Women-owned and operated Paws into Grace is offering compassionate end-of-life care for pets, including home euthanasia.

Based in San Diego and operating throughout San Diego, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, Paws into Grace offers cat and dog owners the opportunity to say goodbye to their beloved companions in the comfort of home without the emotional burden of having to drive to and from a vet hospital.

Paws into Grace offers home euthanasia for cats and dogs only. The company, however, does cremation in its facility for most animals people have as pets, including rabbits, reptiles, fish, and chickens, along with pocket pets like hamsters, etc.

“I was inspired to build this company back when I was age 11,” noted Dr. Elizabeth Benson, veterinarian and company founder. “My inspiration with Paws into Grace is to change someone’s entire experience with death. I want the healing process to begin right away. And it starts with a beautiful goodbye.”

Benson began Paws into Grace with a dream to give pets and their parents a beautiful last encounter. Her experiences with losing her mother as a young girl, late-night emergency veterinary hospital rooms, and stagnant funerals inspired her to start Paws into Grace in 2007. Working in a busy veterinary hospital, Benson wondered how she could comfort pets surrounded by all the startling noises and unfamiliar smells. It was there she realized, in their last moments, that these precious pets belonged at home in the arms of their family.

Morgan, who lives in Ocean Beach, shared the experience she had with her pet at Paws into Grace. “I recently lost my 18-year-old dog Otto, and I am so grateful I found Paws into Grace,” she said. “Dr. Seitz and all of the staff were so compassionate and helpful during an extremely difficult time. Otto passed away very peacefully as I held him, and it provided me an enormous sense of comfort knowing he was at home and never experienced pain or fear. I will never forget their kindness and how much they helped me during such a devastating time.”

“Our cremation office is not what you might expect,” said marketing manager Lauren Johnson of Paws into Grace. “It is a cozy, warm, and welcoming space, designed to provide comfort to grieving families. Our experienced veterinarians and staff provide in-home hospice support for pets, home euthanasia, private memorial services, and cremation services.

“Our goal is to ensure that every pet’s final moments are met with love, dignity, and comfort. We also offer private pet viewings, where families can gather and visit their pet before cremation in a peaceful setting.”

“We are one of only a few businesses in the United States that offer both in-home pet euthanasia and cremation in our facility,” said Courtney de Craen, COO at Paws into Grace. “This is important because we have oversight of and maintain strict ethics, tracking, and standards of care for each pet that enters our facility.”

De Craen added Paws into Grace is “redefining pet loss by providing a peaceful and dignified ending for every pet’s journey. We believe that every farewell should happen at home, where your pet feels most at ease. We are here to guide each family through the challenging journey of loss, ensuring they can say goodbye with love and grace.”

Johnson noted Paws’ cremation process differs from traditional methods in that “we use water instead of fire,” she said, adding, “This eco-friendly approach avoids emissions that occur with fire cremation, making it a more environmentally friendly option. This process is called Aquamation. It is a gentle process that results in more ashes/remains back to a pet’s family compared to traditional fire cremation. We also offer fire cremation upon request.”

Paws’ team, noted Johnson, coordinates pet memorial ceremonies with flowers and thoughtful details, making sure each farewell is beautiful and meaningful. Additionally, Paws’ cremation office in Escondido is kid- and family-friendly, providing a space where families can feel at ease and not scared when picking up their pet’s ashes.

“We offer a variety of memorial items to help families honor their pets,” said Johnson. “We have a large selection of urns, including options with custom engravings, as well as handmade jewelry pieces created in-house using a small amount of a pet’s ashes. We also offer custom glass memorials, shadow boxes filled with mementos, personalized beads, and key chains. Most of our memorial items are crafted by our team in-house or by local artists.”

After a home euthanasia appointment, Johnson pointed out that most families opt for cremation with Paws.

“One of the key benefits of using our services is that we own and operate our cremation facility,” she said. “Unlike at a veterinary clinic, where pets may be passed between multiple third parties, we handle every step of the process with care and respect. We have an advanced tagging system, ensuring families receive their pet’s ashes with complete confidence and peace of mind.”

A video about Benson and the origin of Paws is aquí. You can also watch a general video about Paws aquí.

Pet home euthanasia in San Diego starts at $350. Travel fees may be additional based on your location. Weekend, holiday, and after-hours fees may apply. Individual cremation (ashes back in an urn) starts at $275, and communal cremation (ashes spread at sea) starts at $175. Cremation fees are weight-dependent. Paws into Grace offers free estimates on its services at pawsintograce.com/appointments/request-an-estimate/ or by calling 619-977-6698.

PAWS INTO GRACE

Contact: pawsintograce.com, 619-977-6698.