Dr. April Le Blanc
Verified Veterinarian
Why I provide at-home pet euthanasia
After over 30 years of emergency veterinary medicine, I feel it is time for me to transition to another phase of pet care giving. Being able to humanely and lovingly let go of a beloved pet, when it is their time, especially in their home, is a gift.
Education
Undergraduate: Mount Holyoke College - 1986
Veterinary Medicine: University of California, Davis - 1992
Certifications
2California Veterinary Medical Association Member, CAETA's CPEV (Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian)
- Based InOakland, CA
- Service areasSan Francisco East Bay Area
- Work Experience33+ years
- Animals ServedAll Dogs & Cats
- Notice Required2 hours
General availability
FridayTimes Vary Weekly
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. April Le Blanc will help your beloved pet transition peacefully in the comfort of of their home, surrounded by loved ones
Est. CostStarting at $375
Keepsakes
Clay paw prints, wooden urns with personalizations available with ashes returned
Est. CostStarting at $65
What pet parents are saying
Dr. Le Blanc was exactly what our grieving household needed under the circumstances. Our very ill elderly dog tried his best to stand and bark to defend his home when Dr. Le Blac arrived at the door. She immediately moved toward him with a calming voice and outstretched hand, stroking his head and letting him know he could relax. She continued to pet him for nearly 30 minutes while we discussed our trepidations making this decision. Her evaluation of Alvin's condition and apparent suffering matched that of his regular veterinarian and our own sad realization. Dr. Le Blanc explained the process and answered our questions before taking any further action. She paused at each step confirming our and Alvin's readiness to proceed to the next step. We very much appreciated her considerate and calm approach throughout the process. She truly recognized how difficult and emotionally challenging euthanizing our beloved family member of over 16 years was impacting us. She approached her tasks with reverence and respect and gave us the support and time we needed at each stage. It was a blessing for us and for Alvin that relief from his suffering could occur at home in his favorite spot on the couch while we softly stroked our loving buddy's head and back until Dr. Le Blanc quietly said he's gone now. I'm so grateful that Alvin's last memories were not of his typically traumatic car trip to the vet's office, encountering the other pets in the waiting area and ultimately being put on a cold table in a strange room with various assistants moving about before the vet entered to begin the procedure. I doubt his vet would have been able to spend much time with him given her other office demands. Transporting Alvin would have been physically painful and emotionally taxing on him and on us. It would have only served to heighten his anxiety and distress. Saying goodbye and leaving him there afterwards would have left us questioning whether we'd done the right and best thing for our dear pet and beloved family member during his last moments with us. Choosing a home-visiting vet from lists on web sites could have resulted in getting a skilled professional who got the job done but without much heart or meaningful connection to the pet and other household members. That is what we feared most and would have brooded over for months to follow. Destiny lead us to Dr. LeBlanc and her expertise and style was exactly what we had hoped for. We are eternally grateful and highly recommend you strongly consider her if you are in a similar situation.
Dr April was so wonderful with not only our sweet Emily at the end of her life but also with our other pets, one of whom probably made her job a lot more difficult (by nature of being a golden retriever). She was deliberate with all her movements and was so respectful with Emily both during and after the procedure, which we so appreciated. If only we were given such dignity at our end.
We will always be grateful for Dr LeBlanc’s empathic presence and service during the emotionally difficult process of euthanizing our beloved cat. Her professionalism and compassion helped to create a respectful and loving environment for our pet’s passing. We would recommend her highly and completely.
Dr. April Le Blanc is a kind, compassionate and wonderful human being. She sat with me as I went back and forth, unable to decide whether to put my 20-year old cat down. I ultimately decided it was time and she expertly and painlessly euthanized my little boy. I couldn't have asked for a better person to help me through a very difficult time.
We are extremely glad we choose to have April help us with this very sad moment for our family. She was able to provide the understanding, professionalism, and emotional support that we needed, helping us and our 10-year-old daughter to say goodbye to our elderly dog. In the time she was with us, April was present and open. She didn't treat us as clients; she treated us as new friends and that made all the difference. We recommend her without any hesitation.
The Doctor was great. She has a great connection to animals. I would highly recommend Dr. April to anyone who needs this service. She made it feel like I was doing the right thing and I know Sadie did too.
