CAZENOVIA — Cazenovia resident and veterinarian Barbara Roach, DVM, CHPV, recently launched a new business, Gentle Goodbye Animal Hospice, to help individuals and families navigate the hardest part of having a pet — saying goodbye.
Gentle Goodbye provides “peaceful & compassionate” end-of-life services, including in-home pet euthanasia, telemedicine consults regarding end-of-life concerns and decisions, and cremation and memorialization options provided by Forever Meadows Pet Memorialization and Cremation Services in combination with Gentle Goodbye.
Roach started her career in veterinary medicine at age 16 as the kennel assistant and manager of a small animal clinic on Long Island where she grew up.
She went directly from high school to SUNY Delhi where she received her veterinary technician degree at age 19.
“This allowed me to work in the field of veterinary medicine while pursuing my bachelor’s degree from SUNY Binghamton,” Roach wrote in her biography on the Gentle Goodbye website.
She graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and has been a practicing veterinarian since 1996.
Roach has worked in private practice for 27 years in addition to serving as a state and federal veterinarian for 10 years.
She has been an associate at Village Veterinary Hospital in Canastota since 2000 and has resided in Cazenovia since 2017.
The veterinarian said that ever since she started working in private practice, she has had a great desire to assist owners and their pets during the animals’ senior years in the comfort of their own homes.
In 2020, she completed an 18-month certification program through the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care.
“I have always understood the need and desire of my clients to minimize the stress that veterinary procedures cause for their pets,” she wrote in her bio. “My ability to help pets at the end of their life, at a time of need, in a non-stressful environment brings me peace and fulfillment. In addition, I hope it will bring you, as a pet owner, a peaceful lasting memory of your very special family member at a crucial time in [your] and their lives.”
This past spring, Gentle Goodbye provided its services to local resident Jane LaSure and her smooth-coated collie, Alexander, who was a beloved therapy dog and champion show dog.
“Alexander’s diagnosis was sudden and shocking, [and] his remaining quality time was limited,” said LaSure. “His final weeks were happy and normal. We were at a loss as to when or where things would take a turn. In a matter of hours, his condition became grave. Through a referral, Gentle Goodbye came to his side right here at home and gave him peace. Every emotional and logistical detail was handled with class and grace. Dr. Roach was his angel.”
Roach officially opened her business in April 2023.
“I have already helped about 60 families all over Central New York,” she said on Aug. 15. “. . . I still work as a general practitioner and do this in my free time. My husband has been helping me some. We enjoy hearing all the stories of how they [acquired] the pets, how long they’ve had them, [and] how much they mean to them. It’s very quaint helping them in their own home.”
To learn more about the new business, visit gentlegoodbye.net or the “Gentle Goodbye Animal Hospice” Facebook page.
