#pawspice

[songleap]

hey wanna dig me out? promise we wont get buried there together lol

[thestoicsatanist]

Death Doulas for Companion Animals

My friend and one of my herbal mentor, Rebekah Dawn, is a death doula. I've learned a lot from her just in talking and in going to Death Cafés that she hosts. Now I'd like to take some of what I've learned and apply it to companion animals and their humans. Along with the amazing work of Juliette De Bairclai Levy, I'd like to start a Holistic Pawspice center.

I'm well aware this might be something I have to pioneer in. Maybe this is the thing that Meant to do in this life!

But I've had a hard time finding a someone who's already doing it for both inspiration and guidance! If you do know someone please don't hesitate to PM me!!!!

I've been hit with the sudden desire to do this again because of the people I come into contact at my job. Working in holistic pet care means you run into people who either have animals who are in the beginning stages of death or ones that have passed recently and are looking for alternative ways to care for them or ways to honor them. Today I spent a hour with a customer and her dog (who is 14 years old) who had stopped eating, lost 10lbs, and is in kidney failure. I helped her understand that as hard and painful as it can be, she's telling you it's her time, and the best thing to do is just make sure she's comfortable, warm, and remind her that she's loved. The doggo kept walking up to me as I sat on the floor, leaned against me and just looked into my eyes as I lightly scratched her chest. I felt in my gut that she was in pain and that she just wanted to rest. I sent her human home with a bunch of food samples to just try and see if she will eat anything, along with info on pawspice care in our area, where to get doggie CBD oil for pain management, and some lemon balm tea for her own human emotional well being.

I think Holistic Pawspice care is what I'm meant for. It's the gap between working with the dead and Holistic animal care. I'm excited to see where this path takes me!

[songleap]

hi these are my new ocs antlerstar and tanglepath theyre leader and medicine cat and have a totally normal and healthy relationship do not look at my google doc

[songleap]

hi im writing a fic

[chaucerdog]

Pawspice

Today the Vet told Mom that the Kemo isn't working anymore.  So we're going into pawspice mode.  I'm quitting the medicines, and I'm going to spend the next month eating hamburger every night.  Mom is sad, so I am going to make sure I am by her side the whole time.  And I'll keep writing about my adventures so I'm by your side too, dear reader.

[chaucerdog]

Four Bad Days In A Row, Time To Let Go

Not for me yet, dear reader.  But this is what my vet told us today, as we swallowed the bitter lemon that like CHOP before it, MOPP had failed.  We had one more Kemo option (more on this in my next post) before the vet wanted to call it quits and start pawspice.  So she told Mom to start thinking about it now.  "Make a list of the things Chaucer loves to do everyday," she said.  I was happy to help with the list.  Here's what we have so far:

1. Go for a walk.

2. Do tricks for treats.

3. Chase squirrels when Mom says, "Squirrel!"

4. Greet Mom when she comes home from anywhere.

5. Bark at the mailman and / or UPS lady.

6. Eat dinner, breakfast, and snacks.

7. Forage for background fruit.

8. Get the morning paper.

9. Get tummy rubs.

10. Get the cats!  (this is Mom's code for "go outside and bark, then pee." I know there aren't really any cats, but I play along with her.)

The Vet said when I stop doing those things -- or I don't do more than half, it's a "bad day."  And when I have four "bad days" in a row, I'm telling Mom something.  I'm telling her that I'm not feeling good. And to tell her that means I'm REALLY not feeling good, because people-pleasers like me (and alright, our whole breed in general) would rather do ANYTHING than disappoint our people.  Mom and her family are supposed to keep track independently of each other of how many bad days I have in a row.  "Because if there are four," the Vet said, "then there's usually a fifth.  And that one will be even worse.  At that point, you need to think about letting Chaucer go."  I am a savvy dog.  I know what that fancy wording means.  I don't want Mom to let go.  But when I do... This is how I'll tell her.