Aspire Magazine: Inspiration for a Woman's Soul.(TM) Oct/Nov 2018 Aspire Mag Full Issue | Page 56

Peace in Passing:
Navigating the
Loss of a Pet
W
BY MARIBETH COYE DECKER
hen it comes to putting a beloved pet down, my heart breaks. Every time. I witness
people struggling to decide what’s best. Their thoughts are uncertain. Am I euthanizing too
soon? Is my pet in too much pain or is it tolerable? Is she scared? Their grief consumes them
like a tidal wave.
Supporting families as they help their pets leave this realm is a sacred duty. I’ve come to
understand the peace and calm that can come with loving departures. Assisting pets to
transition to the afterlife is a great blessing.
But just because something is a blessing, doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s always hard—more so
when it’s one of my family members passing on.
My son Patrick’s pit bull, Peanut, had been diagnosed with kidney disease as a pup, but she
didn’t allow it to affect her life. She was active and rowdy, living life full-on. The force was strong
in Peanut! Our whole family adored her.
Then in 2017, Peanut’s health took a sudden turn. Patrick worried because she wasn’t eating,
lost weight, and had become dehydrated. I scanned her body using my intuitive abilities,
56
www.AspireMAG.net | October / November 2018