SAN DIEGO – Women-owned and operated Paws into Grace offers compassionate end-of-life care for pets, including home euthanasia.
Based in San Diego and operating throughout San Diego, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, Paws into Grace offers cat and dog owners the opportunity to say goodbye to their beloved companions in the comfort of their own homes without the emotional burden of having to drive to and from a veterinary hospital.
Paws into Grace offers home euthanasia for cats and dogs only. The company, however, performs cremation in its facility for most animals people have as pets, including rabbits, reptiles, fish, and chickens, along with pocket pets like hamsters.
“I was inspired to build this company back when I was age 11,” said Dr. Elizabeth Benson, veterinarian and company founder. “My inspiration with Paws is to change someone’s entire experience with death. I want the healing process to begin right away. And it starts with a beautiful goodbye.”
Benson began with a dream to give pets and their parents a beautiful last encounter. Her experiences with losing her mother as a young girl, late-night emergency veterinary hospital rooms, and stagnant funerals inspired her to start Paws into Grace in 2007.
Working in a busy vet hospital, Benson wondered how she could comfort pets surrounded by all the startling noises and unfamiliar smells. It was there she realized, in their last moments, that these precious pets belonged at home in the arms of their family.
Paws into Grace marketing manager Lauren Johnson said the company recently added something new to its repertoire.
“Paws has recently expanded its memorial offerings by bringing more creative work in-house,” she said. “Our in-house artists can create custom-engraved urns, paw/nose print keepsakes, and jewelry pieces. Families can even request specific colors or styles, making each tribute custom and unique.”
Johnson added that the company also has other news to report.
“Paws recently reached an exciting milestone: our COO, Courtney de Craen, was invited to join the board of an international organization that shapes the standards of pet aftercare (the IAOPCC),” she said.
“This means Paws into Grace now has a direct role in influencing how ethical, compassionate care is provided around the world. It also shows how trusted and respected our team is in the industry, giving families even more confidence in the work we do.”
Johnson noted Paws into Grace’s cremation office mirrors its compassionate approach to end-of-life pet care. “Our cremation office is not what you might expect,” she said. “It is a cozy, warm, and welcoming space, designed to provide comfort to grieving families.”
Added Johnson: “Our experienced veterinarians and staff provide in-home hospice support for pets, home euthanasia, private memorial services, and cremation services. Our goal is to ensure that every pet’s final moments are met with love, dignity, and comfort. We also offer private pet viewings, where families can gather and visit their pet before cremation in a peaceful setting.”
“We are one of only a few businesses in the United States that offers both in-home pet euthanasia and cremation in our facility,” said de Craen. “This is important because we have oversight of and maintain strict ethics, tracking, and standards of care for each pet that enters our facility.”
De Craen added that the business is “redefining pet loss by providing a peaceful and dignified ending for every pet’s journey. We believe that every farewell should happen at home, where your pet feels most at ease. We are here to guide each family through the challenging journey of loss, ensuring they can say goodbye with love and grace.”
Johnson pointed out the cremation process differs from traditional methods in that “we use water instead of fire,” she said.
“This eco-friendly approach avoids emissions that occur with fire cremation, making it a more environmentally friendly option. This process is called Aquamation. It is a gentle process that results in more ashes/remains back to a pet’s family compared to traditional fire cremation. We do also offer fire cremation upon request.”
Paws into Grace’s team, noted Johnson, coordinates pet memorial ceremonies with flowers and thoughtful details.
“We offer a variety of memorial items to help families honor their pets,” Johnson said. “We have a large selection of urns, including options with custom engravings, as well as handmade jewelry pieces created in-house using a small amount of a pet’s ashes. We also offer custom glass memorials, shadow boxes filled with mementos, personalized beads, and key chains.”
After a home euthanasia appointment, Johnson pointed out most families opt for cremation. “One of the key benefits of using our services is that we own and operate our cremation facility,” she said. “We handle every step of the process with care and respect. We have an advanced tagging system, ensuring families receive their pet’s ashes with complete confidence and peace of mind.”
Pet home euthanasia in San Diego starts at $375. Travel fees may be additional based on location. Weekend, holiday, and after-hours fees may apply. Individual cremation (ashes back in an urn) starts at $275 and communal cremation (ashes spread at sea) starts at $175. Cremation fees are weight dependent.
This article was originally published in March 2025 at sdnews.com. It has been updated and edited for style.
Paws Into Grace
Info: pawsintograce.com, (619) 977-6698.
A video about Dr. Elizabeth Benson and the origin of Paws into Grace is here. You can also watch a general video about Paws here.