It’s Friday, January 30th as I write this - 9 days after Dr. Ferens and her assistant (whose name, I believe, was Anne) came into my mom’s and my home to euthanize our dog, Buddha.
At around 12:30 pm on Wednesday, January 21st, we heard a knock at the door and had no idea we were about to experience one of the most traumatic and compassionless 15 minutes (yes... only fifteen minutes from start to finish) of our lives.
From the moment they arrived, everything was rushed. We had never met Dr. Ferens before. She quickly wrote down information, opened her briefcase with the medications, and asked my mother when she wanted to pay. My mother then paid. No questions, no checking in with us, no offer to spend time with Buddha. Just a transaction. There was no compassion, empathy, or humanity.
Buddha ran to his bed where I was when he saw the stethoscope. He was scared and came to me. Dr. Ferens approached him from behind to muzzle him, and he growled. I explained that he growls but does not bite. She made no effort to warm up to him. No petting, no talking, nothing.
What happened next was completely unethical. She asked me--not her assistant--to muzzle my own dog. I am not a vet. I was in shock and survival mode, incapable of consenting to something like this. I don’t know if I will ever fully recover from that moment. It's been replaying in my head constantly since then.
Around this time, Dr. Ferens snapped at her assistant, saying, “I told you to go over there.” This happened right in front of us during one of the most vulnerable moments of our lives. The assistant, Anne, appeared to be walking on eggshells around the doctor the entire time. Anne, however, showed quiet compassion and cried when Buddha passed. The contrast between them was heartbreaking.
After I muzzled Buddha, Dr. Ferens asked for a towel without explaining why, threw it over his head, and sedated him. She never explained how quickly it would happen. I asked if I could give him water, and she said, "yes, but the sedation will kick in soon," without explaining that “soon” meant less than a minute.
I held the bowl as he desperately licked, trying to fight the sedation. His eyes closed, and he continued licking the floor before going unconscious. None of this was explained. At all.
She administered the final injection shortly after, confirmed his heart had stopped, then they packed up, and left.
Our experience with our other dog's euthanasia a year and a half earlier at Yavapai Emergency Animal Hospital was the complete opposite. You can even look through my reviews here and find it. That doctor (Dr. Page) gave us time, walked us through everything, and showed genuine care... in an EMERGENCY setting. He even waited until our other family members (including Buddha) arrived. Their compassion and care meant the world to us.
You would think an at-home euthanasia would be peaceful. Even sacred.
Well, we thought wrong.
My mother and I are deeply traumatized. We were not given time or permission to say goodbye. Everything was rushed while we were vulnerable and confused. All we are left with now is regret. Regret for calling Visiting Vet Mobile Animal. Regret for how our final moments with our dog were handled. And regret that this experience has overshadowed our ability to grieve.
I will be filing a complaint with the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. It is also important to note that my partner was present via FaceTime for the duration of the appointment and witnessed the events as they occurred. This provides an additional, independent account of the experience.
I am sad, angry, disgusted, and horrified. I don’t see many negative reviews here. Maybe we caught Dr. Ferens on a bad day. Even so, there is no excuse for what happened. I truly hope no one else ever has to experience this.
If this was simply a bad day for her, I hope she knows that her bad day will pass. But the day she caused us, because of the state she was in, is now permanently etched into our memories forever.
Rest in paradise, Buddha. We love you.
I cannot say enough good things at how Dr. Ann was with Ollie. We were all set to say goodbye,- and she did her assessment and found a few things. We have been given an amazing gift, and time still.she is incredible , and passionate about what she does. T y both for caring
First, Dr Ferens made time for us on a day she was not in our locale. She must be extremely busy since there are NO organizations like Lap Of Love in Northern AZ. Beyond that her compassion was no less than if we were already a patient. I want her to know how much we appreciated her time, along with her new assistant, Ann. She responded when my own vet could not fit us in until a week later
Dr Ferens and Rene came out to our home to help our 18 1/2 yr old cat, Brooklyn, cross over the rainbow bridge yesterday. They were both very kind and compassionate. Brooklyn was sitting in my husband's lap when she gave her the sedation. Wish we could have done this for all of our pets in the past. I highly recommend Dr. Ferens. Thank you so much🫶
Ann Ferens, DVM – Visiting Vet is an absolute gem!
As someone who’s new to the Prescott area, I was feeling a bit apprehensive about finding a new vet for our senior dog, Jake. It’s not easy trusting someone new with such an important part of your family—especially when your dog is in his golden years.
That’s why I was blown away by the experience we had with Dr. Ann Ferens and her assistant Tim. From the moment they arrived at our home, their warmth, compassion, and professionalism put both Jake and us completely at ease. Dr. Ferens took the time to do a very thorough exam, and it was clear she wasn’t just checking boxes—she truly cared. We left the visit with a clear, thoughtful plan to support Jake’s health and mobility as he ages.
Having a vet who comes to your home is not just convenient—it’s a game-changer, especially for senior pets. And in my opinion, if you're in the Prescott area, this is the ONLY choice. The level of care, kindness, and attention we received was outstanding.
Thank you, Dr. Ferens and Tim, for helping us feel so supported in our new community. Jake (and his humans) are so grateful.
Love and ((HUGS)),
Laura Foster
Founder of Souls Healing Humanity, NOT a company, a movement
