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Time for Goodbye
As an animal communicator I
often receive calls from a pets’ person
asking me to assist them in finding out an
animals wishes for their final days. These
are tough visits to make and yet there is
much peace and contentment that comes from
them. Our animal companions are usually
waiting on us to catch up with them in their
decision to transition.
Some people romanticize the animals passing
by picturing the animal quietly passing in
their sleep. By doing that we won’t have to
make the decision to put them to sleep and
live with the guilt of endless questions
about “did I do the right thing",
“did I do it at the right time” or “am I
being selfish”. It would be great if
that was how it happens but many times the
animal is in great pain and suffering
waiting for the end. We often wish our pet
would have a natural death and die on its
own. Euthanasia can be the biggest gift you
can give your pet.
It is never up to me as a communicator to
tell someone to consider euthanasia. What I
can do is convey the thoughts of the animal
and their wishes. It is totally up to the
animal’s caretaker to decide what is best
for them and their pet.
The word euthanasia conjures all kinds of
thoughts and feelings. It is an emotionally
charged word. The word itself comes from the
Greek words “eu” meaning “well” and
“thanatos” meaning death. Literally it means
an “easy death” or “way of dying”.
Euthanasia is not a word to fear but embrace
as it gives us an opportunity to give our
companion something we as humans can not
give each other, “a well death” or “easy
passing”. Unfortunately because we are a
fear based society that chooses not to
address the issues of death we are afraid of
death instead of understanding it and
embracing it as a part of life. Our animals
may not understand the concept of death but
they also do not fear it as we do. We have
the ability of understanding death and yet
we often chose not to even acknowledge it as
a part of life.
Our animal companions these days are often
our best friend, our closest confidant or
even a surrogate child. With this
human-animal bond our decision making can
become clouded when it comes to euthanasia.
Our pets, more often than not are not going
outlive us, but that comes with the
territory of opening our hearts to them.
We often have a “knowing” that we
need to make a decision but everyone has
there own level of comfort ability around
deciding when to “put your pet to sleep”.
Many times you can just see it in your pets’
eyes. It is a direct line to our heart and
we “know”.
Sometimes the decision is made for us when a
pet is injured so badly nothing is going to
repair the damage, or if their behavior is
such that people are in danger of being
injured due to the animal’s behaviors. We
have an easier time with the decision of
opting for euthanasia because the reality of
these two situations is clear.
Because everyone and every situation is
unique to that relationship there is really
no right or wrong answer. What is right for
me may not be right for you. You need to
look at where your level of comfort ability
is around the issue of euthanasia. The time
for choosing euthanasia is when you feel
emotionally comfortable with the decision to
assist your pet in crossing over. Euthanasia
needs to be chosen from the heart not the
head.
Now, when I say you need to be
emotionally ready to let go in order to
assist your pet I don’t mean that you take
your time in coming to a that conclusion.
The focus needs to shift from you and your
feelings to your animal and its quality of
life. This is the one time in their lives
that that look to us to do the right thing
for them. We as guardians are in a unique
position to assist in giving them the gift
of euthanasia at a time when they need us
the most. You must put your pet’s
needs before your own when it comes to
euthanasia.
If there are other family members involved
in the decision this can make things a
little more complex. If someone is having a
hard time with the decision then sit and
talk with them about their feelings,
especially if there are children involved.
By learning healthy coping skills as
children later losses in life do not have to
be as devastating. Take a look at what you
and your family’s belief systems are around
death and dying. When talking to young
children about the process be careful in
using the words “putting to sleep” when
describing what is going to be happening
with your pet. You don’t want to have them
associate sleep with dying.
Spiritually I believe our animal companions
know no difference between this earth plane
and the heavenly plane they exist on when
they are no longer with us. Animals are, in
fact, more aware of spiritual, holy or
sacred energy than the average human being.
To them they just exist in a difference
space while here or on the other side. When
they come here to be with us on the earth
plane they leave behind those who are sad to
see them leave. We here are happy to have
them with us and when they are ready to go
back home we are the ones that are sad. We
need to honor death for what it is, a
passing of spirit on into another realm,
another form of existence.
I had one client whose dog had led a
privileged life and one with great
adventure. The dog was slowly wasting away
and 3 vets couldn’t pinpoint what the cause
was. I was called it to find out what the
animal wanted to do, more tests and invasive
procedures or was he ready to go? As I
communicated with him he showed me all the
wonderful things he had accomplished in his
lifetime. He loved his owner immensely and
wanted him to know he wanted to pass with
dignity and not with all the extra
lifesaving techniques that were out there.
He had a full life and was grateful for
everything he had, especially his best
buddy, his owner. In conveying the message
the man felt a sense of relief in that he
now felt in his heart he was going to do the
right thing for his beloved pet. He would
honor his dog for all that he had given him
over the years.
For me these spiritual beings are the
closest thing to God. We have much to
learn about unconditional love and what that
word really means. Anything or any
being that keeps the heart open to love of
the great divine should be honored and
cherished. In the act of choosing euthanasia
for our companions we are exercising an act
of unconditional love for them. No
matter how long or how short of a time they
have been with us celebrate the life that
has brought so much to you and has asked so
little.
Sherry B. True is an animal communicator
in the Baltimore, MD area. Please visit her
website for more information on her services
at
www.spiritpaws.com. |
