A different type of hospice care for a different type of loved one

FORT COLLINS – When you are about to lose a loved one, there are usually a number of places to turn for support. It is rarely the same when you are about to lose a dog or a cat.

However, there is a hospice for pets in Fort Collins that is aiming to fill that void.

Remy was not just a dog, he was Marsha Carfield’s companion. Last year, he fell ill.

“He had a large tumor in his nasal cavity and they couldn’t operate because it was too severe,” said Carfield.

By October, Remy was reaching the end.

“I was worried that he wasn’t getting the medication and he was in a lot of pain,” said Carfield.

She turned to Colorado State University vets students Katie Christopher and Brooke James for help. They are part of the hospice program in Fort Collins that is designed specifically for terminally ill pets like Remy.

“We would assess Remy and just kind of take temperature, pulse, respiration, just kind of make sure everything was going okay,” said Christopher.

Christopher and James would come over to Carfield’s home every morning, delivering relief for Remy, and helping Carfield cope with the impending loss.

“Emotional support is definitely a big part of this,” said Christopher.

Christopher and James hope the pet hospice in Fort Collins will inspire others elsewhere.

“I think pet hospice is definitely growing and developing in this day and age where pets aren’t really being considered pets anymore, more like a part of the family,” said Christopher.

“It’s part of my responsibility to have the best care,” said Carfield.

Carfield now has a new pet named Barron.

“Life does go on and you can deal with it. Obviously, it’s still tough,” she said.