Peaceful Pathways

Can an animal lover conceive of a more difficult decision than when to put down their beloved pets? We faced that situation recently. Cody, our perfect, perfect boy was failing badly after a valiant seven month fight with Mast Cell cancer. His time was extremely limited and he was suffering. I am beyond thankful that we found Dr. Winnick.
We adored this dog. He was a regal gentleman. Our absolutely perfect boy. I would not allow him to die in a vet’s examination room. He must be with us, at home. Dr. Winnick provided us with the perfect balance of sensitivity and professionalism. I cannot imagine anyone doing this absurdly difficult job any better than she.
I strongly encourage those who love their pets to send them to «the rainbow bridge» from their home, where they know they’re loved, with the assistance of Dr. Winnick. Our pets are a gift of pure innocence and devotion. And yes, I am crying as I write this review.

Like some others it has taken me a long time to write this review. My beloved 16 year old cat Chaucer passed with Dr. Winnick’s help on Sept. 26, 2015. I would highly recommend this service. She came on a Saturday morning and was unbelievably kind and understanding. It made a very sad day okay. I still feel good about the decision to help Chaucer transition at home. Thank you.

Dr. Winnick was tremendous. She came to our home exactly as scheduled, on a Saturday morning! She was sensitive, caring and eased our dog through his passing. She made this as easy for us as it could be. In performing a service that I never thought we would need, she was a godsend.

Dr. Winnick, you are the best. We appreciate so much your kindness and respect given to our beloved Otto. He’s gone now to where all dogs go. You made the whole experience so peaceful for all of us. Otto was such a big part of our family and you gave him the comfort and peace he truly deserved. We both wanted to say goodbye to our baby in the privacy and familiar surroundings of our home and you gave us that perfect ending. Thank you so much.

Helped me to give my pet the graceful, dignified end she deserved in the place she loved most.

As a fellow healthcare professional, I want to say Dr. Winnick is the best at what she does. We work with many of her clients and the feedback we get is nothing but positive. Trust me when I say not all veterinarians get that same positive feedback.
She always follows up and truly cares for her patients. In fact, she even has a few patients who were near end of life but because of her treatment plan, the patient is still going strong 6 months after initial visit! I highly recommend her if you’re looking for end of life care or pain management for your furry friend.

We are so grateful that we called Peaceful Pathways when it was time to put our sweet 14 year old dog down. Dr. Winnick came to our home, quietly and respectfully explained everything to us and gave us plenty of time to cry and say goodbye. Our dog was never frightened, and we were with her right up until she passed. We are thankful for Dr. Winnick’s compassionate service.

As her health failed, we always hoped our little aging Chihuaua would die quietly in her sleep. That’s not the way things went, though. When things got really bad and we knew our girl was suffering, we called Peaceful Pathways. Dr. Winnick arrived at our home that very afternoon. In a peaceful spot in her own backyard, our little Shuggie quietly slipped away, with only a little nudge from Dr. Winnick. The good doctor was so gentle and compassionate, and while we’re grieving, we know that life was as good as it could have been for our darling all the way to the very end. Thank you, Dr. Winnick.

Dr. Winnick saw my beloved English Bulldog Gunther several times over his law few months. She was able to drastically improve the end of his life by recommending a few changes to his medication as well as providing some ideas on helping with his mobility. When the ultimate time came he was able to die sleeping on the bed in a safe comfortable spot rather than making one last scary trip to the vet. I am so grateful to Dr. Winnick and can’t recommend her highly enough.

Dr. Winnick is an angel. On Saturday morning, I called to see if she was available for our 16 year old family cat. Within a couple hours, she was at my mom’s condo. Because of Dr. Winnick, we were able to give Rollee the best last day ever. As a family, we’ve had some very traumatic and stressful goodbyes with our pet loved ones, and this was nothing like that. Dr. Winnick was compassionate, considerate, and extremely empathetic. We honestly could not have asked for a better experience.

