hospice4animals

Saying Goodbye To Tanti

2011-05-16T00:49:00.001-07:00

Two weeks ago, I again said goodbye to a dear animal companion. This time, almost exactly a year after Sparky, it was my cat Tanti. This time it was not the peaceful, idyllic experience that I had with Sparky’s death. It was difficult. I was second-guessing myself and on the verge of seeking euthanasia for Tanti daily. She did die a natural death, but it was not comfortable for me, though I do not believe that she suffered. Unlike Sparky, she just did not seem to be ready to go.

I think one thing that I have learned this time is that each death is an individual experience as unique and individual as those involved. I do not think that any two people or animals live this life in exactly the same way, nor do they exit it in the exact same fashion. Each death is, itself, a direct expression of the unique life that was lived.

Tanti was an annoying, ferociously loving cat that was always in my face Whatever she made her mind up to do, she would not give up, no matter how many times I tried to deter her or distract her. It did not matter if it was getting on the counter to drink water from the sink or kneading her claws on my back. If she wanted it, she was going to do it with an unequal zeal and joy, and she persisted until she got what she wanted, every time.

It was no different in her dying. Unlike her sister Mesa, she had not settled gracefully into old age. She was as spunky as she had always been. One day, seemingly overnight, she began to lose weight and became disinterested in eating and playing. She started coughing and soon after went into a serious decline. After a week, I thought she was dying and decided that I should shift my philosophy of care from a cure to comfort care for her. I tried to do everything I could do to make her comfortable and pain free, but it was very hard to watch her have a progressively difficult time breathing. She never complained, she took it in stride, but she was clearly increasingly exhausted by her laborious efforts to get air into her lungs.

It took, though, about ten days of this before she seemed to give up the idea, herself, that she was going to live on through this and persevere. Eventually, instead of fighting it, I sensed her resignation as well, and it was a relief for me. Death suddenly became the objective, the reward for both of us as a team and we could accomplish that in her time and with as much comfort and closure as possible. As a veterinarian, I thought that she could not continue to live given the damage to her lungs, but as her owner that was difficult for me to accept. One of the biggest difficulties was my panic that she did not understand how sick she was and that she was trying to continue to live despite how unrealistic I thought this had become.

It took Tanti about two days before she actually passed from this life. She had been lying on the floor for a day, near the edge of my bed without moving around very much. I spent much of the day lying beside her on the floor. Suddenly, she struggled to get up and seemed to be trying to get in my lap. It almost broke my heart because if I tried to pick her up her breathing would become much worse and she seemed to be entering the active immediate process of dying. I would lay her back down, and only when I did let her struggle to breathe her last in my lap did she actually die. I felt so conflicted, and did not know if the act of picking her up killed her, or if she was waiting to die to get in my lap! I will never know except that I know that against my own comfort, I did what she was asking me to do ultimately.

In retrospect, her actual death was not nearly as difficult for me as the days leading up to it. I felt I was suffering and at cross-purposes to her wishes to continue living, and I was giving her terminal, palliative care. This was completely the opposite of the experience with Sparky, whose slow, gentle progression to death was easy and without conflict. I have learned that my inability to remain peaceful through Tanti's death was a reflection of her tenacity and deep bond we shared. There was not much peaceful about Tanti in life, and I guess I know now that her death reflected her life. It was very difficult for both of us to let go and accept that our long integral journey together was ending. It also was difficult because she was suddenly ill. She seemed vibrant and healthy one day and weak and sick the next. Once she died, I was able to examine her mouth and throat and saw a large tumor way back in the back of her throat with small nodules all over the very farthest part of her tongue that I could see. This tumor must have quickly strapped her strength and weakened her immune system. The virus and bacterial infections she had were only secondary.

