Living in West Palm Beach means sharing beautiful moments with your pet, from morning walks in Flamingo Park to quiet afternoons watching the boats along the Intracoastal. But when a pet is facing a terminal illness or the heavy weight of old age, the hustle of the largest city in Palm Beach County can feel overwhelming. Dr. Katie Matzke founded Rover Veterinary Care to offer a peaceful alternative to the veterinary clinic, ensuring your pet's final moments are spent in the place they love most, home.
We serve families throughout West Palm Beach, providing a private and dignified farewell without the stress of a clinic visit. Instead of navigating traffic or sitting in a sterile waiting room, you can focus entirely on comforting your pet in their own bed, surrounded by the people who love them.
Making the decision to say goodbye is incredibly difficult, but choosing where it happens shouldn't be. Here is why many local families choose to stay home.
Pets are most relaxed in their own environment. By staying home, your pet can rest in their favorite sunbeam or on a soft rug, smelling familiar scents rather than the antiseptic odors of a hospital. This familiar setting reduces fear and allows them to pass peacefully.
In a clinic, space and time are often limited. At home, you can have as many family members present as you wish, including children and other household pets. This helps everyone process the loss together and allows other pets to understand that their friend is gone, which can help with their grieving process.
For an aging or sick pet, a car ride can be painful and anxiety-inducing. We eliminate the need to lift a heavy dog into a vehicle or put a frightened cat into a carrier. Dr. Matzke comes directly to your door, so your pet never has to leave their safe space.
Understanding exactly what happens during the appointment can remove some of the fear surrounding the process. Our appointments typically last between 30 to 60 minutes, ensuring the experience is never rushed.
Not sure if it's the right time? Call (561) 295-7979 to discuss your pet's quality of life.
We offer compassionate aftercare choices to suit your family's needs.
Your pet is cremated individually, ensuring that the ashes you receive are exclusively theirs. Their ashes are returned to you in a beautiful keepsake urn, usually within a week. This is the preferred choice for families who wish to keep their pet's remains close.
Book NowFor families who do not wish to have ashes returned, communal cremation is a respectful and more affordable option. Your pet is cremated with other pets, and their ashes are spread at sea or in a memorial garden.
Book NowWe are proud to support our local community during these difficult times. Rover Veterinary Care serves the entire West Palm Beach area, including neighborhoods like:
We also travel throughout Palm Beach County to ensure families have access to compassionate home care.
Dr. Matzke provides compassionate in-home pet euthanasia throughout the region.
Dr. Katie Matzke was born and raised in Jupiter, Florida. She attended the University of Florida for both undergraduate and veterinary school, graduating from the UF College of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. Dr. Katie founded Rover Veterinary Care in 2020 after seeing firsthand the need in the community for in-home euthanasia services. In 2023, she moved her family back to her hometown of Jupiter and expanded Rover Veterinary Care to South Florida.
With a 5-star rating and over 98 reviews on Google, she understands that this is not just a medical procedure, but a profound family moment. Her approach is unhurried and deeply empathetic, giving you the time and space you need to say goodbye properly.
If you are considering in-home pet euthanasia for your dog or cat, please reach out. We are here to help you navigate this difficult transition with kindness and respect.
