In the past few weeks, I have been visiting with several canine and feline friends who have developed medical conditions that have changed what they can see and/or hear. With my canine friend who I last visited in 2019, experiencing how his diminishing sight and hearing affects his day-to-day activities and experience has been enlightening. His world is a lot quieter.

Often to reach the next step on our path, we need to openly share ourselves through the vulnerability. Whether we are sharing a new idea, working through something that is troubling us, walking through pain or illness, we often must experience elements of being vulnerable.

Awareness goes hand in hand with understanding the animal beings in our lives as well as ourselves. Conversations can occur via sight, emotions, sensitivities in the body and behaviors. Being present and learning to check in with yourself before hand will help you to open the door…

When it comes to multiple pets in a household, when one is sick or ailing -  one or more is in a caregiver role. When that role can be spread out amongst the pack members, it is less stressful than when there are just two in the home. 

Our animal friends are very connected with each other even when they do not always get along. They can feel, sense or smell when something is changing or off.

I have learned over the past five years that there are many different versions of what visiting and being with the animal beings means amongst pet professionals, pet parents and people in general. I have come to realize that the manner in which I connect is very unique - and some may even call it unusual.

Just as there are certain routines we as people get accustomed to, so too do our animal companions. For some people, the morning routine begins with the coffee brewing, the newspaper unfolded; for others it’s getting quickly dressed, feeding the pup, grabbing some coffee and heading out for a walk; for some it begins with stretching, turning on a tv or music station and then continuing on through the morning setup.

Catching up with friends and pets is very important.  Slight changes in the way they act, connect or the patterns they display can open the door to understanding the ways they are communicating their needs and shifts they are experiencing in their own bodies or picking up on our emotional, physical conditions or thoughts. Just as often the behavior changes can be about their health and how they are responding…