Rover Veterinary Care provides gentle in-home pet euthanasia in Tequesta, Florida, with appointments available 7 days a week. Dr. Katie Matzke, a Jupiter native and DVM, comes to your Tequesta home so your dog or cat can pass peacefully surrounded by family. Euthanasia packages start at $450. Call or text (561) 295-7979 or book online.
Tequesta grew up along the Loxahatchee River, and most of its 6,100 residents chose to stay for the same reasons they arrived: quiet streets, waterfront living, and neighbors who know each other by name. With a median age of 51, this is a village where people have owned their homes for decades, raised families on screened lanais overlooking the Intracoastal, and shared every one of those years with a dog or cat underfoot. When a pet who has been part of that daily life for 12 or 15 years reaches the end, loading them into a car and driving to a veterinary clinic can feel deeply wrong. In-home euthanasia lets you keep your pet exactly where they belong.
Dr. Katie Matzke is a Jupiter native. Tequesta is her backyard. She founded Rover Veterinary Care in 2020 and returned to Jupiter with her family in 2023 to bring the same model of care to South Florida. She focuses exclusively on end-of-life veterinary medicine. Rover Veterinary Care holds more than 110 five-star Google reviews, nearly all of them describing the same thing: an unhurried, gentle experience that families did not know was possible.
[QUOTE_PLACEHOLDER: Dr. Matzke on why she focuses exclusively on end-of-life care rather than general practice]
A veterinary clinic is stressful for any pet, but it is especially hard on a senior dog or cat who is already struggling. Many Tequesta pets are older dogs who spent years walking the trails along the Loxahatchee River or sleeping on the cool tile of a screened lanai. Their joints ache, their eyesight is fading, and unfamiliar environments confuse them. Dr. Matzke believes their final hours should happen in the place they know best, not under fluorescent lights on a stainless-steel table.
Tequesta is overwhelmingly owner-occupied. Families here tend to stay in one home for a long time, and the pets who live in those homes become part of the fabric of daily routine. In-home euthanasia respects that bond. Everyone who needs to be present can be there. Children, spouses, other pets in the household. There is no waiting room, no time limit, and no strangers walking past the door.
Dr. Matzke's entire practice is built around this moment. The first injection is given subcutaneously, the same way a vaccine is administered. It contains a combination of pain control and calming medication. Over the next five to ten minutes, your pet drifts into a deep, comfortable sleep. By the time anything else happens, your pet is completely unaware and feels nothing. Your pet never experiences fear or pain during the process.
Dr. Matzke arrives at your home and takes time to meet your family and your pet before anything clinical begins. She will answer questions, explain each step, and let your pet settle in whatever spot feels most natural, whether that is a favorite bed, the couch, or the lanai. Paperwork is handled first so you are free to focus entirely on your pet for the rest of the visit.
The first injection is given subcutaneously, just like a vaccine. It contains a combination of pain control medication and sedation. Your pet will begin to relax within a few minutes and will fall into a deep sleep over the course of five to ten minutes. You can hold them, talk to them, or simply sit quietly beside them during this time.
The second injection is given intravenously, and only after your pet is completely unaware and in a deep sleep. Dr. Matzke will confirm with you before proceeding. The passing is peaceful and typically takes only a few seconds.
After your pet has passed, Dr. Matzke creates a clay pawprint for your family. If you have chosen a cremation package, she handles all transport so you do not have to. Appointments last 30 to 60 minutes and are never rushed. You set the pace.
This is the hardest question any pet owner faces, and there is rarely a single clear answer. Some signs that your pet's quality of life may be declining include refusing food or water for more than a day, inability to stand or walk without assistance, persistent difficulty breathing, uncontrolled pain despite medication, and loss of bladder or bowel control accompanied by visible distress. When you find yourself counting more bad days than good ones, it may be time to have the conversation.
Dr. Alice Villalobos developed the HHHHHMM Quality of Life Scale, which scores seven categories including hurt, hunger, hydration, hygiene, happiness, mobility, and whether your pet still has more good days than bad. Each category is scored on a scale of 1 to 10. A total score below 35 generally suggests quality of life has declined significantly. It is a useful framework for thinking through where your pet stands. Dr. Matzke offers free quality of life consultations by phone. She will talk through your pet's specific situation honestly and without pressure, and help you decide whether the time is now or whether there are still options to explore.
All packages include travel to your Tequesta home (within approximately 30 minutes of Jupiter Town Hall), the full two-step euthanasia process, and a clay pawprint keepsake.
A $100 additional fee applies for evening appointments (after 5 PM), weekends, and holidays. Tequesta falls within our standard travel radius, so there are no extended travel fees.
See full service and pricing details for more information.
Dr. Matzke serves all of Tequesta including the Tequesta Country Club area, Jupiter Hills, Turtle Creek, Sandpointe Bay, Heritage Oaks, and waterfront neighborhoods along the Loxahatchee River and Intracoastal Waterway. We also serve Jupiter Inlet Colony and nearby Jupiter. Standard travel fees apply throughout Tequesta with no additional charge for distance.
Dr. Matzke provides compassionate in-home pet euthanasia throughout the region.
If you are ready to schedule an appointment, or if you are not sure and just need to talk it through, we are here. Call or text (561) 295-7979 or book online. Free quality of life consultations are always available if you are unsure whether the time is right.
Learn more: All Services and Pricing | Pet Cremation Services | Rover Veterinary Care - Jupiter
Page last updated:
