Lifting Stars Pet Homecare

To our beautiful little girl, Jessie. We love you forever and always. Thank you for choosing us to be your forever family. Just after 2:00 PM on January 7th of 2022, my wife and I said a tearful goodbye to our beloved family member Jessie O’Callaghan Kerr as she peacefully crossed the rainbow bridge in the comfort of her own home, surrounded by her loved ones and under the kind care and supervision of Dr. Jeff from Lifting Stars Pet Homecare. Jessie entered our lives in th...e Summer of 2010 when we first spotted each other from across the room at the Vancouver SPCA. She was five years old, had been abandoned twice, and was incredibly shy. As soon as I saw Jessie, I turned to my wife (then fiancée), grabbed her hand, and walked her toward the beautiful calico kitty. My wife and I formed a very special bond with Jessie as we spent the time to slowly gain her trust enough to scratch her neck, pet her nose, and eventually hear her heart-warming purr. On Jessie’s cage was a heart-breaking description that read I’m beautiful, but I don’t know it. From that exact moment, I knew that we were the forever family to love and care for her, showing her how truly beautiful she is. At the time, Jessie preferred to be the only cat in our household. She absolutely loved affection, but only if it were on her own terms. Jessie was very timid and was frightened easily by sounds, motions, and any changes made to her environment. We were eventually relieved to find a daily medication that we could give to her to help with her severe stress and anxiety. In the Summer of 2013, we added another fur-baby to our family. This time, it was a rescue kitten named Lily. Jessie was very hesitant to be around Lily at first, but over time they became inseparable. Being a kitty with special needs, Jessie has had a huge impact on our lives by teaching us how to be more patient, understanding, empathetic, and compassionate. We will miss her every single day but are comforted in knowing that she will forever be in our hearts, memories, thoughts, and conversations. We love you, Jessie. Forever and always, Your forever daddy and mommy, Doug and Heidi, and your little sisters, Lily and Hilo.

"On January 7th 2021 we said our last goodbye to Cosmo, my husband's best friend since he was 17 years old. She was the family dog for a good 15 years and we were honoured to serve as her "retirement home" in the last years of her life. In 2020, Cosmo was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma in her spleen. Although surgery to remove the spleen bought us "bonus time" with our favorite girl, we knew it would only be a matter of time before her cancer returned. Seven months later Co...smo began to slow down, having mobility issues, and difficulty eating. We were carrying her and hand feeding her, knowing that despite our best efforts, we were increasingly unable to maintain her quality of life. Even though we knew she wasn't enjoying life like she used to, it was still extremely difficult for us to determine whether or not it was her time to go. Although it's selfish, we wished that we could have Cosmo in our lives forever. Cosmo was, and will always be, irreplaceable. At this time, we arranged an appointment with Dr. Jeff for a quality of life assessment. Our meeting with him was extremely helpful. He shared our pain with us, including his own story of losing his dog to cancer, and helped us determine signs that would tell us it was time to let go. Things that were especially helpful was 1) knowing that we don't want her quality of life to go to "zero" and 2) knowing that the accommodations we were making for her (like hand feeding) was the ultimate sign of care, not a way of keeping her alive for selfish purposes. Later that week, we decided it was time to let Cosmo go and Lifting Stars was able to schedule something within 24 hours. I cannot emphasize enough how invaluable it was to hold her until her last waking moments, all in the comfortable environment of her favorite dog bed. In those moments, Dr. Jeff wasn't just a vet, but someone who cared about Cosmo just as much as we did. Cosmo was smart as a whip, stunningly gorgeous, the matriarch of our family, and made each moment a bright one. She was such a strong girl that gave us everything she had until the very end. We miss her so much but have been told that the magnitude of grief is a measure of the love you had when your pet was still alive. We feel so lucky to have had such a powerful love and will cherish the memories forever. Thank you Lifting Stars for making those final memories good ones, we don't know what we would do without services like yours." -- Erika & Geoff

"On November 12th, 2021, my husband and I said our final farewell to our beloved Yogi Bear. It was undoubtedly the hardest and most heartbreaking decision we have ever made and it felt like a part of our hearts was taken from us. He had just made it past his 11th birthday. Yogi had been dealing with a collapsing trachea and breathing issues his entire life, and even after 2 emergency stent surgeries and a week-long stay in the ICU, the stents ultimately kept failing and we kn...ew it just was not meant to be. Honestly, on the day that Dr. Jeff came to our house, I was in such deep pain and sorrow I do not have a clear recollection of what he looked like, or much of what was discussed. However, I do remember very clearly how gentle and calm Dr. Jeff was, and how he never rushed any of his words or actions when interacting with us and Yogi. At a time when we were overcome with so much emotion and sadness, I am so very grateful for Dr. Jeff because he allowed us to walk our little Yogi across the rainbow bridge in the safety and peace of his own home, with his mommy and daddy holding his little paws. Above anything in this world, Yogi absolutely loved food and eating; he never understood that human food was not for him. Countless times I would come home to find him sitting on his little perch in front of the window with an empty bag of chips, or treats, or anything he could sniff out. He did not care for the company of other canines or 4 legged creatures, but he loved car rides and road trips and just going anywhere as long as he was with us. Now that he is free from pain and "worldly" rules and limitations, I like to think that he is always trotting close to me, leash free, with a little backpack filled with all his favourite foods and treats. He was the best little boy, and we will never ever forget him or the permanent imprint he left on our lives. Mommy and Daddy love you Yogi." -- Howie & Jenny, November 2021

"On Friday November 19th, 2021 I said a final goodbye to my beautiful handsome boy Mr. Spooky, with the gentle compassionate assistance from Dr. Jeff and Dr. Lucy from Lifting Stars. It is heartbreaking and so sad, but it was Spooky’s time to go to the "rainbow bridge to be free from suffering and pain and a rapidly failing quality of life. My little Spooky cat was with me for over 15 years. In 2006, I got him as a 5 month old rambunctious mischievous kitten from the SPCA s...helter at the old Petcetera in Arbutus Mall. Six days before that, he had been brought down to Vancouver from The Kootenays where he had been in a shelter for 3 months and waiting for his forever home. He couldn’t believe his luck when he marched out of his new carrier when I got him home. He settled in very quickly and was a very happy cat and had a good long life. Spooky saw me through some huge and very difficult life transitions, including the loss of my partner and soulmate (Spooky’s Dad) over 4 years ago from Cancer. Spooky developed Hyperthyroidism in April 2021, was allergic to the meds and wouldn’t eat the thyroid diet food, so it was going to get worse. He had a pretty good summer but started to go downhill at the beginning of November from his worsening thyroid condition and accompanying symptoms. They say that you will know when it is time to have your little fur buddy put to sleep and you really wonder if you will know? I did know when it was the right time. It was a tipping point between a reasonable quality of life to a rapidly deteriorating one. We know our animals so well and we really notice when their behaviour changes and know when they are no longer happy or enjoying much of anything anymore. I had a duty and responsibility not to let Spooky get any worse and to let him go when he still had some dignity, although it broke my heart. I am at peace with my decision and I want to thank Dr. Jeff and Dr. Lucy so much for providing such a necessary service so that we can let our pets go in the comfort of their own homes where they have been happy and comfortable all of their lives. Spooky was the most affectionate, gentle sweet cat with a big personality and my constant companion and who was with me through so much. I will miss my little Spooky forever love you so much little buddy. Rest in peace. May 2006 to Nov 19th 2021" -- Mummy Marion W., xxx; November 2021

"Mama the great matriarch cat came to me for her retirement years in October of 2019. She was a keenly intelligent, beautiful cat who delivered 3 litters of kittens. Mama was known for her initial memorable escapes from attempts to capture and spay her until she was finally lured due to her passionate love for tuna. Mama spent most of her adult life in a beautiful backyard cattery with a few of her babies, lovingly cared for by her good friends Sherry and Aaron. When she came...Continue reading

