Can you do the euthanasia same day?

Yes, Heartstrings arranges same-day appointments within 12 hours. You can also book for the next day or schedule hours in advance on the day of.

Do you notify my regular veterinarian?

No. One reviewer noted they do not automatically contact your pet's regular vet to cancel future appointments; you'll need to do that yourself.

What is the cancellation policy?

Reviews mention a $200 cancellation fee is retained even if your pet passes away before the appointment, which has frustrated customers. Confirm current terms when booking.

Heartstrings Pet Hospice, In-Home Euthanasia & Aftercare - Denver

Updated 2026-07-07 · 1,215 reviewed · 182 listed · Scored from 63 Google reviews · How we rank ›

4.7(63) 75 composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Verified

General Veterinary CareVeterinary SurgeryEmergency & Urgent CareLow-Cost / Affordable Vet Care

Heartstrings Pet Hospice, In-Home Euthanasia & Aftercare - Denver

Services: General Veterinary Care, Veterinary Surgery, Emergency & Urgent Care
Reviews: 63

What recent reviews say

Most families experience deeply attentive, patient care during one of life's hardest moments. Dr. Knepler, Dr. Katie, Dr. Sprague, and the team excel at home visits, same-day scheduling, and walking owners through the process without rushing. They offer memorial candles and online tributes.

However, several recent users discovered large unexpected charges (surcharges for after-hours, travel, and services not clearly listed upfront) only minutes before or after their pet's death. Two customers report frustration with cancellation policies, slow memorial page uploads, and the company not automatically notifying the regular veterinarian of the pet's passing as competitors do.

Recent shift: Complaint volume increased notably 2-10 months ago around pricing transparency and aftercare follow-up (memorial page uploads, vet notification). More recent 5-star reviews (1-4 months ago) do not mention these issues, though one new 1-star complaint reiterates lack of upfront fee disclosure.

Praised for

compassionate, patient veterinarians
in-home comfort for pets
same-day emergency appointments available
clear explanations and no rushing
staff travel to home locations
memorial candle and tribute options

Watch-outs

hidden fees and surprise charges
lack of upfront pricing transparency
cancelled appointment retention policy
poor follow-up on memorial services
inexperienced staff during procedures
failure to notify regular veterinarian of death

compassionate-staffskilled-vetsgentle-with-animalsclear-communicationsurprise-feescaring-follow-uphard-to-get-appointment

Best for: Pet owners who want their animal to pass at home in familiar surroundings and can book quickly when the time comes.

Think twice if: Confirm all fees (after-hours surcharges, travel charges, memorial services) upfront before booking. Ask about their cancellation policy if circumstances change rapidly.

Strengths

in-home euthanasia eliminates vet office stress
same-day scheduling for emergency situations
named vets with strong track records for calm, patient care

Worth knowing

Dr. Knepler, Dr. Katie, Dr. Sprague, Dr. Dally, and Dr. Lattimer all named as compassionate practitioners
staff will travel over an hour for early-morning appointments
in-home hospice care available before euthanasia
same-day appointments arranged within 12 hours
free quality-of-life assessment on website
memorial candle page and photo/story upload offered
aftercare services include cremation coordination

What reviews say by service

General Veterinary Care: In-home hospice and end-of-life assessment praised for compassion; not traditional clinic-based veterinary care.
Emergency & Urgent Care: Same-day emergency euthanasia highly valued for speed and home comfort; success depends on transparent pricing and experienced staff.
Veterinary Surgery: Euthanasia procedure itself handled gently and professionally by named vets; one complaint noted inexperience.
Low-Cost / Affordable Vet Care: Not marketed as low-cost; reviews mention prices are higher than some competitors, but several note value justifies expense.

How it compares

Rated 4.7 against a 4.57 average across the 104 emergency & urgent care businesses listed here.
Has more Google reviews than 33% of the businesses in this directory.

How we scored this

Scoring Method

Star rating 78

Review volume 78

Review recency 100

Review sentiment 48

Profile completeness 100

Verification 30

Rating breakdown

Common questions

Can you do the euthanasia same day?: Yes, Heartstrings arranges same-day appointments within 12 hours. You can also book for the next day or schedule hours in advance on the day of.
Do you notify my regular veterinarian?: No. One reviewer noted they do not automatically contact your pet's regular vet to cancel future appointments; you'll need to do that yourself.
What is the cancellation policy?: Reviews mention a $200 cancellation fee is retained even if your pet passes away before the appointment, which has frustrated customers. Confirm current terms when booking.

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