On March 18th I said goodbye to my beloved dog, Toby. It was one of the hardest days, but I'm incredibly grateful for the care we received from Dr. Gina Henriksen and the team at A Gentle Rest in San Francisco. Dr. Gina brought such compassion and calm during Toby's final moments. She took her time, treated him with dignity, and supported me well beyond what was expected. The way she gently tucked him in before taking him, with flowers and a soft light in place, made a painful moment feel peaceful. Losing Toby is something I feel every day. Thank you to Dr. Gina and everyone at A Gentle Rest. read more

We could not have asked for a kinder, gentler, and more soulful steward in Dr. Ken Gorczyca. He brought such a steady hand to our grief as we were grappling with the impending and unexpected decline of our dear Gabby. We were afraid Gabby's state of pain and discomfort was exponentially increasing and so grateful that we could book online immediately (versus many services which we would have to call and wait for a reply). Dr. Gorczyca was able to arrive within 24 hours, a Sunday morning. He helped advise us on how much to involve our young son (age 9) and gave a really transparent, thoughtful overview of what to expect. Dr. Gorczyca brought so much beauty and care and love to Gabby's last hour with us. We could talk about all of what we loved and remembered about her, which was also helpful for my son to feel involved and start to grapple with the reality of Gabby's passing (which he had been avoiding the feelings of). Dr. Gorczyca read beautiful poems inspired by Gabby's life, and then lead beautiful rituals as said goodbye. Our gratitude to Dr. Gorczyca and A Gentle Rest are beyond words. read more

The hardest part of any pet lover's life. They understand and make everything easy. Thank you so much for honoring my best friend Olive, Dr Ari. read more

I am grateful for A Gentle Rest and Dr. Robert Sahaghian. Our need for this service was unplanned, and A Gentle Rest made it easy for us - money was not their primary objective. Our first point of contact was Lori. She was kind and prepared. I told her that I might not be able to pay the invoice or respond to her emails until later in the day, and she provided a warm assurance that it was fine. The focus was on the moment, not the administrative tasks. Dr. Sahaghian arrived within a couple of hours of our initial contact. He was intelligent, thoughtful, gentle, and caring. He explored with me whether the timing was right, and when we were in alignment, he explained in detail every step that needed to be taken and what we could expect. He took everything at our pace and asked permission before each step was taken. He shared compassion and love with Delilah and played a crucial role in helping to create a peaceful environment. We are blessed to have had 19 years with our sweet Delilah. We are heartbroken, and she will be missed. Thank you to A Gentle Rest for making a heartbreaking moment into a moment of remembrance. read more

A Gentle Rest - Pet Services Near Me

We had to say goodbye to our beloved cat, and I can't imagine a more peaceful process. It was easy to book, quick and straightforward to coordinate, and the passing itself was handled with the utmost compassion, grace, and, as the name suggests, gentleness. We miss our cat terribly, but A Gentle Rest made it as bearable as possible. Would give 10 stars if I could. read more

The devastating experience of having to part with your most cherished companion in the most emotional circumstance is truly gut wrenching. But to have Dr Ken by your side is the only way to feel some sort of peace + connection. He is truly an angel on earth sent to guide our babies over the rainbow bridge to a place where there is no more pain + suffering. He's warm + compassionate soothing any concerns. Building an immediate bond to help transition + then creating a poignantly beautiful ceremony complete with bells. He creates a personalized portrait in words of your sweet fur baby recounting their amazing life by your side. Then by the time you get home wracked by grief a poem + song awaits you memorializing this incredible being that just shared their journey with you. It is beyond description the amount of love + care that he puts into this incredibly difficult moment. And way beyond the call of duty. He is just extraordinary - sent to personally escort us through this devastating time - but this is his gift what he was meant to do here. Thank you Dr Ken from the bottom of our aching hearts for all your TLC - we're furever grateful... To view full ceremony @brixtonatlarge https://www.instagram.com/p/DSGqU4kjxdR/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== read more