By way of background, our beloved Jenny passed away on August 20, 2021 due to Lymphoma. In June 2020, she started having full-body seizures which worsened over time. Fortunately those were able to be controlled using medication. On August 7, we’ve noticed several tumors under her tail. We quickly took her to Canada West Veterinary Specialists & Critical Care hospital in Vancouver for emergency treatment. After several exams and tests, she was diagnosed with Lymphoma. Becau...se of her age, removing tumors surgically was not an option and for the same reason we did not want to put her through chemotherapy. She was provided Gabapentin & Prednisone, but we were told that our time with her was limited. She gave us almost 15 years (3 weeks short to be precise) of unconditional love. We wanted to make sure her last days were comfortable and happy. We spoiled her lots of her favourite food, took her favourite places, and met her favourite people. We did not want her to suffer at the end, so we asked you to release her at home. This was the very last gift that we could give to our girl. Jenny peacefully passed in our arms Jenny enjoyed her last walk at Mundy Park that morning with her sister Jonna and our good friend, Samson, Jake and Pebbles Jenny also finished her special breakfast and went to bathroom before Dr. Berkshire arrived. She was such a good girl We wanted to thank Dr. Berkshire for his compassionate and professional help in the end. We were a real mess but his dignified and respectful approach allowed us to get through this. We know that only time can ease our pain, but we miss her terribly. She was a gentle, sweet and kind girl. She had to put up with two puppies (Jina who passed in 2018 due to Lymphoma) and Jonna. She was always so nice to her sisters. R.I.P. sweet girl Jenny until we meet again. Love, Alex & Akemi

"Good bye, so long, farewell, my friend. 14 years ago we brought home a little dachshund puppy who’d become our first baby when the real thing was elusive for so long. Heidi was the BEST stand in. Even though she probably peed on your carpet or pooped on your floor (if you know, you know), she was the sweetest little mini. She’d take a meandering stroll over a leash walk any day. She’d do almost anything for a piece of cheese. Always a lover of people, she’d throw herself at ...the feet of strangers for a quick belly rub. In her Ontario days she was a therapy dog for the Toronto Grace Hospital, where she brought joy to many with complex needs. Two years ago we made the decision to drive across the country to start a life in Vancouver. We knew it would be a one-way trip for her. She got to retire in cushy Kitsilano, with no more harsh winters. She even stuck around long enough to meet our daughter, Georgia. Her work here was done. Dr. Jeff was an absolute angel. Together we gave Heidi the most loving, compassionate send off we could have ever hoped for. We miss your goofy spirit everyday." - Rachael, Patrick and Georgia, August 2021 See more

"Arne, my little rescue dog of eight years, gave us the best years of his life. He was more than a dog he was a living, loving soul. It was the hardest decision my husband and I had to make to let him go over the rainbow bridge. I don’t know what we could have done to respect and honour him more and let him go with love and dignity without the help of Dr. Jeff and Lifting Stars. Dr. Jeff is the most caring man I know and without him our boy would have had to go to the vets (who he really didn’t like going to). Dr. Jeff made it possible for him to go peacefully at home with his mom and dad who loved him more than anything else in the world." -- Vonnie and Bill, May 2021

Squirrely is busy in the office helping us look for the perfect compassionate veterinarian to join the Lifting Stars Pet Homecare team

"After more than a year of courage and strength battling both terminal kidney disease and epilepsy due to a brain tumor, it is with deep sorrow that I share the passing of my little angel Penelope in her seventeenth year. Her mission was to inspire heartfelt smiles. Mission accomplished dear angel." -- David A., April 2021

"I was 19 years old when someone handed me a kitten and I didn’t think much more than how cute and fun a kitten is...fast forward nearly two decades and this kitten turned out to be the most consistent and loving companion I never knew I needed. I tried to name her a few things but Catface stuck - my little Catface. She was fiercely independent, strong and regal. A Queen. She wasn’t into cat treats but she would demand her spot of cream each morning when she heard the clinkin...g of spoon and mug. She’s always been small but for many years, she ruled her neighbourhood without fear of other, bigger cats. In her last two years she wouldn’t go outside much, she must have known how vulnerable she’d become with age. She leaned into me during this time and seemed to revert to her kitten self - always wanting to be with me, on me, beside me. She was a quiet girl but she had her preferences and boundaries and she didn’t have a problem expressing those. When it became more and more clear that things were winding down, the decision to let my sweet girl go was agonizing. My deepest gratitude goes to Dr. Berkshire for being so calm, clear and understanding - and for handling Catface so gently and tenderly at the very end. And my sincere condolences to Dr. Berkshire who also had to say goodbye to his own beloved cat in January. There’s still this pervasive narrative in our society that ‘it’s just a cat’ or ‘just a dog’- please know that any person who understands this incomparable bond understands you - and the profound loss and pain in having to say goodbye. These relationships are so joyful, uncomplicated and secure - of course it’s a devastating loss." -- Kelly L., April 2021 I miss you with all of my heart gorgeous girl, you did such a good job love. Rest In Peace Catface, you’ve earned it. Love you and forever grateful, your mummy.

