River Valley Gateway

I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Denice Norton and the work they do at river valley gateway. Saying goodbye to my 19 year old cat while I held him in my arms at home was the best thing I could have asked for. Denice was so compassionate and kind throughout the process as well.

River Valley Gateway- Please do not ever stop this service. Never in a million years will I put a dog down at the vet after my experience with this business. This process was so much less painful with how it was handled by these wonderful people. Their patience, compassion, and heart towards our dog and ourselves was something I don't believe can be done at your average, everyday vet clinic. Thank you so much for taking care of Kona the way that you did. Please, please, please don't ever do away with this wonderful service.

Dr. Denice was so kind, compassionate and professional. She came to our home and explained everything and gave us time with our dog before and after he was gone. Her soft spoken voice and calm demeanor made all the difference in the world. This allowed us to have our other dog present and for everyone to be as comfortable as possible. She was so tender and caring with him when she put him in a basket to take him after he passed. She took such care to position him well and make him look his best for us as they left. Thank you so much for creating the best way for us to say goodbye.

River Valley Gateway was so wonderful to deal with. All the staff we came in contact with were empathetic, kind, and gentle. They helped us navigate the hard choices and gave us a sense of safety. Josh was patient with our two little girls, and allowed us all to individually say our good byes. My family and I are so grateful for the care they gave to our sweet Bayn boy. The whole process made me feel like Bayn was treated with compassion and dignity. It rained the day we picked Bayn's ashes up and a big rainbow showed up when we got home 🌈 ❤️ Thank you River Valley for all your care!

Dr. Lexi was so kind, warm and professional during our in-home euthanasia appointment for our 14yo little dog, Remi. From the time I made the unexpected call, to the time the vet arrived was a hour and a half. They fit us into their schedule so quickly and kindly! Dr. Lexi was quick in her procedure but gentle, and so empathetic. We are so thankful for that. Though this is a day all pet owners dread, we are grateful for a wonderful, comfortable end of life treatment.

The doctor came to my house and I explained that I have autism, and that I may move around a lot and seem very upset. She did comfort me and tell me being upset was normal. My cat, Goji, was my only family. He was the pet that looked after me, not the other way around. My parents are drug addicts, and I have no one to come home to that truly was there for me. Goji was that family, I thought about him all day at work. Recently I had gotten a new job, and he and I didnt have time to do his favorite thing, run on this little kids road map rug. I showed the rug to the doctor, and I explained its immense value to me and how important it was to me that when he left this house he was on that, and also cremated on the same rug so that he wasn't on the hard slab in the furnace. It was so important to me. When he passed, she picked up this grey towel he had been using for a bathroom. She carefully folded this and put it under him. I took his picture, and asked why she put him on this grey piss stained towel. She told me that I had asked her to. I once again pointed to my brightly colored children's rug and said "no I didnt, thats a towel. I told you about this rug. Not a towel." She fixed it so he was on the rug and I reminded her again that I wanted him burned on it. When I picked him up, the secretary brought him out in the little tin and she brought rug out separately and I was devastated. I cannot tell you how much that broke my heart to know that my sweet boy was burned to dust on NOTHING but a hard surface. I knew there was no way to fix this while she got the person in charge, Josh. Josh proceeded to loosely apologize, told me that the doctor wanted me to have it back, and kept asking me how he should fix this. He offered to burn it, knowing there would be nothing left. Which made it very clear to me that he nor the doctor never read my special instructions nor listened to me or the story I told. The importance of this was completely lost on both of them it seemed. He offered to throw it away, which upset me so much more. I had to ask him twice to stop asking me to solve this problem for him and to give me my cat and the rug, as this company had done me enough damage. He offered once more to burn the rug, and explained to me the science of cremation, as if I had never heard of it. The lack of empathy was profound for me. He didnt try to form an actual apology or solution until after I was asking to leave. He told me he would let me cool off and try to brain storm some solutions. Unless he has a time machine next to that furnace, I dont have a solution for him. I was robbed of the only comfort I gave myself and this company cannot undo it. They burned my boy with no regard or care, they rush through the process. My plan originally was to bury him with his rug, but my friend offered to pay for this because she thought it would be easier for me. This was a horrible and heartless expierence. Additionally, I was so overwhelmed during his passing that I barely noticed she only gave me a few minutes with him sedated and calm before letting me know she was implying the second drug. I cant speak for anyone else, but I feel this company only provided a basic service with no regard to my wishes or needs. They may have left brochures, said kind things, and said sorry for being confused and not trying harder, but none of that means anything when you are in the buisness of turning our most precious pets to literal dust. They provided the service, they came day of, and they weren't intentionally unkind. I would like to be clear on that. He doesnt have his rug now and I can never fix that and I am shattered over that. I hate this and I have been robbed of my comfort, and expected to fix it myself. And I have the rug, covered in his hair, as a reminder of not having him. I hate this, and I hated this expierence. I wish I had buried him. Goji, I love you, and I am sorry I trusted anyone with you. I am so sorry.

Thank you so much for your time & care for our Jax, 17yo husky... The cremation experience with River Valley Gateway was so amazing, we cannot say enough good things about your family owned business & team. We unfortunately had a very disappointing & stressful euthanasia experience from a well-known local/mobile vet that I had selected thinking it was wise, it was not..... I wish I had gone thru this company instead... We pre-planned our date, so I had more ability to arrange. Due to the not-so-good euthanasia experience - the next day cremation w/River Valley Gateway was so healing, it helped, a lot. The River Valley Gateway Vet comes thru town/Carbondale, even though they're based out of grand junction. I did not fully get all the info on cost/fee to come to C'dale, but, it is not that much out of range for the local vet fees (which are $$$$$). Also, fyi currently many of the animals in Western slope end up going here to be cremated (or another facility in Junction or Denver on a truck which is not very personal I feel). I understand too the local cremation options are very limited & so almost all animals end up right now going very likely to this spot for cremation. We took Jax ourselves the next day after euthanasia & it was good to be able to care & tend to him until the very end. My point, I would go with River Valley Gateway for both Euthanasia & Cremation -- now that I know -- I would pay the extra for the husband wife duo to take care of coming to our house to euthanize & then they could take your animal from there & probably return the ashes too. They also give you a beautiful wooden box for the ashes, thank you for doing that & having something special. This small business is doing it right -- I hope to refer many people who need end of life pet care to them in the future.