A Gentle Rest - Pet Services Near Me

When the time came for our pup of 15 years to cross over the rainbow bridge, we decided that an at home euthanasia was the way to go. We reached out to A Gentle Rest whom were very compassionate and understanding. They helped us schedule the appointment and told us what to expect. We were able to take care of all the paperwork and payment beforehand so we could just focus on loving our pup on his last day. After a day of visiting his favorite places, having filet mignon, and short naps in the sun, it was his time. Our vet was Dr. Gina. She was wonderful. Plus our pup liked her the moment she walked in the door. She explained everything that was going to happen and what to expect. Step by step she led us through the process until he passed peacefully. He was loved and cared for up until his last breath. As hard as this was, Dr. Gina and A Gentle Rest cared for our pup as if it were their own. This made it just a little easier knowing he was surrounded by love all around. Lastly, Dr. Gina wrote us a heartfelt note a few days after he passed which was lovely. Thank you Dr. Gina and A Gentle Rest for helping us through this difficult time. read more

A Gentle Rest - Pet Services Near Me

We could not imagine a more loving and kind goodbye to our sweet Ellie dog than the one created for us by Gentle Rest, Lori and Dr. Ari. In our most vulnerable and fearful moment, Dr. Ari held our emotions and process with such care and wisdom. It was extremely soothing to understand the process so clearly, have control over each step, and share our love of Ellie with the doctor. Dr. Ari is such a special human, who knows how to listen and share in ways that ease the terribleness of saying goodbye. Somehow, he authentically joined in our connection with our dog and family in such a short time. From the first call, Lori treated us with respect and reverence for what we were going through. I feel so lucky to have been able to have the Gentle Rest team help us usher Ellie to the other side. To fellow pet owners struggling with this unthinkable choice and experience, if you are able to, I highly recommend A Gentle Rest. read more

Saying goodbye was the most difficult experience of our lives. We are so thankful we found A Gentle Rest. Dr Ken comforted us through the whole experience. He was kind, compassionate, and helped us celebrate our beautiful boy before we said goodbye. He helped us find the beauty in loss and grief. Thank you to A Gentle Rest. read more

I am so thankful for A Gentle Rest and in particular, Dr Robert Sahaghian. All the staff we dealt with on the phone and email were terrific. So caring and easy to work with in order to make the passing of our elderly dog possible in the most pleasant way possible. I can't say enough about how much he and the company meant to our family to help Bentley transition in such a peaceful and gentle way. read more

It took me some time to write this because my dog Abby passed away in August and I wasn't emotionally ready until now. I had a very disappointing experience with A Gentle Rest. When I first called to ask questions about their euthanasia services, the person on the phone was rude and impatient and told me to just book online instead of answering my questions. I felt dismissed but proceeded due to their strong reviews and the circumstances. I scheduled euthanasia for my dog, who was suffering from kidney failure, and requested Dr. Ken based on prior reviews. Sadly, Abby passed naturally earlier on the day of the appointment. I notified the company, and they moved the appointment earlier, which I appreciated. When Dr. Ken arrived, the experience felt rushed and impersonal. He entered my home with his shoes on and placed them on my couch and pillows, then immediately pulled out a binder and began asking questions for a poem. I was visibly grieving and hoped to ask medical questions about my dog's passing, but I wasn't given space to speak. He then performed a bell and sage ceremony without explaining what each thing was for so I just had to sit there confused. It made me uncomfortable rather than comforted. At the end, my dog's body was literally plopped into a basket, and his binder was set on top of her, which I found deeply upsetting. While the euthanasia fee ($800) was refunded, I still paid $300 for body transport and $300 for cremation. In hindsight, I would have preferred to transport her myself, but I didn't know that was an option. This was one of the most vulnerable moments of my life, and I felt rushed, unheard, and uncomfortable. I'm sharing this so others can make a fully informed decision and ask clear questions ahead of time. read more

