A person gently holding their dog at home in a quiet, peaceful moment
In-Home Euthanasia · Southern California

A Peaceful Goodbye in the Place They Loved Most

Dr. Liz Fernandez, DVM comes to your home in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles counties — so your beloved companion can rest peacefully surrounded by the people and places they cherish most.

This final act of love deserves to feel sacred, gentle, and unhurried.

Comfort of home
Gentle & unhurried
40+ years experience
The Process

What to Expect: Step by Step

Many families have never been through this before. Knowing what to expect can transform fear into peace. Here is exactly what a Wisdom Paws in-home visit looks like.

Step 01

You Reach Out

Contact Dr. Liz's care team by phone or through the contact form. We listen first — there's no rush, no judgment, and no pressure. We are here to support you, not to hurry you.

Step 02

We Talk Through the Decision

If you're uncertain whether the time is right, Dr. Liz can discuss your pet's quality of life with you before the visit. Clarity is a gift — we'll walk through it together.

Step 03

Dr. Liz Comes to You

At the scheduled time, Dr. Liz arrives at your home — your pet's safe place. She brings everything needed and takes all the time necessary to ensure your companion is completely comfortable.

Step 04

A Peaceful, Gentle Passing

The procedure is two-step: a sedative is given first so your pet drifts into a deep, pain-free sleep, then the final medication is administered. Most pets simply relax and let go with their family near.

Step 05

You're Never Rushed

After your companion passes, Dr. Liz gives you all the time you need. She can discuss aftercare options — cremation, burial, paw prints, fur clippings — or simply sit with you in the quiet.

"There is no script. There is no rush. You lead, and we follow — at whatever pace feels right for your family."

Why It Matters

Why In-Home Is Different — and Why It Matters

The setting of a final goodbye shapes the memory your family will carry forever. Here's why so many Southern California families choose an in-home farewell.

In-Home with Wisdom Paws

No car ride in their final hours

For many pets, the car represents fear and discomfort. Your companion deserves to spend their last moments free from that stress.

Familiar scents, familiar faces

Home is where your pet feels safest — their bed, their yard, their people. This familiarity brings profound calm during an emotional time.

Your whole family can be present

Children, partners, other pets — everyone who loves them can gather around. Clinic waiting rooms and time limits make this nearly impossible.

Unhurried time to say goodbye

There are no other appointments. Dr. Liz stays as long as you need — before, during, and after. You set the pace.

Privacy in your grief

You don't have to hold yourself together in a waiting room. You can cry, hold your pet, lie on the floor with them — this is your home and your goodbye.

A gentler transition for your pet

Without the stress of transport and unfamiliar environments, pets in home settings tend to be calmer — which often makes the process smoother and more peaceful for everyone.

Typical Clinic Setting

Veterinary clinics provide essential care, but the standard setting often creates unnecessary barriers to a peaceful goodbye:

Cold, sterile exam table environment
Anxiety-inducing smells of other animals
Rushed appointments with back-to-back scheduling
Waiting room tears in a public space
Difficult for multiple family members to attend
Car ride stress in their final hours
"The most common thing families tell me after an in-home goodbye is: 'I didn't know it could feel like that.' Peaceful. Sacred. Exactly right."
— Dr. Liz Fernandez, DVM, CVA, MA
Service Area

Serving Southern California with House Calls

Dr. Liz Fernandez provides in-home euthanasia and palliative care housecalls throughout Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles counties. If you don't see your city listed, reach out — we do our best to serve every family we can.

Ventura County

  • Thousand Oaks
  • Oxnard
  • Ventura
  • Camarillo
  • Moorpark
  • Simi Valley
  • Westlake Village
  • Newbury Park
  • Agoura Hills
  • Oak Park

Santa Barbara County

  • Santa Barbara
  • Goleta
  • Carpinteria
  • Montecito
  • Summerland
  • Santa Ynez
  • Solvang
  • Buellton
  • Lompoc
  • Santa Maria

Los Angeles County

  • Malibu
  • Calabasas
  • Hidden Hills
  • Woodland Hills
  • Encino
  • Sherman Oaks
  • Studio City
  • Chatsworth
  • Northridge
  • West Hills

Don't see your city? Reach out — we serve many additional communities throughout the tri-county area.

A couple tenderly caring for their elderly pet
Families We've Served

Stories from Southern California Families

The greatest measure of our care is in the words of the families we've had the honor of serving.

5.0 · Google Verified

"Dr. Liz came to our home when we said goodbye to our 16-year-old golden retriever, Biscuit. He was on his favorite blanket, we were all around him, and he simply drifted off. I can't imagine doing it any other way. Dr. Liz was patient, kind, and gave us all the time we needed. She's a true gift."

Sarah M.

Thousand Oaks, CA · Golden Retriever, 16 years

"We were terrified about the process. Dr. Liz walked us through every step before she arrived and answered every question we had. When the time came, it was so peaceful. Our cat, Luna, was in my arms and just... let go. No fear. No stress. I am so grateful."

James & Renee T.

Santa Barbara, CA · Cat, 18 years

"After years of palliative care with Dr. Liz, the transition to the final visit felt like a natural continuation of her love for our dog, Max. She knew him. She knew us. There was a sacred quality to it I'll carry forever. This is the right way to do this."

Patricia L.

Malibu, CA · Labrador Mix, 14 years

"I had gone through clinic euthanasia with a previous pet and always felt traumatized by it. Having Dr. Liz come to our home was entirely different. Our family was able to be present without any time pressure. I only wish I had known about in-home care sooner."

David K.

Camarillo, CA · Beagle, 13 years

"Dr. Liz arrived with such calm energy that even our anxious dog relaxed. She explained what was happening at every moment, which helped us feel less afraid. Afterward she stayed and talked with us. She's not just a vet — she's a healer in the truest sense."

Maria & Tom S.

Oxnard, CA · Cocker Spaniel, 15 years

"We live in Ventura and weren't sure if she traveled this far, but she came without hesitation. Our shepherd, Zeus, passed peacefully in the backyard he loved so much. It was heartbreaking, but it was right. Dr. Liz made sure of that."

Kevin R.

Ventura, CA · German Shepherd, 12 years

A person holding and comforting their dog during a quiet moment at home
We're Here When You're Ready

You Don't Have to Do This Alone

Whether you're ready to schedule a visit or simply need someone to talk through your options, Dr. Liz is here. There's no pressure — only compassion, clarity, and care.

Serving Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles counties — in your home, on your timeline.

Prefer to call? Reach our care team through the contact page — we respond with warmth, not scripts.