Listening with Love When It’s Time to Let Them Go
Choosing when to euthanize an animal friend can be harrowing at best, and a nightmare at worst. As animal lovers and empaths, it seems impossible to avoid; as much as we’d like to.
We know that someday, the time will come when we have to say goodbye to our beloved animal friend, so we try to stay in the moment as much as possible. But then the inevitable happens.
Their loss can be unexpected and tragic, or it can be a slow process that leaves us with making a difficult decision. In the end, they might be barely functioning and we don’t want them to suffer.
But what if they aren’t ready to go yet? And what if WE aren’t ready to let them go? It’s difficult to say goodbye at all, not to mention to be the one to “pull the trigger” and make the final decision to allow them to pass on.
After all, in our culture we typically don’t euthanize people (although it’s acceptable in some places). We try to keep humans going – whatever it takes.
And it can be the same with animals; spending thousands on veterinarian care or other holistic treatments, until we finally have to accept that they’re not getting any better. For some, it can be an easy choice to let go. But when it comes to being an animal empath, we’re between a rock and a hard place.
On one hand, we sense their suffering and it hurts us too; so we don’t like to know they’re in pain or struggling to survive. On the other hand, even though we believe they’ll be in a better place if we do let them go, we won’t be looking at them, interacting with them or touching them like we’re used to doing. (Breaking that strong bond isn’t easy.)
We can worry if it’s the “right time” or not. Because the truth is: We don’t want to cut their life short, even if they’ve been with us awhile.
I’ve experienced both sudden and unexpected loss, in addition to being faced with the euthanasia decision, and either one is difficult. But euthanasia puts the weight on our shoulders.
I’m a healer, and even though I know our animal friends cross over to the afterlife and are still around us, it’s tough to not be able to help them heal and to live on. We also have to adjust to no longer feeding, petting and being greeted by our fur baby.
I think of the sudden loss of a pet and often our best friend, like ripping off a band aid. It hurts deeply temporarily, but then we heal and are spared the difficulty of making a choice.
But when our animal friend is suffering (such as in the case of kidney disease which my dog Maggie had), then the decision of when to let them go needs to be made. (In the end, the veterinarian ended Maggie’s suffering as she was having a seizure.)
Yet, if we feel we made the decision too soon, then we wonder: “Could they have been around longer so that we could enjoy their company?” If we wait longer we may think “did I allow them to suffer needlessly”?
The best answer is to go with your “gut”. What FEELS right to you? There is no right way, and no one else can make the decision for you.
Only YOU know your animal friend inside and out. By tuning into them and getting a sense of where they’re at (unless there’s a case of obvious suffering), you can get an understanding of whether they’re ready.
It’s also important to prepare yourself for grieving, and to know that whatever emotions you’re feeling are a normal part of the process.
Above all: Love yourself, and allow yourself the space to understand and to know that healing is needed. And finally, know your fur baby is with you not only in this life but beyond it.
We can still tune into them and receive the unconditional love they have for us. And as an animal communicator, I can tell you that I’ve never gotten the message that they resented the difficult decision we made.
Both in this life and the afterlife, our animal friends have nothing but unconditional love for us. They know that we loved them and did our best during their lifetime.
So know that guilt is part of grief, and that many animal empaths struggle with finding peace of mind when it comes to animal loss and euthanasia. It’s all part of the process.
But do let yourself off the hook, and feeling overly responsible for whatever happened that led to their passing. Try to reflect on the good times, and all of the awesome love and care you gave them while they were here.
Saying goodbye to a beloved animal is never easy — and it’s never one-size-fits-all. Trusting your gut, listening deeply to your animal, and honoring the connection you share is the most loving path you can take.
If you’re seeking clarity, comfort, or peace of mind around this transition, I offer Animal Angel Messages and Healing Sessions to help you connect more deeply with your animal’s soul and receive guidance from the heart.
️Check out my Animal Communication page to learn more and book your session: https://mustangmindset.com/animal-communication/
