Pets and the afterlife: coping with the death of a beloved animal by Jennifer Angel Astrologer for NY Daily News
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, January 1, 2016, 12:01 AM
http://nydn.us/1OsJGxy
Gifted animal communicators and pet psychics frequently assist both dogs and their owners during times of loss.
The loss of a dog or other beloved pet can be devastating, and often brings with it heartfelt questions and dilemmas. There are ways to ease some of the painful choices and uncertainties involved with a pet’s transition to the other side, however. Gifted animal communicators and pet psychics frequently assist both dogs and their owners during this difficult time and offer invaluable help and insight into the spiritual nature of a pet’s consciousness – both on earth and in the afterlife.
I spoke to two animal communicators, renowned Pet Psychic Laura Stinchfield and Brent Atwater, Animal Medium and authority on Pet Afterlife. Here’s what they had to say:
Is It time?
Brent Atwater says that when pets and animals are ready to make their transition from earthly to spiritual energy, they will know 24 to 48 hours before they pass. And ten days to two weeks beforehand, they will give their owner a sign – a memory moment. It is common during this time for them to distance themselves in an attempt to separate their energy to make it easier, as the animal knows it will be rough on its owner. They can also do something totally out of character that gets your attention, and as you look back over the two weeks before a pet passed, you will remember this out of character moment.
Often, a dog will sit and stare into his owner’s eyes, and during the 24 to 48 hours before they pass you can sense something different. Their paws and ears can get cold, too, as they draw in their energy during this transition period. When an animal is sick you can ask them if they are ready to go and hold the dog’s paws, and you can often hear the answers in your heart.
Laura Stinchfield adds that if your dog is nearing the end of its life and you don’t want to see it suffer needlessly, yet are torn about euthanasia, there are ways to know when it are ready to go and to help it prepare.
Laura suggests that you talk to your pet, sharing as much of your own faith or knowledge as you can. Animals are profoundly attuned to the spiritual realm and will readily grasp the reality of the afterlife. Laura also says that as heaven gets closer, pets distance themselves so it is easier for you. They can start seeing loved ones from the other side when they feel like they’re going to go, and will often stare at their owner in an attempt to tell them that they’re ready. And even if the animal never knew your relatives that have passed, Laura says that their common bond with you creates a link of kinship, so they will perceive them when they are poised between the worlds.
What about accidents?
If it is a sudden death, Brent believes it to be a planned death. Or it could be a lesson for the owner in some way, as pets can be guardian angels that take pet forms.
Laura’s experience with these kinds of crossings is truly fascinating. “Sometimes a dog will run into traffic that has never done that before – just out of the blue,” she said. “Sometimes what that is – they have a job to do on the other side, often to help someone else cross over.”
Reincarnation
Many people accept the idea of reincarnation as a matter of course and the support of scientifically-trained physicians such as Dr. Brian Weiss and Dr. Ian Stevenson lends weight to the idea. So if humans reincarnate, is it possible your pet may also? Among animal psychics the conclusion is, ‘Absolutely.’
As with humans, reincarnation is about soul evolvement. And Brent advises that only 30% to 40% of pets reincarnate. She says animals that reincarnate have a job to help you, but if they don’t come back you can meet up in the spirit dimension. However, when they are on the other side they are still your pet, but a mind-only pet – not physical. They reincarnate because they are part of your soul’s journey. When they come back it’s to help you continue learning lessons and be part of your soul’s journey to move forward.
A mind-only pet, (non-physical) is a guardian pet and a pet spirit guide who is with you for the rest of your life to guide you.
When pets do reincarnate, they can reincarnate in the same life, and more than once. When Brent sees a pet transitioning to the afterlife, they will tell her if they will reincarnate and when, and be very specific about where and when and how they will come back – including colorings and markings. With the soul-to-soul contract you have with a pet, you can reincarnate with each other in different lives as well.
Laura has helped many clients locate their reincarnated pet in some amazing ways, but cautions her clients on the necessity of releasing the past. “In terms of people who are mourning their dog, reincarnation is tricky in the grieving process because you have to let the past go – you have to realize that it’s a different life, it’s not seamless.” For people who are grasping, saying, ‘I need my animal,’ Laura says, it can often take a lot longer. It’s almost the universe’s way of saying, ‘You have to move on.’
There are exceptions to that, however. Laura has had clients call in great pain after their dog passed, and she’ll contact their dog on the other side, who will give her the name of a town, or a store. And in following those leads, the people find their (reincarnated) animal really quickly. Everything matches up.
Sometimes a reincarnated pet will look remarkably like its previous self, and sometimes not. They will show some kind of evidence, however, that confirms that sense of "knowing." For instance, they’ll settle in unusually fast, have similar habits or other behavioral clues.
When pets pass
As soon as the pet transitions from the physical fur suit to the spiritual energy – the minute they leave the physical – they are ok. They have no pain and they are there with you, in spirit, immediately when they leave the body.
Signs from the other side
We’ve all heard stories or have had the experience of receiving apparent signs of communication from loved ones who have crossed over. Often your pet will come to you in spirit form to comfort you, and you many experience uncanny signs from a pet from the other side. You can hear the little noises they used to make, like barking, purring, their bowl rattling or the noise their collar made. You can have dreams in which the animal appears to communicate something, objects can cross your path which relate specifically to your deceased pet, your pet’s name may show up in unusual ways, and much more. Or you will feel them beside you and sense them around. As soon as they depart the early realm, they are there with you, ready to send signs.
Most asked question
As a pet makes his or her transition to the afterlife, those who loved the pet have two main questions: Was the pet in pain and are they okay? The answers: No, they were not in pain as they transitioned, and yes, they are okay and they are there with you in spirit.
How a pet psychic and animal medium can help?
Pet psychics, animal mediums and afterlife specialists like Brent Atwater and Laura Snitchfield can talk to your pet and help them and you go through the transition process, while shedding light on why the pet is sick, when it is ready to go and the reasons associated with its passing.
A great many resources exist to support pet owners in every stage of the grief process. Laura’s work, articles and books can be viewed at www.thepetpsychic.com, and Brent Atwater’s many books and podcasts about pet afterlife, as well as a Facebook support group, can be found at www.brentatwater.com.
Brent Atwater
the Animal Medium
Animal Communication that Heals Hearts!
Authority on Animal Life after Death and Pet Reincarnation
Website: www.BrentAtwater.com
email: Brent@BrentAtwater.com