In Practice, I get asked all sorts of questions: They range between medical, personal, philosophical and spiritual questions.
When a pet owner is considering euthanasia, aside form the medical questions, spiritual/ personal questions often arise: ” Is he/she suffering?” , ” Am I being selfish?”, ” If this was your animal what would you do?”, ” Do animals have a soul?”, ” Do animals go to Heaven?”, ” I don’t know how you do it? “.
When answering these questions, I would have gone through all of the medical parts, the logic and the facts. In the end, the heart, must reconcile with the facts and it is in this area where I feel I can really serve. I profoundly understand the emotion and the deep connection we share with our pets. I can put myself in your shoes empathically and understand where you are coming from. I know deep inside, my mission is to serve this sacred bond. You will always expect from me an answer from the heart integrated with the knowledge in my brain. I will give you an answer that will likely help us decide together the best possible outcome which is not always the easiest.
My own journey and experience as a veterinarian is unique. From the very beginning, I was deeply involved in the healing process of my patients. I would look at them not just as animals but as deeply intelligent and loving creatures. I would take my time to earn their respect and trust first. Many were fearful but with time, love and patience, I would earn their trust and build the right conditions for healing. Some of them were too big and powerful. The patient’s assigned to me in Vet School still to this date, hold a place in my heart and continue to enrich me professionally and spiritually. The love for my profession is sacred and irrefutable. I shall always be the keeper of the human/animal bond and shall always consider it my mission in life. It defines my soul’s purpose. I shall go with you through the journey of the departure and the new beginning, I shall love your pets since before they open their eyes till their last breath and beyond.
If I were to meet you for the first time in order for me to assist you with the departure process of your pet; you wouldn’t have gotten the chance to build a trusted relationship with me. Even then, I shall understand your pain, I shall respect your decisions, I shall explain what will happen, I shall embrace your pet with compassion and ensure its departure takes place with dignity.
There will be moments were it is just me and a beautiful creature that has been found in pain. Perhaps an injured wild animal that belongs to no one but is God’s creature. In that moment, if departure is the right and compassionate thing to do, I shall assist this creature with love and peace. I shall tell them a story of a beautiful bridge they will be crossing and there’s nothing to fear. It is the bridge that safely and lovingly takes them to their next journey. It is OK to go there, it is safe and there is no more pain, the place where only love reigns.
There’s a lot for me in this journey of life as Adriana the vet, the wife, the friend, the doggie mom, the neighbor, the creator. I am just getting started. There’s a lot for me to share, to learn and experience. In my heart there’s nothing but gratitude for having the honor of serving the creatures in this Planet.
Notice I didn’t answer the questions I started this post with, but hope you are able to know by now, how I would answer them.
Much love Covenants !
Gypsy Doc.
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