Dr. Erin Mapes Sako grew up in northeastern Indiana. When she was only 6 years old, she decided she wanted to be a veterinarian someday. Every job she had along the way through high school and college was animal-related, from working in a local mixed animal practice, to pet sitting, cleaning horse stalls, being a zookeeper caring for orangutans and tigers, working with a horse vet in Arizona, and even learning to plow fields with horses. All of these experiences fueled her drive and helped her realize her dream of becoming a veterinarian. After high school, she attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in animal science before obtaining her doctorate of veterinary medicine in 2007 from the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine.

While in vet school, she met her husband, Jeff. After graduation, they settled in the Chicagoland area of northwest Indiana with their daughter, Kaitlyn, where they have lived until their recent move to Kansas City. Dr. Erin enjoys being with her family and spending time outdoors. Whether it’s riding horses, camping, fishing, swimming, gardening, or playing with their dogs, Dr. Sako and her family love being outside!

Dr. Sako spent 14 years working in a small animal hospital, and while she thoroughly enjoyed seeing appointments and performing surgeries, she felt like there was more that she could do when it came time for families to say goodbye to their beloved and devoted pets. Dr. Sako wanted to make the euthanasia process easier on the families instead of them coming into a busy clinic. When her own treasured pets needed to cross the rainbow bridge, there was no question in her mind or her heart that she wanted them to pass on at home. She asked herself, “Why don’t we give this option to all our pet parents”? So, she started to offer house calls for in home euthanasia on her own. In doing this, she realized her true calling wasn’t just being a veterinarian; it was to help her clients and patients through the most important and difficult process of pet euthanasia. Dr. Sako feels like there is no greater gift she can give to her clients than to be there for them during those final moments of their sweet friend’s life. Therefore, when the opportunity to work with Home with Dignity and provide mobile in home euthanasia in Kansas City arose, Dr. Sako and her family moved to the Kansas City area.

Dr. Sako says, “dogs spend their entire lives trying to make us happy, even on their last day with us. After a lifetime of care and love, one of the last gifts we can give them as pet owners is a painless, comfortable and dignified passing to the other side. As a veterinarian, it is truly an honor to be able to help our pets and their people with this process. Even though this is the saddest day in any pet owner’s life, it is a blessing to know that their beloved friend will be able to go to their place of rest peacefully while wrapped in your loving arms and surrounded by the comforts of home.”

Dr. Ben Shrauner grew up in Protection, a small town in the southwestern part of Kansas, where his family finished cattle, ranched, and farmed. He enjoyed working with the animals, but wanted flexibility in where he could live and decided Veterinary Medicine would provide just that. He attended Kansas State University for his undergraduate education, and then attended Oklahoma State University CVHS where he graduated with honors. During veterinary school, Dr. Shrauner realized he enjoyed surgery and working with horses, and pursued advanced surgical training. He completed a Surgical Internship at the renowned Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, KY, where more equine surgeries are performed each year than anywhere else, worldwide. After his internship, Dr. Shrauner was selected for a Surgical Residency at North Carolina State University. From there he returned to Kansas City and began preparing for his Surgery Board Examination, which he successfully completed and became a Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Dr. Shrauner worked as a Locum Surgeon, routinely traveling to various practices to perform surgeries in Maryland, California, and even Australia. Dr. Shrauner developed a passion for helping families say good-bye to their pets through at home euthanasia with compassion and care.

Dr. Shrauner spends his time away from work with his wife, Ruth, also a Kansas native, and twin toddlers, Jack and Izzy.

Home with Dignity in Kansas City is grateful to have Dr. Shrauner as a part of our team of mobile veterinarians that dedicate their time to providing a peaceful and dignified in home euthanasia service for pets and their families. He is honored to provide our mobile euthanasia services and guide you and your family through the euthanasia process.