about Us
Sunset Veterinary Services was founded to provide loving, compassionate, and individualized care in the comfort of your home.
Sunset Veterinary Services
Sunset Veterinary Services was founded to provide loving, compassionate, and individualized in-home geriatric and end-of-life care for older pets and their people. We spend time with you – from the first phone call or meeting to that day when you have to say that most difficult of goodbyes.
We will be there for you and your pet in any way that we can and provide honest and open lines of communication so that you and your pet feel respected and supported.
Our Process
We want the euthanasia process to be as peaceful as possible for you and your pet. We can perform our services in your home – or outside in your pet’s favorite spot. We want your pet to be in a space where they are calm. This can be on a bed, sofa, chair – in your arms or on your lap.
Once we have made sure your pet is as comfortable as possible and answered any questions or concerns you may have, we will then give your pet a sedative. This is a mix of anesthesia and pain control so that your pet will be in a deep sleep and pain free, completely relaxed and comfortable. This sedative takes effect over a period of minutes. Once that deep sleep is achieved the euthanasia solution is administered. This medication will cause the heart and respirations (breathing) to stop. We will confirm this by listening to your pet’s heart. After your pet has passed you can spend time with them – and we can help you with any aftercare arrangements.
Meet Dr. Lisa
Veterinarian
Dr. Lisa Goldstein has been practicing veterinary medicine for over 25 years. She started out as a mixed animal veterinarian in Brookings Oregon and then moved on to small animal general practice. She completed the Chi Institute Acupuncture Course in Mixed Animals in 2002 and continues to study western and Chinese herbal medicine. She worked at Dove Lewis as an emergency veterinarian and then transitioned to shelter medicine, often performing over 35 surgeries a day while working for spay and neuter clinics. Her passion, however, has always been the human animal bond. In veterinary school she was awarded the prestigious Leo Bustad Award for her focus on promoting that bond and had the pleasure of working in Memory Care facilities with her therapy dog Rembrandt.
Dr. Lisa has found the most rewarding part of her career to be spending time talking with her clients and helping them to make the most of the time they have with their pets. Her animals have been an integral part of her life – seeing her through dark and light times. And she knows how an animal really can save your life.
When the time came for her to let one of her beloved pups go – her “Carni-girl” – she felt alone because she didn’t really have anyone to turn to. She was the veterinarian after all. She knew she didn’t want it to be in a scary and busy hospital. So, on a warm day with a soft breeze going, under a willow tree in her backyard, she laid down with her dog of almost 17 years and said goodbye with “Over the Rainbow” playing in the background. Since then, she has wanted that kind of peaceful and loving goodbye for all pet parents and her goal is to provide that for all her clients.
Love Letter to Carni
Dr. Lisa wrote to her dog Carni when she was deciding when the time would be right to let her go.
Just a Dog
To My Sweet Carni:
Because you are “just a dog” you never learned to hold a grudge. You never complained when I hauled you back and forth between California, Oregon, Washington, Oregon and California again. You were happy as long as you were with me. (and we played Frisbee at all the rest stops).
Because you are “just a dog” you never learned anger. You just curled up next to me when we had to sleep in the car because we were “between homes”. It was cold and snowy those few nights, but you kept me warm in the back of that Isuzu Trooper.
Because you are “just a dog” you never learned what “moderation” meant. You ate motor oil, my tulip bulbs, sprinkler heads, chocolate and half my spice rack.
Because you are “just a dog” you only knew how to live in the moment. You swam with abandon in every lake, river, ocean and stream from here to Washington. And even made me go in after you with my clothes on. (To the delight of everyone watching on the shore).
Because you are “just a dog” you loved me every single second of every single hour of every single day of your almost 17 years.
Because you are a light that has guided me through almost half my life I won’t watch you just “exist”. You have put me first for 17. Because you are “just a dog” and my best friend, I am putting you first. Your quality of life is more important than the heartache I will forever feel when you are gone. You are more important than the piece of me that will forever be missing when I can’t see your sweet face or watch your tail wag at the site of me.
I love you Carni girl.