If you've ever been on the edge of saying goodbye to your beloved animal and suddenly witnessed a surprising burst of energy, you're not alone.

One day they’re withdrawn, tired, not eating… and the next? They seem like their old self again—alert, joyful, even playful. It can feel like a miracle. It can feel like hope. And it can also be confusing, even heartbreaking, if you're already preparing for their transition.

As an Animal Communicator who has walked this road with many clients—and with my own animals—I want you to know:
This is something real. And you're not imagining it.

A Final Gift of Love

It takes an incredible amount of energy for the body to begin the process of releasing the spirit. For many animals, this release doesn’t happen all at once. It unfolds gently, in small increments—like a tide slowly pulling back.

This rise and fall in energy, those “ups and downs,” are part of that sacred rhythm.

And sometimes, there is one final burst of energy or clarity near the end. A rally. A moment where your pet might surprise you by eating again, playing, or wanting to go for a walk.

This is known as a pre-death energy surge in hospice and end-of-life care. It’s well-documented, but when you’re in it, it can feel like a twist in the story you thought you were already writing the ending to.

Read more…

For some, there isn't any time between diagnosis and compassionate euthanasia. The diagnosis is the end. Those moments come as a heart shock, a surreal wave of disbelief and urgency as you try to grasp what's happening. Your head swims with questions, and you're trying to make sense of the news. Your nervous system naturally kicks into overdrive, doing its best to keep you moving through something that feels impossible to process.

If you've experienced this type of loss, I am genuinely sorry for your loss and experience. This loss is where everything happened too fast, where you barely had time to say goodbye—please know you are not alone. This kind of grief is complicated to process, as the reality of what happened often takes time to settle in fully; each moment brings a new layer of a deeper awareness of your pet's loss and, with it, a fresh wave of grief as the loss of your pet lands more deeply and integrates into reality.

There is no perfect way to move through this kind of loss. There is only the deep, tender attempt to show up in love while holding the weight of heartbreak and shock. Please know that at the time, you did the best you could with what you knew, in the time you had, given your circumstances, and all of this under an urgency you never suspected and immense pressure.

Read more…

There is no roadmap for the end-of-life journey with your beloved animal—no absolute signpost that tells you when the "right" time will be. The road isn’t a straight one. And even though it’s now a one-way road, you can still stop and make memories. You can still feel connection. You can still be deeply present.

But let’s be honest: this is one of the hardest places you’ll ever stand in as a pet parent.

You may be feeling unsteady right now—holding so much love, layered with fear, worry, grief, doubt, and the aching question: How do I know when it’s time?

Read more…

I still remember the moments I first began to notice Boshporus slowing down. How he hesitated before jumping onto the bed and in the car, how our long walks started became shorter, his naps longer, his sleeps deeper and snores louder and his once boundless daily energy now ebbing with the days. At first, I brushed it off—a bad day here and there, maybe a little stiffness. But deep down, I knew he was shifting and changing with age. And with that realization, an ache settled into my heart, a grief landing inside for what was changing before my eyes.

Loss comes to us in many forms, but with our pets, it often begins long before their final goodbye. It starts in the small, almost imperceptible ways—when their bodies grow tired, when they take more time to get up, when their enthusiasm for favourite activities begins to wane. This loss isn’t just about their eventual passing; it’s about witnessing the life you shared starting to transform into something different. The reality of your time together lessening. The grief it brings is anticipatory, and it is real.

Read more…

Anticipatory grief is a profound and often misunderstood emotional experience that can arise when you're caring for an aging, ill, or newly diagnosed pet. This grief, which emerges before the actual loss, can be triggered by various milestones and events throughout your pets lifetime—such as birthdays, if they injure themselves, knowing someone who’s pet has passed or is on their end of life journey, the onset of a new illness, or the visible signs of aging.

Read more.

Why do some pet parents feel guilty about their pet's end-of-life (EOL) journey and loss? Pets are active members of your family, and you often have a profound sense of responsibility for them and the choices that you make for them. Sometimes, you feel you may have failed them in that depth of love and caring.

What influences the feelings of guilt? How your beloved pet's EOL journey went, medical care choices and the circumstances leading up to and around their death can all influence the level of guilt you may feel.