"Last Tuesday February 23rd 2021 we said goodbye to the best cat ever, Lulu, also known as Luluboo and known by some as Lulita. The first known sighting of her was in 2004 when she had a litter of kittens and was fostered through VOKRA. For the last 17 years she’s been a wonderful companion, and we are really grateful to have had Dr. Jeff’s help in saying goodbye to our beloved Lulu. She loved snuggles and always needed to be near us, spending many afternoons snoozing on the desk, or nestled into her leopard print bed on the couch. Always near, always happy. She loved turkey, chomping on grass any chance she could and spending time staring out our windows chirping at birds. We love you Lulu." -- Jess & Jeff, February 2021

"Bailey, Bailey is just an ordinary Beagle. Nothing special about him as he does everything all other Beagles do. He loves sniffing and picks anything on the ground. Gets diarrhea and rushes to the emergency. He makes everyone happy and even just the way he walks makes people smile. He wags his tail off when he sees us and expresses his happiness to the fullest. He was quiet and calm like a small lake in a forest. Now the water is gone and we find how deep the lake was. We are so grateful that he chose us to spend his life with us. He made our life so special. He will be always with us. ~ Atsushi & Masumi, November 2020

"Kes was born in the fall of 2002, a semi-feral kitten. She had been trapped by the SPCA along with her siblings, and were going to be euthanized because they were all sick with colds. That is where VOKRA (Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association) stepped in and saved their lives. Eight months later, after much socialization and fostering, I entered her life to give her a forever home. Thus began an 18 year friendship. I would describe Kes as a very shy, one person cat. Sh...e tolerated other people and other cats, but when you got to know her, she was as gentle as can be. She liked to climb up on me and purr, and occasionally groom me. She would meow and murr at me and demand petting, snuggles and of course her favorite thing. Food. When Kes was about 7, I had to put her on a diet because she was extremely overweight. I switched her from dry diet to moist grain free and the weight steadily came off until she was a much healthier size. Kes enjoyed near perfect health most of her life, her geriatric blood work always came back perfect. Which is why putting her to sleep was so hard. Her arthritis was no longer manageable. She was also starting to suffer from cognitive decline. Kes was a very very vocal cat. She meowed for everything. Sometimes, she'd even wake up from a dream and meow for pets. She meowed for food, attention, comfort, even catnip! Kes had a clock in her tummy. I would feed her controlled portions at specific times each day. If she ate at 5:00 pm, she'd meow at 4:59 pm to let me know it was almost time to eat, even waking from a sleep! Now that she's gone, I miss seeing her in all the places she'd be in. On the big rug downstairs. Waiting for me at the top of the stairs (To feed her healthy snacks!). Meowing with her head between the railing demanding supper. Snoozing in her bed. On her perch looking outside, chirping at birds. Rubbing her cheek on the wall at the bottom of the stairs waiting for me to come down and feed her. Sleeping in her other cat bed downstairs. I am eternally grateful to Dr. Berkshire for his tender compassion in handling her and making sure her exit from this life was painless and peaceful. She will be forever loved and forever missed." -- Kes' meowmy, February 2020

"This little guy...our fur baby in every sense of the word, became gravely ill so very suddenly in late January. After winning a health battle earlier last year this one we were told would defeat him and so we had to make the agonizing decision to help him go in peace on February 12, 2020. He was my first ever four legged friend and a part of almost my entire Canadian chapter to date. On the top of Thomas’s shoulder nearly 12 years ago he made me realize my soulmate was ready... to be a daddy...and he was my shining light through some dark years of crazy cold, loss and loneliness while living in Calgary. Feisty, regal, and a huntsman to the end...you chose us from the hay bales in Nelson at a time in our lives when we sorely needed itour candle in the dark. How very goosebumpy it was for me to discover only weeks ago that your nickname Bougie means candle in French. We helped him pass to the spirit world at home...it was as peaceful as possible with Israel Kamakawiwo’ole softly singing ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ and with the help of the incredible Dr Jeff Berkshire. We could not have hoped for a more compassionate, genuine, loving and respectful farewell and will forever be grateful. Thank you Dr Jeff. Forever in our hearts funny little Valentine" -- The Marello Family, February 2020

