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Charlotte's AAHA-Accredited End-of-Life Care Team

Walking with families through their pet's final chapter.

Comfort Care, Quality-of-Life guidance, and peaceful in-home end-of-life care, delivered with compassion from beginning to end.

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Available 7 days a week

How We Can Help

Our Pathway of Care

Every family's journey looks a little different. Wherever you may be along the path, we're here to walk beside you.

A Caring Pathways veterinarian gently assessing a cat's comfort at home
In-Person or Virtual

Quality of Life Consultation

Gentle, personalized guidance to help you understand your pet's comfort, quality of life, and the options in front of you.

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A Caring Pathways veterinarian providing in-home comfort care to a senior dog

Hospice & Comfort Care

Individualized support focused on comfort, easing symptoms, and making the most of the time you have together.

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A veterinarian sitting with a dog and their family during an in-home visit

In-Home Euthanasia

A peaceful, unhurried goodbye in the comfort of home, surrounded by the people your pet loves most.

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A hand gently holding a pet's paw

After-Loss Care & Cremation

If your pet passes at home, our Field Service Team can come to you. We also coordinate cremation, burial, and memorial keepsakes.

Body Care Pickup Cremation & Memorials
A soft, comforting landscape symbolizing remembrance and healing

Grief Support

Continued care for you and your family as you navigate life after loss, for as long as you need it.

Learn More

Not sure where your pet is on this pathway?

You don't have to know what you need before asking for help. Our veterinarian-developed Pathway to Care Assessment can help you understand your pet's quality of life and what your next step might look like.

Take the Assessment
Who You'll Meet

Meet Your Charlotte Care Team

  • Dr. Alex Schaeffer

    Dr. Alex Schaeffer

    Lead Veterinarian

  • Dr. Maria Peoples

    Dr. Maria Peoples

    Veterinarian

  • Dr. Jessica Anderson

    Dr. Jessica Anderson

    Veterinarian

  • Dr. Kristin Hernandez

    Dr. Kristin Hernandez

    Veterinarian

  • Deneige Arguin

    Deneige Arguin

    Hospice Technician

Meet the Full Team
Our Standards

Why Families Trust Caring Pathways

A few things worth knowing about our team and standards behind every visit.

AAHA Accredited

Charlotte's only AAHA-accredited end-of-life care practice. This accreditation is earned through regular, rigorous review of our medical standards, not simply awarded.

Why This Matters

Fear Free Certified Veterinarians

Every veterinarian on our team is Fear Free Certified, trained to ease fear and anxiety. This is especially meaningful for pets who find visits stressful.

Why This Matters

A Collaborative Care Team

You're supported by a full team of comfort care veterinary professionals who work together for your family, so you always have someone to lean on.

Available 7 Days a Week

Appointments are available every day, 9am to 6pm. Our client care team is available by phone from 8am to 6pm on weekdays, and 8am to 4pm on weekends.

Local to Charlotte

Our veterinarians, led by Dr. Alex Schaeffer, live and work right here in the Charlotte area, bringing care to your door with real knowledge of this community.

See Our Service Area

Nationally Respected Leadership

Our hospice and palliative care standards are guided by Dr. Tyler Carmack, a nationally respected leader in veterinary hospice and palliative medicine.

Meet Dr. Carmack
In Their Words

What Families Are Saying

A few words from Charlotte families our team has been honored to walk alongside.

Testimonials, scrollable. Use the previous and next buttons, or swipe, to browse.

"My family is very grateful for Dr. Alex. She was very professional and understanding, reassuring us that our babies were crossing to a better place very comfortably and pain free. She made a terrible and heartbreaking day more manageable."

Kara on Dr. Alex Schaeffer

"I want to thank Dr. Peoples and all the staff at Caring Pathways for making our sweet Nala's transition so gentle and without anxiety. Seeing her comfort gave me such peace. From the time I submitted my inquiry, the staff gave me personal and prompt attention, answering all my questions with great sensitivity and care."

Liza on Dr. Peoples

"I cannot express how grateful my husband and I are for Caring Pathways. Dr. Jess Anderson was incredibly caring and compassionate during the most difficult thing we all have to do as pet owners. Saying goodbye to our sweet Bernie boy was so peaceful and gentle, I cannot say thank you enough."