Dr. Winnick is a gift from God to us. She was able to respond to our call for help in 6 hours. Our wonderful old dog, Lady, had reached the end of her happy life and had started down a horrible path of pain, dizziness, and fear with the onset of Old Dog Vestibular Disease. She was already suffering from spinal neuropathy and had to be helped outside in a sling as her back legs no longer worked.
Dr. Winnick was calm, moved slowly and treated all of us with extreme kindness. She made the process tolerable. Lady was frantic about how she was feeling and so seeing her relax and calm down after the first shot was good for us and her. We had as much time as we wanted to hug her and praise her for being a wonderful dog before the Dr. administered the final shots.
We decided to have Dr. Winnick take Lady away to her place and have her picked up for cremation and scattering her ashes in Gilroy. It is a relief to know our part is done and the spirit of our wonderful dog has joined those of our previous pets. Maybe they are telling stories about us and loving their new afterlives.

After having witnessed the incredible care my daughter extended to her beloved cat who had been diagnosed with a liver disease among other ailments and observing the strength she demonstrated as the inevitability of the need to accept that her pet’s quality of life had diminished dramatically to the point where it became apparent that the ultimate decision to seek assistance with her cherished companion’s transition could no longer be delayed, I was privileged to share the beautiful and merciful process as it was conducted by Dr. Jenn Winnick. Of course, as humans we experience sorry and grieving at a loss, particularly that of a treasured loved one, yet Dr. Winnick created a sacred space wherein she very gently, lovingly, and compassionately allowed us to embrace and process those emotions fully in a way that enabled our complete acceptance and recognition of the ultimate righteous necessity of the beloved pet’s passing. Dr. Winnick’s passion for what is undeniably her true calling is extraordinary beyond words and every aspect of her action is highly commendable. It was more about what else she might offer to console and assure; nothing was rushed and ample time was afforded to each exchange and step throughout. Had I not been present for this, I could never have imagined that someone (in this case Dr. Winnick) may have the skill to shape an otherwise totally sad occasion into something so beautiful, heartfelt, and memorable. It didn’t end there; there was follow-​up with more kindness extended.

I have been on the planet for more years than I’d care to admit and can count on one hand the number of times I’ve had the pleasure of encountering a professional as gifted and uniquely suited to her calling as Dr. Jenn Winnick. My beloved cat, Jennie, had been struggling with a series of medical conditions, including chronic renal failure, for about 9 months. She’d been responding exceptionally well to treatment such that her kidney values were back in the normal range in what turned out to be her last visit to the vet. Unfortunately Jennie took a precipitous turn for the worse over the holidays, while her vet was away, and within a couple of days it became apparent that the time had come to let her go. For her entire life, Jennie became violently ill anytime she had to go to the vet and the thought of that being her last memory was inconceivable, so I searched online for a viable alternative visiting an end-​of-​life clinic and found Dr. Winnick.
Jenn responded to my message within an hour; we spoke that day; and she was at my home the next morning to shepherd Jennie’s passage from this life. Her compassion, intelligence, grace, and deep love for and dedication to animals were apparent in everything she did, from start to finish. I’m a person with exceedingly high standards. Some even say I’m difficult to please. Yet there is, quite literally, nothing I can think of that Dr. Winnick could have done to make this experience better for all involved. She has the tactile sense of when to offer space and when to offer comfort, and the skills and quiet confidence that are enormously reassuring at this crucial juncture. Jenn’s ministrations first to Jennie then to her bereaved mama went well above and beyond the call of duty, including making a keepsake paw print. The care she provided was, quite simply, exemplary in every respect. I can’t imagine anyone better with whom to entrust a cherished animal companion.

Dr. Winnick, thank you so much for coming to our home with only a 24 hr. notice. Our baby Rosebud was never happy going to the vet’s office. It was the only thing that ever made her nervous. We didn’t want that to be her or our last memory. We wanted to hold Rose as she passed peacefully in our arms and you made us feel very comfortable with our decisions. Thank you for providing a wonderful service.