A Gentle Rest - Abby - Pet Services Near Me

Saying goodbye to our dog Colby was the most devastating day of our lives, but Dr. Sahaghian made it peaceful and full of love. From the moment he arrived, he created a calm, comforting atmosphere and treated our old grumpy boy with so much tenderness and respect. He explained everything gently, gave us plenty of time to say our goodbyes, and handled every detail with grace. It meant so much to us that our dog could be at home, in his own bed, feeling safe and loved to the very end. We'll always be grateful for the compassion, professionalism, and the dignity Dr. Sahaghian brought to this moment. Thank you for helping us give our dog the goodbye he deserved. read more

A Gentle Rest - Pet Services Near Me

This review is for Lori. I never got to use their service because my pup had to be euthanized sooner than the earliest appointment they had available. But I want to thank Lori who was on the phone with me until the very last minute. She tried her best to find a vet for my Oliver to come help him cross the rainbow bridge. Unfortunately he couldn't wait that long and had to cancel the appointment. About a week after he passed, I received a very thoughtful card from her sending her condolences. That's something I wasn't expecting, she truly went above and beyond, and l'm forever grateful. read more

I cannot even begin to express my gratitude for the exceptionally caring and compassionate experience we received from Dr. Ken Gorczyca regarding our farewell to our much beloved cat Stubby. We have been through this sad event before as lifelong pet owners and we were dreading it. However, Dr. Gorczyca handled it perfectly from the moment he arrived at our house. He asked questions about Stubby's life in such a gentle way to put us at ease. He explained the process and took time with him to soothe him and also unburden us from our sorrow. Dr. Ken also helped us with the inevitable guilt that arises when you decide it's time to say goodbye to a pet you have loved for so long. He assured us that we were showing our sick kitty the love he deserved. The end of Stubby's life came peacefully. Dr. Ken also had little extra touches of treatment that you don't often see in a farewell to a beloved pet - the small things that let you know that your friend deserved a loving and respectful farewell. Several hours later we received a beautiful poem he had written about Stubby's life. It was not a generic statement of condolences but a poetic and incredibly touching tribute that lovingly encapsulated the uniqueness of his life. Pet owners never look forward to the end of their companion's life. But when a veterinarian puts so much time and care into the farewell process it eases the pain and grief just enough to make it all somewhat bearable. Thank you Dr. Ken and A Gentle Rest. You got us through this heartbreaking day with such sincere kindness and compassion. I would recommend you to anyone who needs help dealing with such a painful situation. read more

A Gentle Rest - Pet Services Near Me

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is one of the most terrible experiences a person can have and I don't think anyone can ever really be ready for it. I had to unexpectedly say goodbye to my beloved emotional support poodle, Sgt. Pepper, in May. He had a bad dental surgery and wasn't able to recover from the anesthesia. I had to decide the morning of his passing that it had to happen that day, and made a few teary phone calls. The folks at Gentle Rest were extremely patient, kind, and helpful. They walked my partner and I through the process and Dr. Ken was able to meet us at our house that afternoon. I'm still devastated to have lost my best bud, but am thankful for Dr. Ken's loving attention, kindness, and follow up support. I'm extremely grateful my partner and I were able to have time with our pup at home before saying goodbye. I can't imagine a more gentle process and Dr. Ken is a really special person. read more

Dr. Ken is a gift to humans and animals. He helped our sweet 16 year-old cross the rainbow bridge, peacefully and even with joy. We celebrated Donut's life, and recognized the rite of passage with the energy and love that it deserves. Dr. Ken was patient, so loving to our sweet boy, and able to create beauty from sadness. My husband and I have so much gratitude to Dr. Ken for his light and wisdom at such a difficult time. We shared the song he made for our "Little King Donut" with all of our friends and family. Thank you Dr. Ken and A Gentle Rest for showing us grace and hope during one of our most painful moments of life. read more