"In October we had to say goodbye to Stu, our very best friend for over 16 years. Around our house, he was referred to as the best dog in the world. He had more nicknames than anyone you could think of. That’s because he had so much personality and character. We believe that he was one of a kind, as he was very hard to train and his antics made him all the more loveable. He spent many hours ‘riding the couch like a cowboy’ to look out the front window onto a busy stree...t. He became a pretty famous fixture given all the comments we got from friends and strangers about the little white fella keeping a constant watch on things. We still feel his presence in the house and miss our constant, faithful shadow. Saying goodbye to Stu was the hardest thing we’ve ever done and we are still not over it. We would like to thank Dr. Jeff for being so compassionate and respectful for our final goodbye to our best friend in the whole world our beloved guy, Stu" -- Leslie, Rick, Jamie and Cam" See more

"Said a loving, peaceful goodbye to our lil dude on October 29, 2019. He arrived into my life during an extreme low, and through a series of cuddle-naps, scratches, kisses, and also 3am poop calls; he taught me how to be human again. Later on, he met my family and became an institution within. The fams took him in as their own and showered him with love and care literally until the very end. We'll all carry his black lil face in our hearts forever." -- Pedram A., Artist credit: @tiny.toad

I'm on my way to the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care annual conference...I cant wait!!

"Thank you again so much for everything you did for Merlin and me. Words are not enough to express my gratitude! Your kindness and thoughtfulness helped so much making this easier for me." - Sigrun Murr

"Our beautiful husky mix dog Samantha passed away peacefully on July 30th. She had a long life of 15yrs, over 13 in our home. Thank you Dr. Jeff for making the experience of saying goodbye as gentle and caring as possible. She is forever running among the flowers." -- Ruth & Mervyn

"RIP Grey Ghost. Grey passed peacefully on July 13th, 2019 at home with his family; he just got too old to walk and talk anymore. Grey was born in the village of Topley, BC and came to us in 2007, he really had a fantastic life on the coast, always enjoying the snow over the ocean. We will miss Grey dearly as will all the locals in our neighbourhood and Grey’s friends at the Fringe Cafe. But we have many happy memories to treasure. Grey was in his 16th year and as we say in the old country...'had a very good innings’. . RIP to our sweet boy." -- The Hawkins Family

"April 17, 2019 was our last day with our companion. Sonic is so missed and we are honoured that he was part of our family. We had some wonderful times with our little guy. He talked, yodeling is probably a better description, greeted us with such enthusiasm, was a bed hog, teased us with his playing and loved to play soccer and get treats. He didn’t like to be brushed, going to the vet and not being included in family activities. He was part of everything, family vacations ...on Hornby Island were the best. The words he loved to hear were, walk, treat, and ball, those ears would just perk up. The phrase where’s your leash would bring great excitement from all parties. Thank you Sonic for being so amazing during your life with us, I smile just thinking about your younger days. The loss is overwhelming and will be for a while but the memories are the finest. There are no words to thank Dr. Berkshire, he was so kind and compassionate through this whole process. Thank you for being there and helping us through this very difficult process." -- Kim, Don & Taylor

Thank you Dr. Berkshire for coming into our home and educating us on Tyson's illness. You were empathetic with us during this difficult time. We are grateful for your gentle care to him during his last moments and thankful that you were with him and us through the process making it comfortable for all of us as we said goodbye to Tyson. It was not easy, but grateful to you for your assistance with everything.

Thank you for the beautiful card and for being totally compassionate during the process of saying goodbye to our Tilly. We shall recommend you to all of our friends and clients on the amazing service you provide. -- The White Family

On December 18, 2018 we said goodbye to our friend, companion and little buddy Sadie. She was taken away from us too soon and yet we are so grateful for the time we did have with her. We will always miss our furry little girl and she will live in our hearts forever.... Thank you Dr Jeff Berkshire for the priceless service you provide. -- Christine & Al