Brown and white dog looking happy on the beach at Ottawa River.

Ottawa Mobile Veterinarian

Hospice veterinary care, customized end-of-life ceremonies, home euthanasia, and grief support services for families and their beloved pets.

Person holding their cat and kissing the top its head
Home euthanasia for pocket and exotic pets, such as this rat
Greyhound dog on beach in Ottawa wearing a sweater and looking happy and energetic.

Choosing to say goodbye is difficult.

For many of us, our pets are our most loyal companions as we walk this earth. They provide us with unconditional love and support and they are our lifelines.

We understand how difficult it is to decide on euthanasia, to carry through and release our beloved pets from their suffering - even when we know it’s time.

We’ve been here too and it changed us - we get it.

This is why we offer personalized and supportive care to help ease the transition for pets and their families.

We offer a holistic, ceremonial, and special experience that feels less like a medical event and more like a spiritual & emotional one.

Two young children sitting on a bed each with a small pet bunny in their hands.
“Dr. Tara’s kindness, empathy, wisdom, and genuine care are unrivaled. She gave me the gift of celebrating Rocket and his amazing life and helped me let him go when it was time.”
— Jenna
Blue eyed husky in the Ottawa snow looking to the right.

We are committed to a heart-centered experience for all.

We offer a range of services including in-home hospice care, compassionate euthanasia, end-of-life ceremonies, and grief support.

We also provide options for energy work, guided meditation, mindfulness, spiritual care, and somatic healing modalities.

You choose the approach that resonates with you and your pet.

Cat sitting on couch looking up at camera.

We hope to make the process of saying goodbye to your pet a little bit easier.

We will treat your pet with the utmost care and respect throughout the entire process, and we strive to make the experience as peaceful and comfortable as possible.

You are in the driver’s seat and we are here to provide support, guidance, and comfort during this difficult time.

Ottawa Area Veterinary Services

  • Virtual Care

    We offer telemedicine appointments including quality of life assessment, options for hospice care, and emotional support.

  • In-Home Hospice Care

    Home visits to assess the quality of your pet’s life and to provide medical & holistic support, pain-management, appetite support, etc. during the end-of-life transition.

  • In-Home Euthanasia

    At-home visit to humanely perform euthanasia, with options for ceremonial practices, energy work, emotional support, and spiritual care all within a heart-centered framework.

  • Grief Support

    Accessible one-on-one emotional support, group experiences, and energy work.

    Grief Support and Veterinary Care
MORE ABOUT OUR SERVICES

“Dr. Tara’s compassion, knowledge, and advice were a balm on a worrisome situation - thank you.” ~ Marie-Pierre & Bailey

Tara and Reid at a beach in Ottawa with a greyhound

The Butterfly Vet Team

Dr. Tara da Costa, DVM

Part veterinarian and part end-of-life doula, what I love most about being a vet is witnessing the love shared between animals and their families.

Reid van den Hoef, RVT

I am a compassionate veterinary technician, dedicated to guiding families through the journey of healing and honoring their cherished bond with their companions.

We are here to walk with you through your difficult time and to provide gentle and non-judgmental support to your whole family.

College of Veterinarians of Ontario Certified Facility Ottawa Mobile Vet.
Logo of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care

  • "Nothing could be better than in-home vet care! Best part was not having to stress about going somewhere with our cat."

    ~ Johanna Persohn & Link

  • 'Service was expert, calm, efficient, and sympathetic. Just knowing that Kirby was being cared for by someone who knows and loves him was the best!"

    ~ Cara Rowlands & Kirby

  • "I was so relieved to have Dr. Tara's compassionate guidance, expert knowledge and support so our dog could heal at home. She truly loves every animal she works with."

    ~ Elle Odyn & Filmore