We frequently receive calls from clients who are agonizing over a decision that all of us who live with animals dread – whether or not it is time to help their beloved companion die. Recently we went through this process ourselves with our Basset Hound Maggie Mae. While there are excellent books and websites that cover the topic of losing a pet, we want to share with you here what the role of animal communication and healing work can be in this process.
Cindy’s first exposure to animal communication involved exactly this situation. Her dog Gaylord was ill, and the vet didn’t know what was causing the illness. She called Kate Bast, an animal communicator who eventually became our teacher and mentor. Kate was able to help Cindy to understand how Gaylord was feeling both physically and emotionally. One night when he began to pace and pant and bump into walls, Kate talked with him remotely. When he finally agreed it was time to pass, he lay down and was calm. This experience, more than any other, convinced me that animal communication was possible.
What we do as communicators is work with the family – human and animal – to understand what the situation is. We work with the animal that is ill or dying, to be sure that we understand how they are feeling, if they understand what is happening to their body, and to be sure they understand about passing over. Often animals do understand what dying is, but are very worried about leaving their family. We help everyone understand that the love does not end when the body leaves, and that the connection of love will be there always.
We work with any other animals in the family so that they understand what is going to happen to their friend. We encourage families, whenever possible, to let the other family members – including the other animals – be present when their friend passes. We took Beauregard [our other Basset Hound] with us to the vet, and he was in the room when Maggie passed over. He lay next to her as she passed, and touched noses with her briefly once she was gone.
We also do healing work with animals that are ready to pass over. We have found that balancing the energetic system seems to make the process easier for the animal that is passing over. Terri often uses flower essences to assist with this balancing. Cindy did a full Healing Touch for Animals® session on Maggie a few hours before we went to the vet, and we believe she passed much more peacefully.
Understanding how your animal is feeling and respecting their choice is a wonderful gift to give not only to them, but to yourself. It provides a sense of peace in a very difficult time.
