When It's Time to Let Go

The holidays, and special day events like birthdays, are known to be key markers for humans in their lives.
Many times folks who know they are dying will hang on until that special day, then let go and move on. Our animals do this as well. Sometimes it’s just a good day to die, as the Indians would say.

I’ve often noticed that I’ll get numerous calls within a short time period all with people dreading to hear that it’s time to let go, and put their animal companions to sleep. This seems to go in cycles with many making transition around the holidays. These sessions are never easy for me or my Clients, but we always find comfort and certainty through inviting our animal friends to tell us what they want and need, participating in their own care, achieving death with dignity and respect. And sometimes they’re ready, and sometimes they’re not. That’s when talking with them can be such a great gift.

I got up this morning and Peach, my 18 and ½ year old domestic cat companion, teacher, friend and self appointed office manager, was unstable, uncoordinated and dizzy. She was falling around in circles and looked dazed.
I’ve never been so grateful for the gift of animal communication. After my initial panic, I was able to ask her what was wrong, how she was feeling, where it hurt, and what she wanted me to do to help her.

It turns out that she had two problems. One was a stroke and partial (and temporary) paralysis on the right side of her mouth. The second was an injury she’d suffered when she’d tried to jump up on the furniture during the night and had fallen.
She told me she needed some help stabilizing herself, and that she didn’t want to go to the vet, she was just dizzy. She was preparing herself to die, but today wasn’t the day. I honored her decision, held her until she was stable again, and offered her the Bach Flowers Rescue Remedy (I took some too to help with panic, trauma and shock).

After a short while she was hungry and ate very well, managed to make it by herself back to my office ready for work (her work sometimes looks like she’s napping…). I called and got advice regarding treatment for stroke, and began treating her homeopathically and with supplements.

Working with my health care professional is so different when I can be the voice for the animal. They can ask questions and I can answer them based on what the animal tells me and on what I’m observing. This makes it so much easier for the vet or practitioner, and for the animal as well.

It’s my hope that my dear friend will continue to be a part of my life for a good while longer, but if she’s ready to go, I’ll understand. She has my permission to leave when she needs to even though I’d rather she stay forever. As much as I love her, I also respect her. The gift of birth and the joy of entering a life comes with the gift of leaving it as well when it’s time to go.

The death process need not be traumatic or especially painful. I’ve counseled probably a hundred clients with beloved animals in transition during the ten years I’ve worked as a professional animal communicator, and in almost every single case the animal wasn’t afraid of dying. They welcomed it like an old friend, grateful for the release from dysfunctional and pain-ridden physical bodies. Their main conce
and worry was their human friends not understanding the process, painful interference and intervention, prolonging life beyond it’s time, and being besieged with fear and panic in a desperate attempt to hold on to life at all costs.

These very special sentient and wise beings have taught me much about dying, and what happens when we leave our bodies. Basically we float out of body, leaving the shell behind. Our spirit lifts off and we are welcomed back to the spiritual dimension from which we came. I find that our animals go to the same place that we humans do when we’ve finished our purpose here. There is nothing to fear in letting go of life as we have known it, and much to welcome with joy.

Other Beings in our lives sometimes serve us by reflecting back to us the lessons we are here to learn. Many companion animals choose to spend their lives attempting to break through our barriers, help us heal and become reconnected with all Life.

If you are facing the dreaded euthanasia question, or have lost an animal friend and are having trouble making peace with their transition, call me. I can help. Or, if you would like to know more or feel that you and your animal friend could use a communication mediator, please contact me.

Communicating with them telepathically and learning to share life’s experiences is a priceless gift. By far, some of the best teaching, healing and advice I’ve ever received has come from the animals I’ve known, worked with and loved.