Welcome To The Pack
Chances are you will outlive your dog. I have outlived many, and each time I remember it being difficult to imagine how I'd survive the experience of their death or envision my life without them.
Looking back, I know I did the best I could within the circumstances at the time. The truth is, I've had plenty of experience being unprepared to make good decisions and remember being even less prepared to make them on a moment's notice. Today I know better, and I want that for you, too.
We don't usually talk in advance about what things we might or might not want for our dog at the end of their life, the range of choices and possibilities available, the "should we because we can" considerations, or all the other issues and complications that can arise; at the end of dog's life (or our own!) It's time to change that.
There are many benefits to beginning the conversation sooner than later. Simply starting helps us better prepare and guides our decisions, and helps us avoid inaction, ease suffering, and avoid unresolved grief.
It also helps us appreciate and enjoy every moment NOW!
photo of Tracey and Cash - credit: Deb Watrous
About Tracey
Tracey's remembers her very first dog when she was 2 - a little Dachshund named Schatze. Since then she's lived with and loved many including Swissies since 1998.
She is an ICF Professional Certified Coach, an IOA Certified Organizational Ombuds, and is trained in Grief Relief, Recovery and Resilience, Pet Loss Support and as an End-Of-Life Doula (for people) and Companion Animal Doula (for people and their pets). She holds a BS in Animal Science from Cornell University and MS in Animals and Public Policy from the Cummings Veterinary College at Tufts University.
Tracey has been around non-human animals her whole life and was called to this conversation at a young age. She has a particularly impactful experience in her early 20's when working at the Irish National Stud where she experienced the untimely death of a beloved stallion under her care, and the death of horse's veterinarian in the same week. The horse suffered an orthopedic injury which required surgery, and was euthanized in the recovery stall after the surgery failed. The veterinarian who performed both the surgery and euthanasia took his own life shortly after.
Today, we can do better. This work aims to embolden YOU to make the best life and death decisions possible, and so you can help others to do so, too.
Talking Now Helps Later.