I buried Tanti next to Sparky in my backyard. My house seems very empty, and yet, despite the difficulty of this experience, for me I am still glad that I was able to maintain hospice care for Tanti. I am glad she died at home. I can, though, never judge for anyone else when euthanasia is a gift they choose to give their pet. Not all of us can spend the time at home, as long as it takes. We have to be able to afford the luxury of both time and resources to offer the appropriate hospice experience. We have to have support from our friends and family, and have understanding professionals to aid us in this journey. I hope that with time, hospice care for pets will become a reality that is available to those who can offer it. The availability does not always make this an ideal and peaceful process, though the result is usually gratitude and a much greater understanding and appreciation of life from our experiences with death.

Saying Goodbye To Sparky: One Year Later

2011-03-31T15:04:00.003-07:00

One year ago I said my final goodbyes to my dear twenty-three year old cat Sparky; or so I thought. I sat next to him and offered him comfort care as he approached the end of his life. I was fortunate enough to take care of him at home and give him Hospice care until he chose when to make his transition from this world we shared for so many years. I was able to keep him comfortable and he seemed happy and peaceful right up to the very demonstrative way he made his exit. (He demanded to go outside for the first time in ten years and died peacefully a few moments later on his blanket in the sunshine.)

Contrary to what you may think, Sparky's and my hospice experience was one of the most joyful times in my life. That was a very positive surprise. I was blessed to be able to set aside a few weeks of my life to be with him and tell him how much I loved him, tend to his every need and help him as his focus shifted away from this life. Experiencing hospice with Sparky taught me more than I could have imagined about my life, not just death. Instead of wrestling now with my grief and guilt, as I have for all the other pets I have loved that have died, I am instead, at peace. I am more comfortable with my life and the certainty of my own death. I even enjoy each day more.

How are all these positive benefits possible from an experience I dreaded and expected to be gut-wrenching and traumatic? My dear friend Dr. Ella Bittel teaches a course entitled Spirits In Transition (http://www.spiritsintransition.org/) that I took a mere six months before Sparky died. She taught me about the dying process itself: breaking it into stages just as we know from human hospice. We are most afraid of what we do not understand. By learning more about death I was freed from my overwhelming fear of the unknown. As a Veterinarian, I have seen death as the ultimate failure. I have advocated for Hospice, practiced it, as well as helped my animal clients make life and death decisions about their beloved pets, and I have euthanized thousands of animals. Hospice does preclude euthanasia, but does not assume it is always the best option. I have learned that Animal Hospice can teach us to accept death as part of life, not dread this process, and say goodbye to our dearest animal companions a different way. We can allow them a comfortable, natural death.

I have come to cherish this time I had with Sparky, and it has truly rewritten my life. Instead of saying a final goodbye to Sparky, his death has become a part of my life. His lesson has left me daily with a new gratitude for each moment and every small experience of the deepest love that we can share; especially with the animal companions of our lives. My personal hospice experience with Sparky left me most of all with an overwhelming experience not of mourning, but of abiding joy. He remains with me now each day, and he taught me that our dearest pets really are, always,eternally, and right now, here with us.

Writing Saying Goodbye To Sparky

2010-11-28T02:07:00.000-07:00

Infinite Blessings

It has been so difficult to take Sparky's story to fruition. I have been writing and writing and yet at times going around in circles. I am trying to publish Sparky's story to help spread the word about Animal Hospice. I feel driven to share my intense agonizing over the decision not to euthanize him. I need to recount the experience and help others in the same situation arrive at their best solution given the wonderful/terrible responsibility we have for the animal members of our families. I most want to share the incredible blessing that being present to his death became. I finally am taking some steps to find a publisher and put it out there. I hope it will explain how death progresses, why a natural death without suffering is possible, and help for those going through the grieving process. I hope, also , that I can do justice to this calling that has captivated me and will not let me go! Thank you for all the support and comments here and elsewhere, I will keep you posted! In the meantime, have a Blessed Holiday Season, and love your pets, family, friends and your world the best you can while they are here.

xxxjme

Saying Goodbye To Sparky: Final Chapter 3/04/2010

2010-08-30T23:42:00.002-07:00

Mesa keeps watch over Sparky

I thanked Sparky for moving to the new house with me.