We could not be more grateful for A Gentle Rest and Dr Gorczyca during the last moments of our time with Cam last week. The pain is still strong, and we miss our little Cam so much. But it was tremendously meaningful to have such a peaceful and spiritual goodbye to Cam with the help and guidance of Dr Gorczyca. He was professional, gentle, and gave us all a sense of peace and comfort during such a significant and emotional event. read more

Compassionate & kind, Ari was a lovely man who brought a beautiful spirit to Dash's final moments. When I found myself unexpectedly unable to help him lift my sixty-pound McNab, Ari did it himself for which I was so grateful. The whole experience with A Gentle Rest was a blessing. When my first dog, a Golden Retriever, had to be euthanized, I had it done by the vet. To this day, I regret it. Dash was put to sleep at home, in his favorite spot on the floor, while being fed treats. I hesitate to give A Gentle Rest a 10 when they absolutely deserve an 11. read more

It's been 7 months since the passing of my little black cat of 13-years. Jack-Jack was my everything, my sole companion, and the day he died was the day I lost half my soul. Given how stressful and beyond terrified Jack was of each and every vet visit, I was determined that his last day would be in the comfort and peace of his home. I'm so fortunate to have had A Gentle Rest to help facilitate that painful transition. Every interaction was kind and compassionate, from coordinating the appointment and payment, to the actual home visit. On the day of, Dr. Ken Gorczyca helped me moved beyond my immediate agony and terror to ask about Jack's life, that in his last moments, I could recall and invite joy, humor, and love alongside the pain. Aside from the thoughtful and personalized poem he wrote about Jack, I also have a small heart-shaped rose quartz, one that was placed over Jack-Jack's heart in his final moments of life, and one that I will treasure for the rest of mine. With all my gratitude, that on the day of agony of despair, I was not alone. read more

We cannot say enough wonderful things about this service and especially about Dr. Ari. We lost our sweet cat Fred last week after rescuing him 10 years ago. He was found at the Extended Stay Hotel in San Rafael and was missing most of his teeth and only had half of a tail. He added so much joy to our lives and even helped to save a family member's life through unconditional love. Dr. Ari took the time to explain everything to us and make sure we understood and were comfortable with the process. He had us share our stories about sweet Freddy and connected with us in a way that made us not think of him as a stranger but a compassionate friend. We could not have asked for a more beautiful service. I cannot recommend A Gentle Rest enough. Thank you, Dr. Ari! The DeCook family read more

A Gentle Rest - Pet Services Near Me

This review is for both Dr. Ken Gorczyca and for everyone else that we communicated with via email. Suddenly seeing our cat in pain due to an aggressive cancer broke our hearts. The anticipatory grief while waiting for the pathology report (hoping it was anything else) was overwhelming. I am so grateful that we reached out to A Gentle Rest and had Dr. Ken there to facilitate our cat Ru Yi's passing. He is a gift. Thank you so much, Dr. Ken for both your gentleness and thoughtfulness to both Ru Yi and to us. I will always remember this. read more

From beginning to end this was the best experience I could have hoped for when it came time to let our girl Rue go. The website was clear, answered all my questions and pricing was clear. Dr. Ken Gorczyca explained the process, let me know when he was on his way and made what has been extremely difficult process in the past with my other pets into a beautiful, respectful ceremony honoring my pet Rue's life. She went to sleep eating treats. I highly recommend this group for helping you say good-bye to your beloved pet. read more

I cannot praise this business enough - Doctor Sahaghian was gentle, kind and compassionate. Genuinely. You can't ask for much more during such an emotional chapter. Thank you Dr. Sahaghian. Your actions and words soothed and aided us during the most difficult time of saying goodbye to a cherished member of the family. read more

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Thank you for supporting us during this difficult time. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but Gentle Rest and Dr. Sahaghian made the process peaceful, dignified, and graceful. I truly appreciate the compassion he showed to both us and our beloved boy. read more

