Q:My cat Wilma has been diagnosed with lymphoma and we know she's not going to be with us much longer. I'd like to have her euthanized at home so she doesn't have to suffer the stress of going to a hospital on her last day, but the veterinary hospital says my vet can't come to my house for legal reasons. Is there some local law that prohibits this?

A: I know of no local law prohibiting home-based euthanasia and I've euthanized many pets in people's homes. As long as the veterinarian is licensed by the state and federal government to provide veterinary services and administer controlled drugs, respectively, the practice is legal.

Some veterinarians actually specialize in this kind of practice, arriving with all the necessary supplies and providing the loving care you would expect at this crucial moment. You can usually find them listed under house-call veterinarians in your local telephone directory.

Home-based euthanasia is a service routinely offered by many hospitals. (We well understand your desire to have your pet's last minutes spent in the comfort of her home.) But we don't always advertise it, preferring to perform at-home euthanasia as a special service only to our well-known clients -- for our safety.

Asking your veterinarian directly whether he or she would provide this service may prove more fruitful than asking the reception staff -- but not always.

Here's why we might refuse: While no law prohibits a veterinarian from performing a euthanasia at a private residence, there are plenty of other legal considerations. Worker's compensation may not apply should the veterinarian be injured during this procedure. The hospital's insurance may not extend to any scenario in which the veterinarian is hurt (imagine a car accident on the way to your house). These issues are more than likely the ''legal reasons'' the hospital staff was referring to.

Unfortunately, there does appear to be an increasing reluctance among veterinary hospitals to perform at-home euthanasia -- not only because our society is increasingly litigious, but also because hospitals are growing larger and more business-like. Stricter attention is paid to policies that limit liability.

But that doesn't mean your veterinarian will turn you down if you ask. There will always be a place for personal relationships in the veterinary profession.

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