Mesa loved him

Sweet Mesa kept vigil, watching over Sparky until one day before he died. She sat for weeks, literally touching him all hours of the day until March 3, when I saw something very odd. She stood up, and very carefully and deliberately stepped over his body one leg at a time. She then walked away and never showed any interest in him again. I knew she had said her goodbyes. The next day he grew weaker and weaker, hardly lifting his head and his body became more and more stretched out. I had to go to the title company one more time to deliver new loan documents in a very stressful, long drawn out refinance that was forced on me due to complications with the purchase on my new home. I had to turn these papers in by five o'clock, and I was leaving town the next morning. I knew Sparky was finally getting ready to leave this life, and I did not know what to do. I left him on my bed for a few minutes and went to make some tea. I heard a terrible THUMP and thought he had rolled off the bed onto the floor. I was panicked and did not know what I would find as I ran from the kitchen to the bedroom. Sparky had hardly moved for an entire day, yet there he was next to my bed on the floor dragging himself across the floor. My heart broke as he started to howl. I picked him up yet he struggled with all he had left and climbed frantically up my shoulder. I took a deep breath and tried to feel what it was he wanted. I put him back on the bed, only to have to watch him launch himself right off the edge and again, he fell, and hit the floor with a terrible thud. I opened my bedroom door, and watched in panic and horror as he dragged himself through two rooms and pressed his nose against the french doors leading outside to the back yard. He looked like a turtle trying to push open those doors with his nose alone. He looked up right into my eyes and meowed. It was not any longer a howl, but a demand. For a moment he again was my demanding bossy cat, though physically he was just skin and bones, his voice had all the strength and timbre of his younger self. Suddenly I relaxed. I knew he wanted to die outside NOW. I asked him to wait as I ran and got his favorite blanket, grabbed him and rushed out into the beautiful Spring Arizona air and the sun warming the backyard. I put the blanket and Sparky on the ground and lay down by him, now he was almost completely motionless. Almost. He stuck out his paw, and to my shock grabbed my hand with his nails and pulled it to him. I stared in wonderment, all fear and anxiety had evaporated as I tried only to BE THERE with him. He was running the show! In another instant he completely relaxed and he seemed to sigh very deeply. It came into my mind to tell him his life story and the words just began to pour out of me. I thanked Sparky for moving to the new house with me, and waiting to die until I knew I could keep this home. I told him what an amazing cat he was and how much he meant to me, and also how much Mesa loved him. I told him how grateful I was that he had shared so much of my life with me. I reminded him that he had gotten me through Vet School, the beginning and end of a marriage, and the birth of my daughter. He had been there so long; longer than any man, through both wonderful and terrible times. He was there so long I could not remember my life without him. I told him I loved him, but I would be OK, and he could go.

I will always love you Sparky

He breathed out deeply and he was gone. I promised him I would bury him right there, in the spot he had chosen to die.

I planted two small red sunflower seedlings next to his grave, and they flourished. They grew tall and beautiful and made many seeds that fell there. I know there will be many more red sunflowers next year to remind me of my special Sparky.

I will always love you Sparky. You taught me that death was truly a beautiful journey, you taught me to let go of my fears. I know I will see you again.
xxxjme

Saying Goodbye To Sparky

2010-03-01T01:46:00.002-07:00

Tonight I think my 23 year old kitty Sparky may be beginning the active dying process. I am much more aware now of the stages of dying that we and our animal companions move through as we near death. It is a kind of backwards dance with life; a graceful exit. I have learned much through practical experience with dying patients. But even more valuable was attending the first two International Veterinary Hospice Symposiums sponsored by the Nikki Hospice Foundation (www.pethospice.org) and taking Dr. Ella Bittel's Spirits In Transition course (www.spiritsintransition.org).

