When you know it’s coming.

Preparation grief is the distress and onset of knowing the end is near. The knowing that a this big change is coming and anticipating the grief.

For many pet parents this occurs with aging pets, the onset of an illness or the diagnosis of a chronic disease. Instead of allowing a dark shadow to cast over this precious time left, we create ways to find joy, prepare, and recognize this special gift.

For animal caregivers this occurs when aging pets, under long term care, reach a certain point. When continuous bad news must must be delivered to clients. And when too many euthanasias or even natural deaths occur without time to process. And of course, when that special heart baby nears the end.

If you feel any of these emotions prior to your pets last days, you might be experiencing Anticipatory Grief:

• Anger

• Anxiety

• Desperation

• Dread

• Guilt

• Lethargy - lack of any motivation

• Loneliness

• Unable to control emotions

• Anti Social

During Pet Loss Mentor Personal Sessions, you learn ways to utilize this time as your special gift, focus on the present love in front of you, and build a bridge to the future.

The Final Walk

It all begins with love.

Death is an integral part of life's important experiences and journey.

The key element at your beloved’s final walk is you, if granted the gift of presence during this difficult time.

When the element of surprise robs you of this gift of presence and the journey continues on, you receive on call support to manage the most difficult day in loving your pet.

On-call support for final hours.

Unlimited text support.

Sacred space, ritual and ceremony help to build a bridge between life and death.  Let’s infuse sacred practices that feel most connective and meaningful to you and your loved ones.

Ancient pet burials date from the dawn of animal domestication. Cultures from every continent on the planet, except Antarctica, created rituals for animals.

Death rituals also occur within the animal kingdom. Dolphins, elephants, and chimpanzees are only a few examples of an animals that hold special rituals for their departed.

Working with nature and understanding the rituals of other cultures and species help us find alignment within our own beliefs and better embrace end of life journeys. Look for ideas and options to connect your unique expression with your beloveds.

Uncover rituals, perfect for you and your family, to perform before, during and after the final walk.

When words are inadequate, turn to rituals. Rituals aid in the grieving process and allow you and others to express the deepest of sentiments through action.

PREPARATIONS

End of life decisions become more difficult at the last minute. The luxury of time helps with grief. Together we explore all options and plan what’s best for your pet and you.

To euthanize or not. At home, in a veterinary clinic or another location.

To bury or cremate.

What questions to ask your veterinarian, crematory, funeral home and family.

To host a wake or not.

Tools needed for preparation.

We all experience death differently.

Each member of the family undergoes a form a grief unique to their relationship to that animal.

Even if you’ve experienced pet loss before, this pet is different and so is the grief.

Animals experience grief too. Some show deep signs, physical and/or emotional, while others show very few signs.

Stages of grief wax and wane. Some never appear. Some stay longer than others. Some attach to us deeply.

Learning to understand these stages helps us to navigate grief with an anchor.

The shadow side of working with animals is death. Animals die. Their short lives often hit us hard. Over time we learn to build walls to protect ourselves but the grief leaks out in many forms.

Compassion Fatigue is a big combo of physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual depletion associated with caring for animals in significant emotional and physical pain. It’s untreated trauma.

Whether you’re in veterinary medicine, animal health, rescue, zoos, animal welfare, or any animal caretaker role, CF can darken a once loved career.

Burnout, unexpected euthanasias, too many deaths in a short period of time, difficult clients, unsupportive work environment, financial upsets (animal related and/or personal), limited beliefs, or work related traumas are all connected to CF.

Staying connected to the work we love is possible. Providing loving care for animals without feeling hopeless is within your reach. Learn how to become Compassion Resilient.