A Gentle Rest - Pet Services Near Me

Into every life a little rain must fall and if you're reading this I can only imagine the storm you are engulfed in. My heart breaks for you. At the age of 15.75 years, my 8 pound pup, Ocho, was experiencing kidney failure and as we agonized over the decision we knew that the worst decision we could make was allowing her to suffer. Trying to get her to eat anything had become a big part of our day and, as we had learned, a dog who does not eat is a very sick dog. Ocho's fear of the veterinary office was enormous, requiring her to be heavily medicated just to go inside. I knew, when this time was at hand, that the last thing I wanted was for her to have to go into a vet's office. A Gentle Rest provides service in the comfort - or rather, your pet's comfort - of home. From my initial outreach until a week after we had lost Ocho, A Gentle Rest provided exactly the service and care I'd wished for which, for my family and I, amounted to the following: * First, a web site that is clear and straight-forward on price and services provided. Theirs is. * Next, I'd hope that someone answers my phone call. They did. * Then I'd hope that I can get an appointment for a date that works for me. A Gentle Rest only had Marin appointments three times for the week ahead but I was able to easily reserve one. * Should things change - with my dog or my family - I'd like to be able to easily cancel my appointment without too much expense. A Gentle Rest will charge you nothing as long as you cancel at least two hours ahead of your appointment. * Finally, I'd wish for the vet that comes to my home to be sensitive, caring, kind, and respectful of me, my family, and my pet. With his gentle manner, A Gentle Rest's Dr. Ari Rozycki embodied all of that, taking the time to answer our questions (including "how do we know we're doing the right thing?") and providing us with all of the time we required to process and respond to what was happening. That he also grew emotional in witnessing our emotions showed just how present and engaged he was. My family - 4 of us humans - were emotionally wrecked despite doing what we knew was right for our beloved pup. Days later, we received a touching, hand-written condolence card from Dr. Rozycki and his staff. The sentiment was non-boiler-plate and left us moved by the kindness of the card's sentiments. I'm so sorry for whatever you are going through but know, in confidence, that A Gentle Rest will treat you and your pet with tenderness and care in this, your most difficult of decisions. read more

I was completely blown away by the care my dog and family received from A Gentle Rest as I made the most difficult decision of my life. Dr. Keffler-Roa was compassionate, steady, knowledgeable, and just the right balance of helpful while also allowing my family space. She explained everything that was going to happen, and all the options we had about how to proceed, while never feeling overwhelming. The email communications with Lolly and other staff held the same combination of warmth, directness, and genuine care. I am grateful to them for the profoundly positive experience saying goodbye to my girl. read more

Sadly, this is my second review. Sad because I had to have another cat put to rest, not sad because of the service. These people are the absolute most compassionate and caring staff I have ever seen. This time I had Dr. Gina who was phenomenal. From start to finish they are amazing. 5 stars in not enough. I highly recommend A Gentle Rest. I am eternally grateful to them for making this very difficult time manageable. read more

Very caring and sensitive approach to such a difficult day. Helped make the loss of our pet a bit more bearable. Would recommend highly, especially if your pet hates going to the vet. No need to have your final moments be full of anxiety. read more

Dr. Ken recently helped us say goodbye to our 15 year old dog and made what is always an emotional experience an amazing one. His genuine interest in our dog's life and how he had affected our families lives was wonderful to see. Dr. Ken made our entire family part of the process and really made us feel at ease with our decision. After our appointment we received a poem from Dr. Ken about our dog's life that contained all the special times and events that we had relayed during our visit. What an amazing surprise and heartwarming touch. Dr. Ken even then set the poem to music. We will have both pieces forever to remember our best friend. I cannot more highly recommend A Gentle Rest if you are looking for a peaceful way to make one of the hardest decisions in a pet owners life. read more

I knew of A Gentle Rest because of Dr. Ari Rozycki who had been my vet at Especially Cats before he went on a sabbatical. When he returned he started A Gentle Rest and assisted my niece with her ailing cat. He was so sweet, calm, and supportive during such an emotional time that I decided to contact A Gentle Rest to assist me in an in-home euthanasia for one of my beloved cats. Dr. rozycki was booked one month out, so I decided to go with Dr. Robert Sahaghian. Dr. Robert Sahaghian was so kind, calm, and thoughtful that he made the decision to assist my baby girl over the rainbow bridge so much easier. I highly, highly recommend A Gentle Rest. read more

