| In the domestication of animals and the taking of them | | | | spans. From another perspective, they have begun |
| into our lives, our homes, and our hearts, we take on | | | | dying from diseases related to living in our world. There |
| the responsibility of meeting their daily needs. When | | | | are pros and cons in both directions of their coming to |
| they are in the dying process that responsibility is not a | | | | be our companions and living in our world. We created |
| burden but a gift that comes in many forms, when the | | | | a life removed from nature and its cycles. |
| heart remains open feeling love as well as the pain. | | | | In our daily life many of us have become removed |
| In the domestication of animals and the taking of them | | | | from the balance and cycle of life. We work inside |
| into our lives, our homes, and our hearts, we take on | | | | buildings, only being outside on weekends. We have |
| the responsibility of meeting their daily needs. When | | | | access to all types of fruits and vegetables 12 months |
| we ask them to be part of our lives, they try their best | | | | a year. We fear death, pain, and loss. We are no |
| to understand us and integrate. In this process, animals | | | | longer tied to the rhythm of nature and the earth. The |
| gave away complete reliance on themselves, and | | | | cycle of prey/predator is foreign. We are not part of |
| gained restrictions. They no longer roam or forage for | | | | the food chain. Our role in life and death is not |
| food, Some animals spending their lives primarily in a | | | | something we consciously are aware of. We have |
| stall, kennel, or cage. What we ask of our companions, | | | | come to believe we are superior in the life cycle |
| often, but not always, is done for our convenience. | | | | process and not part of it. As did our animals, so we |
| They are the ones who have to fit into our world, to | | | | too gave away and gained in urbanization. We are all |
| what we think is necessary. Animal companions who | | | | a part of the life cycle of the earth, not superior to it, |
| live in loving, caring homes, and whose essence is | | | | not separate from it, but a part of it. |
| honored, still give something up. Chris, an Appaloosa | | | | Our animals view leaving their bodies differently than |
| mare, became my companion in the fall of 1987. She | | | | many humans do. Domesticated animals retain a |
| gained and lost in coming to my home. We found a | | | | closer acceptance of death than their human |
| balance and navigated the road of our relationship. We | | | | companions do. They accept, living, and dying in the |
| grew to become each others companion. On the | | | | balance of nature, and knowing they are part of the |
| morning of December 18, 2002 I said goodbye to my | | | | "cycle of life." With understanding as well as release, |
| mare Chris. I awoke to hearing her thrashing. My heart | | | | and acceptance on the part of the care giver, the |
| froze. Chris was 28 with Cushing's disease. The time | | | | animal leaves the earth with and from an open heart. |
| we had spent together was not long enough. I wanted | | | | When we know in our hearts it is time to say goodbye |
| her with me forever. I tried hard to think of her needs. | | | | to our dearest friend, it is human nature to try and |
| In the few hours we had left I realized I had to set my | | | | change it, grieve it, and even deny it. I selfishly wanted |
| pain aside, and with an open heart, fill her last moments | | | | Chris with me forever. No one wants to say goodbye. |
| of breath with nothing but love and honoring the | | | | No one wants to let go of a best friend, a confidant, a |
| process of death. I could do nothing else but support | | | | selfless companion. Grieving is part of the emotional |
| her. Was it hard to separate that I too was dying in | | | | process. It is part of the cycle |
| those moments? Yes. Looking into her eyes I knew | | | | Releasing what is best for us, and embracing what is |
| taking on the role of the predator was the only gift I | | | | best for them, is always a choice. Knowing the |
| could give her. Walking the fine line of balance in both | | | | answer to what that choice is, is found in the heart. |
| of us, giving and receiving was a challenge. In all her | | | | When the time came for me to say goodbye to Chris, |
| pain, she had decided she wanted to stay. Yet again, | | | | I could have prolonged it, but that would have been for |
| she was giving so selflessly her love. I had to ask her | | | | me. But each dying process is different. There is no |
| heart and mine if that served her best. The answer | | | | rule to follow, or formula to gauge when to let go, or |
| was "No." The veterinarian came and we said | | | | even how to let go. Each situation brings different |
| goodbye. Her time in this body was over. | | | | choices. |
| The decision we make with our own animals as to | | | | My mare, Chris, let me know she was grateful I |
| when their time on earth is through becomes part of | | | | assisted her. That the cycle of love could not be |
| our responsibility. Chris gave up living and dying as her | | | | broken, it would go on forever. Loving to the depths of |
| ancestors once did, she could not wander off and die. I | | | | our mutual being, to the places we traveled and grew, |
| chose to become a predator, and release her from | | | | will forever be a part of our spirits. I experienced the |
| her pain, her physical situation would not have | | | | purity of love with Chris. It was worth it all. |
| improved. Her giving would have come at to high a | | | | Each animal in our life brings lessons, challenges, and |
| cost. Her death would have been excruciating. For | | | | the purity of their love and spirit. What a gift we give |
| some that is not the case, and they are able to die on | | | | to each other and to ourselves, when we say |
| their own. | | | | goodbye, filled and surrounded by love. |
| From one perspective, our animals gained longer life | | | | |