I am very peaceful and comfortable being present at a beautiful goodbye for my beloved pet. I am making sure he is comfortable and trying to allow his wishes and not intefere as long as I believe he himself is ok with it. For the first time I am wholly committed to this experience. I am not attempting to control or change or "fix" it. I am trying to completely accept the best most holistic definition of Hospice as allowing the dying process. I hope I can accept it, not fear or avoid it, not postpone or hasten this precious death. I think I can do this because he is not suffering and I am not as ignorant as I was!

Sparky is teaching me about my own life as I accept his death. I feel so much at this moment like celebrating this miracle much as if it was a birth! These are very personal statements, and I am not saying I would never euthanize him as I did many many animals in my past history. I just pray that I do not need to. I am hopeful that I can let him take his own time to die.

This is absolutely the first time I have greeted the end of a dear life with joy and peace and not fear,avoidance or tragedy. I will write more on these specifics of what I have learned later.

I have no idea when he will decide to pass into the next realm. I am humbled and grateful to have arrived at this place to be just with him now in this sacred space.

The Second International Symposium on Veterinary Hospice continues to challenge me to change my life and myself; to accept death as joyously as birth, to die well to live well

2009-10-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

I am at the Second International Veterinary Hospice Symposium at UC Davis's College of Veterinary Medicine. Just like last year, this Symposium is again causing me to change my life. I am completely taken over by the idea that our pets are sentient, feeling, soulful creatures that we are responsible for. When an animal looks into my eyes, I DO know what they want, what they are asking of me. I never really admitted that when I was a practicing Veterinarian. Now that look, those eyes are the reason I must write and help Veterinarians and concerned pet "owners" to accept the death of their pets and participate in the process through Animal Hospice. Finally, here at the Symposium, are some good journalists, this will be on the radar now. I am no journalist, and am struggling to write and express myself. I am driven, however, to try to get Vets and other caregivers, and pet owners to know about Veterinary Hospice. Something about this subject, this idea is all encompassing and life changing. Sharen Myers LCSW gave an amazing talk, and meeting her, I saw my new passion mirrored in her eyes. She has worked in human hospice for many years and is starting Synergy a Pet Hospice in Oregon. She quoted Cicely Saunders a Hospice pioneer who said "I did not find Hospice, Hospice found me". She also said about Hospice that "It took me 19 years to build a house around a window." Hospice has caused me to rethink first, my own life, my ideas about life itself, and then infused me with a burning desire to tell other people what the animals want.
I thought, because of my health issues, I had to be at home. Dr. Kathryn Maracchino told me last year to "work to your abilities, not your disabilities". I came to the first Hospice Symposium. Since then I have driven 5000 miles each summer with my daughter to help people in New Orleans, and to just have an adventure with her. I think that has changed both our lives. This lisence to GO that I got from Kathryn in one instant absolutely changed my life. That First Symposium then changed my views of life itself. This Second Symposium contimues to alter my basic values and views for the better.
I have learned in our culture , especially in the USA, we AFRAID of death. Sharen Myers quoted Margaret Mead who said "When someone is born, we rejoice. When someone marries, we celebrate. When someone dies, we pretend nothing happened." Death IS the equal and opposite process of birth. If we want to live well, we need to die well and vice versa. We may try to ignore this for ourselves, but we are faced with death full force with our pets. We love them so much and they love us so purely. We are responsible for them, feed them and take care of them, but in reality they take care of us. I know there is an amazing spiritual, pure love connection with our animals. I know I am being loved when I look into a kitty like Zoomi's eyes. There is a message there, and now I am not afraid to admit that, and thrive in that knowledge. The Hospice Symposium has validated the path and the truth that I feel in my gut. I have found the courage to change my life from that knowledge. Something about dealing with the moment of death teaches us how to well live our lives. There is the very kernal of sacredness here, and the lesson is to experience it. The speakers here have taught me that THE most important thing is to BE PRESENT and open to the experience. This was presented about the dying process, but it has taught me about the living process. This is what I learn when I look into those eyes: love is here, in the moment, and I must learn to live with this love first and foremost in my every moment.

