Purpose: An essential key to living fully is to accept death as a natural part of life. Knowledge and understanding greatly reduce fear and enable you to be present with love and support to help your animals at the end of their lives.
BrightHaven (www.brighthaven.org) Co-Founders Gail and Richard Pope have been present at more than 600 animal deaths and share their firsthand knowledge of the animal dying experience. They also offer some practical things that can be done by the caregiver for hospice support, which is focused on the animal’s comfort and well being.
Death is the one great certainty in life, which is why it’s essential that everyone, adults and children alike, learn about the natural process of dying, the animal dying experience.
Prerequisite: None
Course Info: BrightHaven is unique because of the way they work and the results they get. Gail and Richard have found that animals who have achieved the best quality of health during living are the ones who experience the gentlest dying process. It’s all about living well through the last breath! In this two-part course, Gail and Richard will take you through the final stages of the animal dying experience and how this very special time of life is approached and honored at BrightHaven. Not only will you see one-of-a-kind photos, you will learn about the signs and symptoms you may encounter during the final stages of actual dying, a process that may begin several months before death occurs. Gail and Richard also share many helpful tips that will assist you as you companion your animal on the journey to transition. You will also discover that the dying process and death are nothing to fear, which is one more important life lesson from the animals.
This presentation is not meant support any specific kind of medicine or belief, but simply the factual signs and stages seen during the dying period. It is assumed that the caregiver is consulting with a veterinarian to address matters relating to pain control, suffering, quality of life issues and will to live, whether by holistic or conventional medicine methods. The course also introduces a Quality of Dying scale. This tool was designed to help those who have chosen the natural path to death for their animal to assess the animal’s wellbeing at any time within the dying process.
Please watch this short video to learn a little more about this module.
***PLEASE NOTE: This course deals with a subject matter that may be emotionally upsetting to some individuals. The images and content may trigger emotional responses. The photos depict the normal processes of aging, the impact of disease and/or of dying.
Course Length: This is a 2 part, approximately 90 minutes total, “take on your own time” webinar followed by a short quiz for each of the two parts.
Course Access: This course will be available for 45 days. If you need an extension, please email cheryl@e-trainingfordogs.com
What you can expect to learn from this Course (Course Objectives):
PART 1
- Understand BrightHaven’s animal hospice and end-of-life philosophy, including a little on the subject of quality of life.
- Receive an outline of the 1-3 month period before death.
- Discover the importance of grieving with loved ones before death, a lesson from the animals.
- See a breakdown of events from two weeks to just days and minutes leading to death.
- Learn helpful suggestions for the person companioning the animal.
PART 2
- Learn BrightHaven’s philosophy on natural death and euthanasia.
- Discover why the Vigil, the time right before death, is for being, not doing.
- Learn the four types of death experienced at BrightHaven.
- Understand how BrightHaven’s beloved animals are honored after death
- Receive more insights about grief
To enhance your learning experience, we’ve included a quiz at the end of each module. You’ll receive a Certificate of Completion once you’ve successfully finished the course.
Cost: $59.00
CEUS:
RACE*: 2 CEUs
NADOI: 2 CEUs
PPG/PPAB: 2 CEUs
*RACE Note: “This program 1106-28338 is approved by the AAVSB RACE to offer a total of 2.00 CE Credits (2.00 max) being available to any one veterinarian: and/or 2.00 Veterinary Technician CE Credits (2.00 max). This RACE approval is for the subject matter categorie(s) of: Category Three: Non-Scientific-Practice Management/Professional Development using the delivery method(s) of: Non-Interactive-Distance. This approval is valid in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE; however, participants are responsible for ascertaining each board’s CE requirements”
Instructors: In The BrightHaven Guide to Animal Hospice series, BrightHaven Co-Founders Gail and Richard Pope share what they’ve learned since 1990 about helping animals to live the best life possible and to complete the circle of life in peace and love. Gail and Richard have supported over 600 animals through hospice and the dying process.
They lovingly share their experiences, resources and tips gleaned from working with animals of all ages, particularly senior (16+ years of age), disabled and chronically ill animals. Gail and Richard received the prestigious Jefferson Award in 2013 in recognition of their dedicated service to this very vulnerable animal population.
For the animals, BrightHaven is also a prolific animal rescue and halfway house organization. For the community, it’s an education and resource center, specifically designed to help people help animals.
Here are some additional facts about the instructors:
- Gail has an international consultation practice and is contacted by many vets and animal caregivers regarding BrightHaven’s natural methods and protocols for animal care and hospice.
- Gail has written five books that are available on amazon.com.
- Gail was a founding board member of the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC) organization. IAAHPC was the first animal hospice organization to form and includes members from all walks of life including the veterinary community and general public.
- Gail and Richard give many presentations that deal with the art of dying, animal hospice care, restorative living and natural, hospice-supported death. They understand most alternative treatment modalities and have a resource of practitioner referrals.
- Gail and Richard never give medical advice or make prognoses but refer clients to professional practicing veterinarians.