The End-of-Life Journey With Our Beloved Animals

The End-of-Life Journey with our Beloved Animals: From Diagnosis to Life After Loss; A Three-Program Series

The New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Animals and the Law presents a three-part symposium exploring the emotional, practical, ethical, and legal complexities of end-of-life care for beloved companion animals and equines. Whether attended as a series or individually, each session offers compassionate guidance for navigating end-of-life decisions, supporting grief and healing, and understanding the legal responsibilities that accompany an animal’s final stage of life.

You will have access to all three of the recordings from the series!

Session 1: End-of-Life Decisions & Ethical Considerations for an Ailing Animal

(This session does not offer MCLE credit. It is for informational purposes only.)

This one-hour program explores the complex emotional, ethical, and practical dimensions of caring for a companion animal at life’s end. Dr. Amir Shanan, DVM, offers insight into how veterinarians, families, and animals themselves experience a terminal diagnosis, and how care evolves from striving to cure toward providing comfort and dignity. He addresses ethical approaches to assessing suffering and navigating the difficult questions surrounding euthanasia and timing decisions. The second speaker, Gail Pope, follows with compassionate guidance for pet families, introducing tools for assessing quality of life and framing hospice-supported care as part of a natural continuum of choices—from comfort-focused living to peaceful transition. Participants will gain both perspective and practical understanding for responding to a terminal diagnosis with grace and informed compassion.

Speakers

Charis B. Nick-Torok, Esq., Poughkeepsie, NY

Dr. Amir Shanan, DVM, Compassionate Veterinary Hospice, Chicago, IL

Gail Pope, BrightHaven Caregiver Academy, Santa Rosa, CA

Session 2: Losing a Beloved Animal: Navigating the Spectrum of Grief and Bereavement

(This session does not offer MCLE credit. It is for informational purposes only.)

This 1.5-hour program explores decision-making without guilt, navigating emotional and logistical challenges, and recognizing the many forms of grief that humans experience. Presenters will share tools for assessing the companion's quality of life, understanding anticipatory and disenfranchised grief, and supporting well-being during and after loss. The session will address compassion fatigue within the veterinary field and offer insights into end-of-life decisions and care for equine companions. Participants will learn approaches for after-death care, emotional recovery, and living with loss while honoring the lasting bonds shared with beloved animals.

Speakers

Susan P. Witkin, Esq., Law Offices of Susan P. Witkin, PLLC, New York, NY

Jim D. Sarlis, Esq., Garden City, NY

Michelle Nichols, MS, CGRS, Animal Hospice Group, Hillsboro, OR

Dr. Carlin Jones, VMD, Shaker Animal Hospital, Latham, NY

Session 3: Legal Considerations for End-of-Life Decisions Concerning our Animals

(This session offers 1.0 MCLE credit in Areas of Professional Practice.)

The first presentation addresses legal and ethical considerations for pet euthanasia and post-death arrangements in New York. The focus is on compliance, ethical practices, and clear processes to ensure dignity and legal adherence throughout end-of-life care for pets. The presentation will discuss euthanasia protocols, including controlled substances and approved methods, along with consent requirements, personnel roles, and family presence during euthanasia. For final arrangements, the presentation will review burial, cremation, and other options. Finally, we will discuss consent for aftercare, veterinary-provided services, and handling abandoned remains.

The second presentation provides a critical analysis of pet bereavement leave within the context of New York employment law. Currently, no federal or New York State law mandates pet bereavement leave. We will differentiate between existing state-mandated benefits (DBL, PFL) that are unusable for pet loss, and negotiable options such as PTO and unpaid leave. We will also examine the pending NYC Int. 1089-2024, and the similar state bill, A.197, which proposes using existing sick time for pet medical care. Attendees will learn how to counsel clients to review handbooks, monitor legislative progress, and navigate this growing, yet legally unsupported, workplace trend.

Speakers

Debra V. Hamilton, Esq., Hamilton Law and Mediation PLLC, Morehead City, NC

Beverly J. Jones, New York City Department of Health, New York, NY

Nance L. Schick, Esq., Third Ear Conflict Resolution, New York, NY