Dr. Shanan speaks to Hospice as the Answer

2009-08-28T11:25:00.001-07:00

Dr. Amir Shanan has been a Veterinary Hospice Practitioner at his hospital Compassionate Veterinary Care in Chicago Illinois for twenty years. http://www.compassionatevet.com/index.html
He is the Founder of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care. www.iaahpc.com (see The First Post below and right column of this blog) which will have its first meeting in conjunction with the Second Symposium on Veterinary Hospice and Palliative Care Sept 4-7 at UC Davis College of Veterinary Medicine (see below). Please read his thoughtful comments that explain how Hospice can help us proceed through the grief process on a healthy emotional path as well as provide the most comfortable and humane path for the pet members of our families:

Amir Shanan, Hospice Veterinarian said...

Dear Jamie,
There's no way to prevent the emotional pain we feel when we lose a source of unconditional love with the passing of a beloved animal companion.

But grief can be complicated by many factors, and some of those are preventable. An important goal of hospice is to address any preventable cause of complicated grief.

Animal hospice works towards this goal in the following ways:
1. Providing support. Having support is important because grief is inherently a very lonely experience. Support is helpful not only after the loss, but also before and during the loss. Support can be offered through active listening, being a sounding board in the process of making complicated decisions, taking over nursing care or nonmedical tasks periodically or regularly, and many other ways of showing empathy.
2. Second guessing our own actions [and others'] often makes grief more painful that it could be. Hospice philosophy is focused on assisting the family in making the very best decisions and on assuring the greatest comfort possible for the patient. This approach can alleviate at least some of the burden of guilt and self criticism.
3. Having an opportunity to spend much needed time with and saying goodbyes to your dying companion can be their last gift to surviving family members and a source of comfort during the inevitable grief that follows.

Please encourage your audience to actively support the increasing number of organizations dedicated to educating animal lovers and veterinary professionals about the benefits of animal hospice.

Why is it so hard when a pet dies?

2009-08-25T00:20:00.004-07:00

"Goodbye My Friend

I know I will never see you again,

But the love you gave me through all the years

Will take away these tears

It's OK now

You can go now

Goodbye my friend"

Karla Bonoff

Losing a pet, at any age can be one of the most difficult things we can go through in our lives. Why is it so hard? It can be as bad or even worse than losing a close human family member. I think that this is for a few reasons: our pets give true unconditional love, the loss seems too large to accept, and we can not mourn properly for them.

Our pets give us true, unconditional love. How many people can do this? Pets give and want no more then to give more. They never are resentful or too tired to show you how much they love you. In my opinion, animals are capable of great love and devotion with no strings attached. When you have a special pet, the bond you can share is almost indescribable and deepens over the years. We can grow to understand and communicate with our special fur friend in a truly delightful way. This is not a one way relationship; they always seem to know when YOU need some special attention. When this deep playful, reciprocal love is taken by the death of your pet, the loss can be as deep as the love was.

When we are close to people, we still have disagreements. In my opinion, there is no baggage when a pet dies. I know this sounds terrible. When my 16 year old cat Stahzy died. I was inconsolable. I am a Veterinarian who had to deal with death daily. It did not matter when it happened to me. I had no regrets or guilt about the relationship with my cat. I wanted her back so badly, I truly was not sure I could go on without her. I knew that I appreciated her everyday, and told her I loved her. I do not understand, but this made my grief worse. It was, to me, the most perfect love I could experience with another living creature in this imperfect life. This loss seemed too great to accept.

When we have such a deep loss, unless we mourn properly it is very difficult to move through the stages of grief. In our society, even though our closest pets have been elevated to precious family members we can not grieve for them properly. I believe we need chapels, funerals, personal days and more to truly acknowledge this loss. It is very difficult to process these feelings when we are embarrassed that they are from a pet's death. We should be allowed to own this grief not be embarrassed by it. Part of the job of advocating for Animal Hospice is to ensure the physical comfort of our pets, and the emotional needs of the grieving owner are met as well. We need to understand the death process and understand this is a natural part of the life of the animals we love.