I will be eternally grateful to Dr. Winnick and her support during such a difficult time. Our lil baby Spot had severe IBD and my husband and I felt spiritually that it’s not our decision to dictate when he would pass. Therefore, Dr. Winnick provided hospice care and support for Spot — just as is done with people. We were able to make Spot comfortable and pain free during his end time and he passed away peacefully in his sleep at home with his brother lying by his side. We didn’t even know he passed, he was so sweet about it. Our vets were insisting we just put him to sleep but this did not feel right to my husband and I. Dr. Winnick continuously offered her support and checked in by email with words of soothing encouragement until he passed. She let us know what to expect and we were fully prepared for this most difficult time. She even offered information and support so that we could properly care for his grieving brother and other kitty buddies at home. She was so kind, and soft spoken, and understanding. We were confused and not sure where to turn when we decided to let our baby pass naturally — she was exactly what we needed. Can’t thank or recommend her enough — she’s just amazing — an angel on earth.

Thank you so much for what a wonderful service you provided us with. You are so compassionate and caring, we are eternally grateful for all you have done for us and him.

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience putting our 15 year old cat down… Jenn is compassionate, warm, knowledgable and patient — our first time meeting her and she already felt like a dear friend.
She was very gentle with our cat and talked us through what the process would be like. She minimized any stress or guilt that we felt… I really liked that she used sedation during the process — something I didn’t get to experience with previous euthanasias with other veterinarians. :(She really took her time and that allowed us to process the situation more thoroughly and with minimal stress.
I highly recommend Dr. Winnick — she’s amazing!

My beloved Weimaraner Jack was failing from both wobblers and kidney failure, I knew when his time had come and even though his regular vet agreed to come out to the house on Friday I could tell this morning that Jack was done with it all now. It was time for me to make the hardest decision of my life, to end his suffering and send him on his way as best I could.
Dr Winnick was able to see us with just 4hrs notice. I spent the time waiting for her with my beautiful Jack, petting him and loving him until Dr. Winnick arrived 5 min before her schedule arrival time. Dr. Winnick was kind, respectful, let us know what to expect and we were able to put our beloved friend to rest in the comfort of his own bed listening to the birds chirping outside. I would wish to have as peaceful a death as my Jackie did. Dr. Winnick even made a paw print keepsake for us. It was really thoughtful.
After he was gone Dr. Winnick waited until we were ready before placing him on a stretcher and tucking him in with a dog paw blanket to take him to her SUV. She pulled away from the driveway very slowly and respectfully… Like in a funeral.

This is not the kind of thing you normally think about, but if it’s something you need, I cannot recommend Dr. Winnick’s services highly enough. She helped us do a very difficult thing in a very kind, caring, and professional manner. From beginning to end she was everything we needed and wanted. She helped us say goodbye to our beloved furry companion in the peace and quiet of our own home surrounded by all the things that made our dog feel relaxed and let her know that she was loved in her final moments. Once you contact her in advance about your needs she will set up everything for you and work around your schedule. This allows you the ability to only concentrate on saying farewell. Not only would I use her again in a heartbeat but I would actively recommend her to all of my friends and family in the area who have to go through this with their animals.

This can never be easy for any of us. But you can trust Dr. Winnick at Peaceful Pathways to lead your beloved furry friend on his or her last journey in the most respectful and gentle way possible. From the moment she came in our house to the moment she wrapped our little girl in the blanket and took her away forever, she was the most compassionate and understanding person toward us and toward our princess. She would be my first choice for such help… always. In fact, I wish that one day I could be granted just as dignified of a passage for myself.

Dr. Jenn Winnick came to our home on 10/​10/​2015 and helped my very best friend in the world pass away as peacefully as possible.
I am in an inordinate amount of pain, but I know that my pain would be much worse if I had held on to my sweet Fred’s physical body any longer. We were able to have a celebration of life for him. He visited with family and friends, ate foods that he has never been able to eat due to a history of acute pancreatitis and diabetes, and received tons of love from us. Dr. Winnick arrived a few minutes early, and mindfully helped us through the process of saying goodbye to Fred and being with him as he passed.
She left us with an impression of his paw, and took his body away for a private cremation. I got to carry his body to the car (she sweetly asked if I wanted to do that). which was so important for me.
I love you, my darling Fred — so, so very much. I miss you terribly every moment. Thank you, Dr. Winnick, for helping us through this incredibly painful time.

