Posts Tagged ‘animal hospice’
In Loving Memory of a Special, Sweet Dog, Andy
I’m honored to share BrightHaven President & Founder Gail Pope’s words, in loving memory of a special sweet dog and family member, Andy. Andy Comes Home “In October 2023 I was still reeling from the recent losses of my husband, Richard, and dogs Rosie and Ziggy. I missed dog energy in the home and…
Read MoreA Loving Farewell to a Cherished & Unique Feline Family Member, Purrci
BrightHaven President & Founder Gail Pope shares a heartfelt farewell to a cherished and unique feline family member, Purrci. “The 13th of July 2023 was a BrightHaven red letter day as it was the day that our dog Ziggy invited Purrci [Purr-see] to join our lives. A little overview may help set the stage. How…
Read MoreWhat Animals Want Us to Know: Death is Definitely Nothing to Fear
At BrightHaven, we feel privileged to have provided animal hospice care for and shared the dying experience with over 600 animals who taught us so much. And they showed us time and time again that death is definitely nothing to fear! How Animals Helped Us Release Our Fears About Death and Dying As you can…
Read MoreWhat We Learned from Animals About Living & Dying Well – Part 2 of 2
In Part 1, we explored living well through the last breath the BrightHaven way. Now let’s look at what animals taught us about dying well. And by the way, we’ve learned that quality of dying is as important as quality of living! We truly believe that embracing death as a natural part of life greatly…
Read MoreAnnouncing the BrightHaven Caregiver Academy – Perfect for Pet Parents!
We’re thrilled to share exciting news that marks a new chapter for BrightHaven, the BrightHaven Caregiver Academy! Here’s what BrightHaven President & Founder Gail Pope especially wants you to know about this amazing addition: “After years of dreaming and planning, we’ve launched BrightHaven Caregiver Academy (BCA), a resource dedicated to empowering pet parents with the…
Read MoreHow Can You Help Your Animals Live Well at Every Life Stage? FREE DOWNLOAD
Help your animals live well through the last breath, regardless of circumstances, the BrightHaven way! From a holistic perspective, it is our belief that it’s not just the physical body that becomes ill, but the entire being. In other words, removing the physical symptoms of the illness will not, despite all efforts, restore balance if…
Read MoreAnimal Reiki: A Vital Part of BrightHaven’s Animal Hospice Care – Part 2 of 2
Animal Reiki: A Vital Part of BrightHaven’s Animal Hospice Care – Part 1 of 2
BrightHaven’s approach to animal hospice care the BrightHaven way is all about living well through the last breath, regardless of circumstances. And that’s what Reiki is all about too! What is Animal Reiki? It’s essentially meditating with animals to share a peaceful, kindhearted space where connecting heart-to-heart promotes optimal balance of body, mind and spirit…
Read MoreLatest Animal Caregiver FAQ: What is BrightHaven’s Approach to Grief?
Lessons from Our Animals: What Are 3 Uplifting Opportunities of Grief?
The word “opportunity” may not come to mind when you’re emotionally reeling from the loss of a loved one. But as with most of the events we face in life – even the painful, heartbreaking ones – grieving holds many possibilities to deepen our capacity to grow and to love. Life-changing lessons are often found…
Read MoreHow Can You Join Other Animal Lovers & Give Better Animal Hospice Care?
2 Ways Helpful BrightHaven Caregiver Resources Are Better Than Ever!
BrightHaven’s goal is to help you help your animals live well each and every day! Founded in 1990 by Gail and Richard Pope, BrightHaven is a renowned animal rescue, hospice education and holistic education nonprofit organization. Our primary focus: senior, disabled and chronically ill animals, a vulnerable population that has an overwhelming need to find…
Read MoreHow Do I Navigate a Terminal Diagnosis for My Loved One?
As all of us animal lovers know, being told by the vet that our beloved’s illness is terminal is one of the most difficult things to hear. What do I do now? How can I best support my animal friend? What is the best way forward for our family? These are just a few of…
Read MoreA Beautiful Tribute to Rico, One Amazing Cat
We are honored to share the loving tribute to Rico written by longtime BrightHaven friend and supporter, Dr. Kathryn Marocchino of The Nikki Hospice Foundation for Pets. Along with BrightHaven’s Gail Pope and Dr. Ella Bittel of Spirits in Transition, Kathryn co-created the Quality of Dying Checklist, which assesses quality of life as the hospice journey progresses…
Read MoreOn the Subject of Animal Hospice & Natural Death
In March 2017, Adam Clark, LCSW, AASW, interviewed BrightHaven President and Founder Gail Pope for a Psychology Today article about animal hospice and natural death. This information remains very relevant to those who are seeking an alternative to euthanasia for their beloved animal family member. As you can see from our animal hospice guiding statement,…
Read MoreSo Grateful for Animals Each & Every Day!
It’s that time of year again, when gratitude is in the spotlight. Between you and me, I find that being thankful for what one has is an important part of living well each and every day of the year if one wishes to live a joyful, balanced and fulfilling life. And I am so grateful…
Read MoreIt’s All About Love and Support, and It Starts with You!
Caring for animals who have special needs, are chronically ill or are at end of life can be physically and emotionally draining and may result in burnout or other health issues. Therefore, the caregiver must make self-care a top priority. Here’s an excerpt from Gail’s chapter entitled “It’s All About Love and Support, and It…
Read MoreWhat Really Matters Most Each & Every Day
I often feel uncomfortable when I hear that an animal or person has been given a specific number of days, weeks or years to live when they receive a terminal diagnosis. When it comes right down to it, who actually knows? None of us has an expiry date stamped in ink across our forehead! Of…
Read MoreLoss of Beloved Animal or Human, Grief is Grief is Grief
As BrightHaven’s Gail Pope wrote in “The Art of Dying—What Animals Teach Us” article that recently appeared in the Natural Transitions online magazine: “The death of a beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult things we as animal lovers ever face. In my experience, sometimes this loss is more difficult than that of…
Read MoreA Practical Way You Can Help Bring Comfort to Dying Animals
Melissa recently contacted Gail for a consultation regarding her treasured cat Dexter. About a year and a half ago, he was diagnosed with a cancerous nasal tumor near his right eye. The journey that Dexter and Melissa shared was challenging, and they found Gail’s ongoing animal hospice support extremely helpful. To honor Dexter and to…
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