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Alumni Update
Later, when a friend relayed a bad experience she had
had with in-home-pet euthanasia, Gibson realized she
possessed the empathy needed to provide such a heart-
based service, and a seed was planted. When the stars
lined up, she opened Compassionate Care Home Pet
Euthanasia in 2009.
Early on, Gibson was filling a new niche in the pet
industry. She was the first to offer a practice dedicated
exclusively to in-home pet euthanasia in the greater
Portland area and is still the only company that provides
24/7 mobile service. Today, she has 21 employees,
including 11 licensed veterinarians, a crematory team,
and client specialists.
“It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve done as a vet,” she
says. “When you can truly support someone with their
pet’s transition in the most peaceful way possible, it is
intrinsically rewarding.”
Gibson says several factors have contributed to the
A Gentle Farewell growth of her business, and the first is a well-developed
bedside manner. Taking advice from a former colleague
who is a human cardiologist, she learned that building
a strong client connection is vital. “We listen very
An alumna’s unique practice provides carefully to what people say, and we are also careful
compassionate solutions for end-of-life care. about how we respond to what they say,” Gibson said.
“We think about the client experience and try to put
BY KATHRYN WHITE ourselves in their shoes.”
When Lori Gibson’s (DVM, ’99) 17-year-old cat, Another key to stepping into the client’s shoes is making
Pepper, became sick and needed life-saving medical sure a live person always answers the other end of the
treatment it rekindled a childhood dream she had of phone. The intake staff uses proprietary software that
becoming an animal doctor. Four years later, while her company developed in order to create detailed client
completing her junior year of veterinary school at profiles that are promptly transferred to a doctor.
CCVM, Gibson lost her dad in a prolonged battle with
cancer—then Pepper died just six months later. It was a “It’s challenging work and not for the faint of heart. But,
difficult time for her, and the experience fundamentally I feel we try to be the best at what we do,” Gibson said.
shaped how she works with her clients today. “We understand it’s an incredibly sensitive time, a hard
decision, and fraught with emotion—it has to be done
After graduation, Gibson began working in a high- right. I have an incredible team.”
volume, low-cost veterinary clinic and noticed that
occasionally, the clinic would receive requests for There are many reasons clients seek in-home euthanasia
in-home euthanasia—a service it did not provide. services: often they receive referrals from other veteri-
20 • Oregon State University Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine
