Treating and following many terminally ill and/or geriatric animals has brought me to assist many caretakers in their sorting and decision-making process over whether or not to put their beloved friend/s to sleep.
I never anticipated this would be part of my animal acupuncture practice. I had to help put to sleep my first dog my very first day of work. Needless to say I was a wreck. Yet he was not even “my” dog, and I did not even have the pleasure of knowing him.
In the following months however I was asked to help again. I quickly realized I had to reassess my belief system regarding death and dying. I quickly had to decide how I would approach this and conduct myself under these circumstances. I could not afford to be a wreck every time.
I decided right then that if, for some mysterious reason, part of my practice was to accompany the animals and caretakers through this, I would do so by rendering this period of time as sacred and unique as possible.
Over the past years I have been asked many more times to be of assistance and guidance.
I have become familiar with the steps that are involved. Most of all I have become able to recognize the telling signs, and able to predict, and answer as best I can many of the their questions.
There usually comes a time where I see that my therapeutic as well as some conventional services will be of no longer avail. If asked to, I will spend as long as necessary dialoguing and preparing with the caretakers. I like to think that they can come to rely fully on me. By no means has it become “easy” for me to serve as a “mediator”. But I have come to accept this role and see that this service is helpful and valuable in many ways. This is also where my being a student of InterFaith Ministry comes into play.
“Death and Dying” is not a topic that is very much discussed in this society, and I feel that, as a result, this unique choice we have of ending an animal’s suffering has become less than sacred. It should be the other way around.
Animals, as many know already, are very sensitive and closely connected to Nature and Spiritual Planes. It is only fair then that their transition be made as gently and compassionately as possible. Grieving should not be tarnished by remorse, guilt or self-blame... Questions and doubts should be addressed as early on as possible.
One ought to prepare, if given the opportunity, so that when the moment of putting an animal companion to sleep finally comes, one’s mind be as clear as possible so as to allow all other grieving emotions to freely come forth. This is a time to be in one’s heart, and not in one’s mind.
Being able to do so may greatly help in dealing with the loss. Being able to do all that could be possible be done should bring some comfort to the heart.
This is a time where I will typically administer Reiki, use either Young Living Essential Oils or Flower Essences and stay open-minded to interspecies communication. I also always work with flower essences, whether to aid in the days/weeks before being put to sleep or dying naturally, during, and up to sometime afterwards. I select individual essences for each animal, and typically prepare formulas to assist the emotional needs of each caretaker in their own grieving process.
Regardless of which system belief you may come from, knowing that your beloved companion was put to sleep in the most sacred manner should help soften your sorrow.