Sara on Dr. Jess Anderson

"Dr. Alex Schaeffer was amazing in helping us understand everything before we had to say goodbye to our dear Puddin. I couldn't have hoped for a better experience during such a tough time. She was calm, gentle, truly caring, and understanding. She treated us and our sweet dog with so much respect and kindness."

Laurie & Richard on Dr. Alex Schaeffer

"We want to thank Dr. Alex Schaeffer for the kind, understanding, professional manner with which she helped us ease our beloved pet, Rio, of 16 years into a happy new home in Heaven's loving embrace. Rio was treated with the dignity he deserved every step of the way."

Nicholas & Angela on Dr. Alex Schaeffer

Read More Testimonials
Helpful Resources

Guidance for Wherever You Are

A few places to start, whatever question is on your mind right now.

Is My Pet in Pain?

Pets are good at hiding discomfort. Here's what to watch for.

Read More

Not Sure If It's Time?

Talk with one of our veterinarians by video, before deciding on next steps.

Learn More

What Is Comfort Care?

Support that helps your pet stay comfortable, long before it's time to say goodbye.

Read More

How Do I Know When It's Time to Say Goodbye?

The signs to watch for, and guidance for making the decision that's right for your pet.

Read More

What to Expect at Home

A gentle walkthrough of what an in-home visit looks like.

Read More

Grief Support

You don't have to navigate life after loss alone.

Read More
Explore More Resources
Local & Ready to Help

Serving Families Throughout Greater Charlotte

From Charlotte to Concord, Huntersville, Matthews, and dozens of communities in between, our team comes to you.

A Few of the Communities We Serve

Charlotte Concord Huntersville Matthews Gastonia Mooresville Monroe Pineville Davidson Cornelius Waxhaw Indian Trail Mint Hill Kannapolis

Don't see your town listed? Call us, our goal is to make sure every family who needs us has access to care.

See the Full Service Area
Common Questions

Questions Families Often Ask

A few things families usually want to know before reaching out.

How do I know when it's time to say goodbye?

You know your pet best, and that's usually the hardest part. Our Pathway to Care Assessment can help you think it through, and our team is always available to talk it over with you directly.

Take the Assessment →
Will my pet be in any pain?

Our goal is to make your pet’s final moments as peaceful and comfortable as possible. We use gentle medications and a carefully guided process designed to minimize discomfort and help your pet relax in the familiarity of home, surrounded by the people they love.

Learn More About the Process →
Should my children be there?

That's a personal decision, and we support whatever feels right for your family. Many families find it helps children understand and grieve. Our veterinarian will explain things at an age-appropriate level and answer their questions along the way.

See More in Our Full FAQ →
What about our other pets?

We generally recommend letting a housemate pet be present, it's calm and quiet, and it helps them understand rather than searching for a companion afterward. We'll always follow your family's comfort level here too.

See More in Our Full FAQ →
Do you offer payment plans?

Yes, we work with two financing partners that offer flexible payment options for end-of-life care.

See Financing Options →
What happens to my pet afterward?

We'll walk you through cremation, burial, and memorial keepsake options, including paw prints and fur clippings, so you can choose what feels right for honoring your pet.

See Aftercare Options →
See All FAQs

We're Here When You're Ready

There's no wrong time to reach out. Whether you're ready to schedule or just have questions, our team is here for you.

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Experiencing an Emergency? View Emergency Clinic Options

If your pet needs immediate care outside our hours, here are trusted emergency clinics throughout our service area.

Charlotte

  • Animal Medical Hospital (704) 334-4684 3832 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205
  • CARE Charlotte (704) 457-2300 3726 Latrobe Dr, Charlotte, NC 28211
  • Carolina Vet Specialists (704) 504-9608 2225 Township Rd, Charlotte, NC 28273

Denver

  • Denver Animal Emergency (980) 222-7115 1420 NC-16 Business, Denver, NC 28037

Huntersville

  • Carolina Vet Specialists (704) 949-1100 12117 Statesville Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078

Matthews

  • Carolina Vet Specialists (704) 815-3939 4099 Campus Ridge Rd, Matthews, NC 28104
Recognized By

Professional Affiliations & Standards

2026 Lead Host Partner, NCVMA Charlotte Veterinary Forum

Resource Partner, Golden Retriever Lifetime Study