Dr. Winnick provided a peaceful and compassionate passing for our 19 year old cat, Friskey. She explained the process gently and carefully to us, and gave us plenty of time to say goodbye to our old friend inside our home. We were so grateful to have her present to help us with Friskey’s passage into his next big adventure. She even provided us with a clay imprint of his paw as a keepsake. Also, she helped us organize his cremation so that we wouldn’t have to deal with it on our own. Every detail was thought through carefully, and we could not have asked for a better end of life experience for our pet.

Our corgi was always afraid of going to the vet, so the thought of saying goodbye to him in that setting was out of the question. I called several at-​home vets and new instantly that Dr. Winnick from Peaceful Pathways was the right fit for us. She is responsive, flexible, caring, calming and very sensitive to what a difficult time this was for our family. She was reasonably priced (compared to Adobe and Sage) and Stutz was completely comfortable and perfectly at peace when he left us with dignity. She handled all of the arrangements afterwards as well.
I highly recommend Dr. Winnick and Peaceful Pathways.

Dr. Winnick is an extremely compassionate veterinarian who provides a service that spares beloved pets of the stress and confusion of a final trip to the vet, if and when they need our help to be released from suffering.
Thank you, Dr. Winnick, for being so patient, compassionate and responsive.

It took me a year before I could write this review, I was so devastated by the loss of my corgi Wally. He was diagnosed with cancer at 11yrs old and saying goodbye to him was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Dr Winnick made this difficult experience much easier for me and my dog, she is an angel. I made arrangements with her ahead of time for Wally’s passing. I called her when I knew it was time for him to go. She arrived to my home and made his transition to the rainbow bridge as pleasant as she possibly could. Dr Winnick has a very calming presence. She is a remarkably compassionate person who helped make Wally very comfortable. I highly recommend her, I am grateful for her and the services that she provides.

My heart goes out to you if you are reading this review. It means that you are looking for a gentle transition for your furry friend.
Our baby, Marley, was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer when I took him to the vet because he had labored breathing. I fully expected to be told that he had fluid in his lungs from a worsening heart failure. It was a total shock for us. We did an abdominal ultrasound and learned that the primary source of cancer was in his liver. Marley was 14, and we knew that we would not provide heroics for him… only comfort care. The comfort care was to massively spoil and coddle him and invite friends over to say goodbye. We had actually called two other euthansia services before calling Peaceful Pathways. One person called me back three days later! The other service called back and left a long voicemail saying that she could come by much later in the day after she finished her extended tennis match. That didn’t gel with us. We called Peaceful Pathways, and Jenn replied to our voicemail immediately. She came to our home within 3 hours of our phone call. Prior to Jenn’s arrival, I cuddled with Marley, talked baby talk to him, and fed him turkey. When Jenn arrived, we put Marley in his favorite bed in our bedroom, closed the blinds, turned on some soft music, and sat with him as Dr. Winnick started the procedure. It was so peaceful and delicate. Marley was a gift to us, and we gave him the gift of death with dignity.
I did followup with my vet and told them to not recommend the other services I had called if people asked for referrals in the future. I did wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Winnick and gave my vet Jenn’s information.
As I see all of the 5-​star recommendations for Jenn, I recognize that she is the right person for this delicate job. Jenn has found her calling!

It’s been a year now since we used Peaceful Pathways. Dr. Winnick was wonderful, and our beloved 16 year old cat was able to leave this world peacefully without pain. Needless to say, we are grateful.

I am only now able to write this review. Our Beloved Golden Retriever Maizie was such an important part of our family and we miss her terribly.
We lost her very quickly after being diagnosed with possible Lymphoma/​Leukemia. The big revolving door vet practice we took her too because of their diagnostic tools could not be bothered to return phone calls or follow-​up after they sent us home with dying dog. When I realized we were going to need to make a decision quickly that was the last place I wanted to return to.
I Googled in home euthanasia in the middle of the night and was so fortunate to find Dr. Winnick. I asked for a time and then decided I needed her sooner and she was able to come when we needed her. She indeed provided a Peaceful Pathway for our sweet girl to leave this life — surrounded by her family and lying in her favorite spot — a main doorway that allowed her to keep tabs on everyone coming and going.
Dr. Winnick made the unbearable easier. She was compassionate and unobtrusive. Gave us all the time we needed and has a gift for doing what is necessary without having it feel like someone else is there — quite a gift.
Even the removal of the body is done with such compassion and care that it is easier to handle. The stretcher and special blanket that my children helped carry felt so much more appropriate than leaving the body behind at a sterile vet office.
I am so thankful that Dr Winnick provides this special service to help people who need to make this most difficult decision for their pets.