When caring for an ailing or aging pet, you may feel regret and guilt if you had any moments of anger, yelled, or felt frustrated with them in their final days. This is due to caregiver tiredness from all the extra assistance/care required, coupled with the high emotions of an EOL journey and the day of your pet’s transition.

Feelings of guilt are common and often present in the early days following their loss as you look back at the care you gave and question whether it was enough, the right thing to do.

In a decade of communicating with animals, I have come to a profound realization:

Read more.

In the realm of animal communication, where understanding and connection transcend spoken words, my journey took an unexpected turn. As an animal communicator, I've guided countless pet parents through the emotional labyrinth of responsible rehoming. Little did I know that one day, I'd find myself standing at the crossroads of this challenging decision, faced with the heart-wrenching choice to rehome my own cherished companion.

Soulstice, my dog of love and lessons. Our paths intertwined during the messiest chapter of my life—post-divorce, navigating the care and eventual loss of my mom. Soulstice came into my life when I faced my darkest corners of grief and loneliness. Together, we embarked on a journey of healing and discovery.

Read more.

Grief surrounding our bonds with pets transcends the final moments; it intertwines with life-altering events like injuries, diagnoses, and the challenging decision to rehome a beloved companion responsibly. In this blog, I aim to unravel the delicate layers of responsible rehoming, where guilt, shame, and grief often converge. This form of grief is often disenfranchised, as pet parents hide their pain, fearing societal judgment.

We all envision a lifetime commitment when we bring a pet into our lives. However, unforeseen circumstances and life challenges can lead to heart-wrenching decisions. As an animal communicator, I've witnessed the multifaceted nature of these choices and their impact on both pet parents and their animal companions.

Read more.

In life, the importance of cherishing the present moment is immeasurable. It allows us to create enduring memories that leave an indelible mark on our hearts. These memories are like snapshots in time, capturing the essence of our joy and love for our cherished animal companions. These snapshots become invaluable medicine for our broken hearts when the inevitable day comes when our pets are no longer by our side.

Each precious moment we spend with our pets is filled with unique emotions, making it a treasure worth preserving. As the saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words," and these words tell a powerful story. They narrate the beautiful journey of your bond with your animal, offering comfort and meaning, especially in times of loss.

Read more.

The ebb and flow of grief is a journey that each of us embarks upon at different points in our lives. While we experience emotions like happiness, joy, sadness, anger, and fear from a young age, grief emerges following a significant loss. The loss and death of a loved one are universal experiences, but grief is unique, as it appears at different times in a person's life. For some, loss strikes early, while for others, it arrives much later, making it elusive and challenging to be understood and supported by those who haven't experienced a significant loss themselves.

Each person's loss is distinct, just as each relationship is unique. This individuality makes it impossible to compare one person's grief to another's, as there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Grief shows up in a disorderly, random manner, and it doesn't adhere to a set pattern.

Read more.

When you recognize the soul within your animal, equal to every other being on this planet, your heart opens wider. Through this openness, you discover a deeper well of gratitude and appreciation—for the time you share, cherished moments, and the incredible gifts you receive from their companionship.

After the passing of a beloved animal, grief often envelops you, and you yearn for their presence. In the midst of this profound sorrow, if you can keep your heart open and walk through your pain, you unearth the courage to face your pain and discover a healing that will open you to growth and a newfound version of yourself you never knew existed.

Read more.

Often, in the end-of-life journey, your pet oscillates between good and bad days, leaving you confused about whether to help them transition with euthanization or begin palliative and hospice care.

When pet parents decide on a day to euthanize their pet, they book an appointment and often end up cancelling it last minute because their pet is now more like their old self.

I've witnessed animals have these ups and downs in their end-of-life journey, where after a big low period, they become more like their happy self and make you second guess your choice. Before I became an animal communicator, I too experienced the painful roller coaster of emotions, watching my pets lose a little bit more of themselves in each low, where they would come close to what I believed was now their time, only to bounce back to be more of their old self again. These highs and lows leave many pet parents confused and filled with self-doubt and uncertainty.

Read more.