I know I may be simplifying a very complicated issue, and this is just my opinion. However, there is a big disconnect in our society between how important animals have become for us and the allowances made us when they die. The loss in some ways seem worse than a family member, and we are so devastated because it is difficult to pass through the stages of grief. We need to all work together to try to remedy this. We need to make efforts be an empathetic friend to those near us who lose a pet. We need to find ways to memorialize our pets, remember them and celebrate their lives. Acknowledging how large our loss is the first step towards working through it. Seeking pet cemeteries, chapels, having a funeral and talking about our grief can help.

If you need help, I encourage you to speak to a counselor, a Pet Loss Hotline, your Veterinarian and your friends who have been through a similar situation. Memorialize your pet, celebrate their lives.

Compehensive list of Pet Loss Hotlines: http://is.gd/2xI6H

from www.rainbowbridge.com another excellent resource

I also invite you to comment here and join me on About.com to discuss these ideas and how they have affected you: http://is.gd/2xHIz

Who should go to the 2nd Hospice Symposium for Animals?

2009-08-12T20:02:00.004-07:00

In the words of the The Nikki Hospice Foundation for Pets (www.pethospice.org) and The Assisi International Animal Institute (www.assisianimals.org) sponsers of the Second International Symposium on Veterinary Hospice and Pallative Care, the meeting is highly reccomended

for veterinarians, holistic veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary students, veterinary assistants, clinical practice managers, hospice professionals, hospice program managers, hospice volunteers, nursing personnel, medical staff, professionals in complementary and alternative medicine, psychologists, grief counselors, social workers, mental health professionals, bereavement facilitators, hospice volunteers, animal health care practitioners, shelter and SPCA staff, animal welfare workers, animal communicators, pet massage therapists, pet-sitters, animal chaplains, funeral directors and others in related fields, as well as the general public.

Shay, who was very ill when rescued, greatly appreciated pain control and comfort techniques her care takers learned through Veterinary Hospice training. Please come and learn what you can do to advance this new field!

Check out: http://www.cevs.ucdavis.edu/confreg/index.cfm?confid=442

Please send this to everyone who may be interested in this great opportunity to learn,

engage, discuss, and bring Hospice Care to more pets!

2nd International Symposium on Veterinary Hospice and Palliative Care

2009-08-12T18:41:00.003-07:00

Blanco is 29 years old and in mild discomfort from arthritis. As he gets older, he DESERVES to be made comfortable and have his treatment and welfare to be foremost in his caretakers mind. Our animals, pets and friends deserve to have Hospice and Palliative Care as a choice in their end of life options. They deserve to be as pain free as modern Veterinary Medicine can provide. Veterinary Hospice is a new field. We NEED EVERYONE who is concerned about animals, work with animals, love animals, and care about animals learn about Hospice Care For Animals . On September 4-7, 2009 (over Labor Day) at the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine YOU can be part of the historic Second International Symposium on Veterinary Hospice and Palliative Care. The first day is an optional tour of BrightHaven a holistic Hospice for Animals and Pet Sanctuary founded by Gail and Richard Pope. (www.brighthaven.org) The rest of the program is filled with the latest information from the leading experts in Veterinary Pain Management, Hospice Philosophy and History, Animal Communicators, How to Implement a Hospice Practice, Personal Experiences, and much more. This is the opportunity to be involved with the beginning of a new field that greatly needs new people to bring this back to every community to give every pet the chance for Hospice Care. Blanco would appreciate it if you would come to this meeting and help change the face of pet care!

The First Post/What is iaahpc?

