call again when the time comes. Aside from the actual home visit, the scheduling was easy, and there was a lot of nice follow up both before and after the Vet's arrival. All options and cost were made clear ahead of time. The procedure itself was well-explained, and we were never hurried at all. Wonderful company.
I’m not usually much for leaving reviews, but I feel obligated to do so. Dr Lori Thomas did a wonderful job. This was an extremely emotional time for my family and Dr. Lori Thomas was so kind and understanding. Dr. Lori Thomas was extremely empathetic and she definitely helped us cope with our grief. I totally recommend if anybody is dealing with the unfortunate decision of euthanizing their loving pet to opt for an in home euthanasia. Also, you will cope with your loss a little better if you choose Dr. Lori Thomas to perform the euthanasia.
All things considered, the experience we had in using CodaPet to arrange for our dear Bella’s departure and in working with Dr Lori Thomas was wonderful. Her calm presence, capability in assessing our puppy and providing gentle guidance throughout the visit and entire process was welcome and appreciated. Highly recommend if you value giving your fur baby their dignity in your own home and comfort that they will be well taken care of before and after the procedure ends. Cannot thank Dr Thomas enough for her kindness and compassion along with us as we mourn our loss. We are at ease knowing Bella was well cared for in her final moments with the support of Dr Thomas for all of us.
She's the BEST!! Dr. Thomas is so caring at this difficult time of our lives losing our beloved dog, Hershey (chocolate lab). Dr Thomas took care of Hershey since she was a little puppy up until her final time at our home where she peacefully went to sleep forever.
A more caring and sensitive vet as I’ve ever dealt with . Fantastic experience saying goodbye to my little pup! Thankyou! I will recommending anytime a friend needs this service.
Lori was very flexible with her schedule and extremely caring and professional. My pet met Lori outside when she arrived almost like my pet knew she was there to help with her pain and suffering. I really appreciate the service she provided. God bless.
The death of our dear Kuyper was difficult but made so much easier and less stressful by Dr. Lori Thomas. She is amazing in her thoughtfulness, caring, and respect for us and our sweet boy. He was actually happy to see her as she was a guest to our house and he received all the attention he loved while we discussed his end of life passing and prepared to ease him from his pain and difficulty breathing. She sat with him and petted him and provided so much caring. He was not stressed at all. He passed peacefully and we all felt his escape. She also was so gentle and respectful with his remains as she tucked him into a soft basket with a fuzzy blanket around him. It was the most beautiful experience, and we have never felt so eased by the process before. We have needed to euthanize several dogs over the years and it has never been this beautiful. I worked in hospice in my career and it reminded me of what we always tried to achieve for our patients. We are so grateful to Dr. Lori and CodaPet for offering this amazing service. We cannot say enough good about it. We thank you from the bottoms of our hearts.
Deciding to put my dog to test was incredibly difficult, but Dr. Thomas was so professional and comforting. I'm so glad my pup could spend her final moments in the comfort of our home.
I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Dr Lori Thomas was wonderful and being able to find someone in the last minute and easily schedule when we urgently needed someone was such a relief. Thank you
I can't say enough about Dr.Thomas! The compassion, the calmness, her voice, her hands,her hugs. EVERYTHING was exactly what I envisioned with a Veterinarian. She made a very sad day a little brighter knowing my baby was being well taken care of. I highly recommend Dr.Thomas.
Dr Thomas was very kind and considerate. She clearly explained everything & assured me that my dog would be in no distress. I was an emotional mess and she was quite kind to me as well.
Dr. Lori was wonderful. She took control, offered me options and choices throughout the morning, and she closely monitored my status as well as the status of my beloved pet. I completely understood every step of the process. She was consoling and gentle, and I am grateful for her demeanor and compassion. If you are looking for assistance when it is your turn to make this decision, Dr. Lori's the one to help you.
Dr. Thomas was wonderful. I could not have asked for a better experience. She was kind, thoughtful, and explained everything she was doing. I was nervous to include my 5year old who wanted to be present , but Dr. Thomas brought treats for her to feed our dog and keep him distracted and that helped tremendously for both my daughter to feel included and my dog to be comfortable. I am so grateful we got to do this at home. Thank you.
I am so happy with the help from Dr.Lori! She made our very difficult transition with our 23 yr old cat. She was very nice and loving! She even answered my call after she left to answer a question I was struggling with! Thankyou again Dr. Lori
I cannot say enough about how wonderful Dr. Thomas was when it came time to say goodbye to my beloved dog, Baululah. Dr. Thomas came to our home and provided such kind, compassionate, and therapeutic care during an incredibly difficult moment. Everything was handled so gently and thoughtfully, and Baululah passed peacefully in her familiar space, surrounded by love. As a large dog, getting her to a veterinary office would have been stressful and uncomfortable for her, so having Dr. Thomas come to us made all the difference. Dr. Thomas also offered a beautiful paw print and picture to remember Baululah at no additional cost — a gesture that meant much to us.