One of the hardest reviews I will ever write…
My beloved dog, Sierra, had been very sick for 2 weeks. She was not even 6 years old and had been as healthy as a horse up until now. I took her to Adobe 5 different times but we could not find the cause of her illness. On a Friday, she really declined so I took her to Adobe for the last time — she was diagnosed with advanced Lymphoma.
Adobe sent me home with pain medications to make her comfortable. I already knew I’d not be putting her through chemo — Lymphoma is treatable but not curable. You can maybe buy your pet 1 — 2 years w chemo.
Sierra hated the vet’s office — was in complete terror there. She sensed the death and fear because nothing bad was ever really done to her. I knew immediately I’d put her to sleep at home. However, the plan was to wait until Monday, after the pathologist’s report…
Plan’s change. I knew my beloved companion was dying — everything made sense in the last 2 weeks and I believe Sierra knew that I finally understood that she wasn’t sick, that she was dying. Saturday morning, I saw that Sierra was too weak to get up even to go to the bathroom. My plan for researching at-​home euthanasia and making an appt for Monday evaporated… my dog was dying in front of me. I needed someone to come on a Saturday. I quickly saw that most mobile vets are NOT available on weekends.
I made 2 phone calls and the first person that called me back made it seem like I was booking a hotel. It was AWFUL and I knew i could not use her.
Luckily, Dr Winnick also returned my call. I might have been sobbing as I cried «I think I need to put my dog to sleep today.» Somehow, she compassionately set up a time between 12:30 — 1 pm.
In the meantime, I contacted a few of Sierra’s human friends, who’d all loved her almost as much as I had, to tell them she was leaving us. One by one, they arrived. In the midst of me preparing my baby for transitioning, Dr. Winnick showed up.
She immediately sat on the floor with me. My baby was on the couch and had barely moved. Like one of the other reviews (it is hidden) Sierra never trusted strangers in her normal life but she was completely calm and comfortable with Dr. Winnick. One friend was still on his way and I asked Dr. Winnick if we could wait for him. This is just one of the many compassionate moments that I experienced…
My friend arrived and all I remember is how quiet and calm her voice was. She explained everything step by step — she didn’t explain everything all at once though… just as was needed. I sobbed when I had to sign the paperwork — it is an insanely difficult decision to make about when your beloved pet should transition…
My baby girl was sedated after we’d all said our good bye’s and she snored like a Mac truck — like she’d always done! She was injected after she was totally asleep and she simply stopped snoring.
I had to clean up after her but we’d expected this. I cleaned her up myself bc I wanted to… I cleaned her like I always had. Then, I stepped away as Dr. Winnick and my friends put her body on the stretcher… with the blanket and pillow. She did look like she was asleep and I actually chose to cover her head…
My friend and Dr Winnick carried her out to her car and she put her in so that we could all kiss her face one last time.
I had my baby girl cremated by herself and just today her ashes were delivered in a very tasteful, beautiful box along with a heartfelt poem and certificate. I feel my baby is finally back at home with me. I feel her earthly body was treated with the highest respect.
I thank Dr Winnick for being exactly what I needed.

Dr. Winnick is an angel. My 14 year old kitty Kobe had been fighting squamous cell carcinoma on his nose for a while but the last few months it had gotten to the point where his vet and oncologist said there was nothing that could be done. We contacted Dr. Winnick and she replied to our calls and emails quickly, even calling us late at night with a remedy suggestion for Kobe’s constantly-​bleeding nose. It was obvious she had him in her thoughts.
On the day of the appointment, she explained everything that she was going to do in a calm and quiet tone. She was very polite and extremely patient and we never felt rushed to do anything. She sat there and talked with us while we all cried our eyes out and were a mess but she made this difficult experience easier on us. As painful as this was, I’m so glad we chose Dr. Winnick to help Kobe. She even sent us a card a few days after to show her support. We cannot thank her enough and will forever be grateful for her services.