Putting our cat Bessie to sleep at home was the most compassionate parting we could hope for. Dr. Ken is professional yet empathetic and creative. He gave us the time and space to say our goodbyes and checked back in with us later to express his sympathy. read more

What an incredible, compassionate amazing business. Dr. Ken came to help us say goodbye to Edie this morning. A beautiful service and Dr. Ken helped ease the pain for everyone in the room, including being very attentive to our 6yo son. I would highly recommend A Gentle Rest for anyone who has to take this painful step. read more

It's was a Beautiful experience with Ken Gorczyca, DVM as he weaved in compassion, spirit and heart. Thank you

Dr.Henrikson was compassionate and thorough about the process and I couldn't have asked for a better way to part ways with my sweet exotic shorthair. Though losing someone you love is never easy, I felt as if the process was smooth and Luffy was not in pain at any time. I love the convenience of being able to book hastily through their website and the response time was quick. The Dr. Was punctual and during each step, she gave us a reasonable amount time to process what was happening at the convenience of our own home. Thank you for making this grim decision be a bit more bearable. read more

A Gentle Rest - RIP Luffy - Pet Services Near Me

We are deeply grateful for the care and compassion our family--and our beloved cat Carlito--received from A Gentle Rest during one of the most difficult moments of our lives. Two weeks ago, we had to say goodbye to our sweet Carlito. From the very first phone call, Lory and Lolly offered warmth, clarity, and kindness that helped guide us through the process with a sense of calm and comfort. We are especially thankful to Dr. Ken Gorczyca for the extraordinary care and love he gave us during Carlito's peaceful farewell. Dr. Gorczyca is a truly gentle soul--empathetic, compassionate, and deeply respectful. His presence brought comfort not only to us, but also to our other cat, who was with us in the room. Though it was a heartbreaking day, it was also profoundly beautiful. Our beloved pets deserve a gentle, stress-free, and loving transition from this life to the next--and Dr. Gorczyca made that possible. Thank you, Ken, from the bottom of our hearts, for walking with us through such a tender goodbye. With heartfelt gratitude, Paula, Ivan, and Lily Rose read more

My cat was in bad health and was in his last moments. I was able to book an appointment quickly and easily. The staff made the process so incredibly easy and they were all very empathetic and courteous and provided a lot of support. Dr. K was incredible in helping my cat pass and walked me through the process with a ton of care. read more

When we went to pick up our Scarlet's ashes, they were placed in a beautiful wooden box. The staff was so wonderful to teach us how to open it as it is tricky .Definitely recommend coming here! read more

My experience went as well it could go given that my pet was at the end of her road. The good folks at A Gentle Rest guided me through what to expect every step of the way and were so very compassionate during this difficult time and process. I really appreciated it and am glad this service is available. read more

Dr. Gorczyca helped us through one of the hardest days we've had as a family. From the very first contact, the folks at A Gentle Rest were compassionate, highly responsive, and very thoughtful in how they helped us prepare. On the day of, Dr. Gorczyca stayed in close touch around arrival time. He got to know our Juno when he arrived, and then asked us some questions to help him know her life. The procedure itself was handled very clearly and left us with a sense of peace; even more so, Dr. Gorczyca concluded with a beautiful tribute and poem. We couldn't have asked for a better vet for Juno's last day, and feel so grateful we found A Gentle Rest. read more

This review is for Lori. A few days ago I called A Gentle Rest for same-day euthanasia services for my dog and spoke with Lori. Unfortunately they were booked up but Lori was kind enough to send me a ton of numbers to call that could help. She spoke to me with a such genuine empathy and was so helpful during the most difficult time for me. Thank you so much, Lori. read more