2009-05-31T23:18:00.005-07:00

We are here to help with the difficult questions, answers, feelings, decisions, and current lack of information on hospice care for animals. This means we are here to help anyone concerned with the end of life compassionate care for animals or relieving pain in animals near the time of death or trying to understand and relieve pain in animals. Whether you are a professional, (Veterinarian looking for information about providing Veterinary Hospice care,a Human Palliative Medicine provider, a Veterinary Nurse, or any Animal Care Professional) or just trying to get answers for your own animal, we are here. Currently there is not a lot of information out there. There ARE Veterinarians who have been practicing Animal Hospice (or Palliative or comfortable pain relieving care) for decades. Unfortunately they are not yet in every city in the world, in every State in the USA, nor do most Veterinarians even know Animal Hospice exists. There is a great deal of information available from both professional, commercial, owners and breeder sources to easily answer questions you may have about your new kitten or puppy. We want to make information about Elder pet care just as easy to find when you need it. Because we are all taking such good care of our animals, they are living longer and longer just like we are. They are old enough to have more geriatric diseases and we must each ask what we want to do given our personal beliefs, what we can do given our resources and how to make these decisions in the best way we can. We want to provide a place where those conversations, decisions and consideration can occur. We also want to educate both Veterinarians and owners as well as other health professionals can get information or find a practitioner near you who can help. There are both Allopathic, and Naturopathic and inbetween Veterinarians practicing Palliative Care for animals. There are those of us who believe in euthanasia and those that don't. We hope we can provide a place for these debates to occur. Our forums are open for discussions now, and we hope that you will help us grow this field so that when Jacquie-O needs it, there will be a place nearby that she can go. Please comment here or contact us through www.iaahpc.org. We grew out of a need that one dedicated Veterinarian (Dr. Amir Shanan) with a core group of people active in Veterinary Hospice Care and Veterinary Medicine. This was done after the First International Symposium for Veterinary Hospice Care was held at the University of California at Davis College of Veterinary Medicine March 28-30,2008. This conference was sponsored by the Nikki Hospice Foundation For Pets and the Assisi International Animal Institute, Inc. I will talk about this legacy in another post, but in the meantime you can learn more here: www.PetHospice.org (Nikki Hospice Found.) or www.iaahpc.org, the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care website for information about what this organization is trying to accomplish. I say "we" because I am committed to helping this organization get off the ground. It is very new just having been granted 501c status that allows members to join. This is not an "official" website, I have just been inspired to add this to the effort. I have been so humbled and overwhelmed at the amazing conversations that have taken place through Twitter. I also have been reinvigorated because I see just how important this is for the gentle creatures that we love. I practiced Veterinary Medicine for a long time before I knew about Animal Hospice. I struggled years with trying to find the most gentle ways of touching and treating older animals that were in pain. I spent many years trying to read and communicate with others about euthanasia and it is a sacred and heavy responsibility to decide on and to assist. I spent many of my working hours counseling pet parents about their choices and options. I had a "comfort room" like a living room where I could talk quietly and let parents and kids spend the night with the ill animal members of their family. I began to understand that some folks just did not feel it was their right to euthanize their pet, and I helped those animals be as comfortable as possible until their time came to leave our world. I had practiced Animal Hospice for many years without knowing it existed. No matter what your beliefs are it is wrong for each Vet, each pet owner and each animal to go through this re-inventing the wheel. It is wrong we are left feeling alone with these wonderful/terrible questions. Animal Hospice needs to be as much a part of your pets lifeplan as good preventative care and good nutrition. Hospice needs to be a part of every veterinary practice or Veterinary Hospice Practitioners be available everywhere. I want this to be easier for Jacquie-O when she grows old BECAUSE I took such good care of her at the beginning of her life so I CAN take better care of her near the end of her life. Please, comment, here or follow me on Twitter and let me know what you think! xxxjmedvm

Under Construction!Coming Soon!

2009-05-08T21:53:00.000-07:00

Hi! We are busy figuring this out,and we will get this up and running real soon! This will be a place to remember your pets,ask questions,discuss end of life and palliative care....in short:WELCOME TO hospice4animals!!!