It’s All About Love and Support, and It Starts with You!

Woman with two cats one dog

NEW BRIGHTHAVEN BOOKLET!!! BrightHaven President and Founder Gail Pope is putting the finishing touches on an important booklet called Following Your Heart: Navigating a Terminal Diagnosis. Her wish is to help you walk this often-challenging path with a deeper sense of peace, confidence and clarity. ***UPDATE:  This booklet is now available!*** Buy Follow Your Heart: … Read more

What Really Matters Most Each & Every Day

Jonah-blog

I often feel uncomfortable when I hear that an animal or person has been given a specific number of days, weeks or years to live when they receive a terminal diagnosis. When it comes right down to it, who actually knows? None of us has an expiry date stamped in ink across our forehead! Of … Read more

Loss of Beloved Animal or Human, Grief is Grief is Grief

As BrightHaven’s Gail Pope wrote in “The Art of Dying—What Animals Teach Us” article that recently appeared in the Natural Transitions online magazine: “The death of a beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult things we as animal lovers ever face. In my experience, sometimes this loss is more difficult than that of … Read more

What About Quality of Dying?

BrightHaven President and Co-Founder Gail Pope and I recently returned from the 7th annual International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC) Conference where we introduced the Quality of Dying Checklist. We met many wonderful and like-minded people who wish to provide peace, comfort and the best possible care to animals as they approach … Read more

When Should I Consider a Holistic Vet for My Animal?

Please note: None of the information contained in this post is intended to replace consultation with a qualified veterinarian. Since holistic approaches form the foundation of BrightHaven’s Menu for Healing, in most cases a classical veterinary homeopath is our “go-to” vet when an animal shows symptoms. All classical veterinary homeopaths are also DVMs, or Doctors … Read more

2016 Was Exciting Year for BrightHaven Education Program!

Joey studying herbs

It’s always important to take time to celebrate accomplishments, and the start of a new year is the perfect time to do just that! Key Accomplishments for Our Education Program BrightHaven’s primary goal for 2016 was to expand our education program so that we could share with the community what we’ve learned over the years … Read more

How to Help Your Animal Live Well Through the Last Breath!

At BrightHaven, we often say that it’s all about living well through the last breath! But what exactly does that mean? Living Well Though the Last Breath the BrightHaven Way BrightHaven is unique because of the way we work and the results we get. Our Menu for Healing forms the foundation of our work. It … Read more

New Book: Walking With My Dog Through (End of) Life

Pet loss, anticipated or otherwise, is often an extremely challenging time for any animal lover. My new book, Walking With My Dog Through (End of) Life, shares how the last few months of a cherished animal’s life can also be a time of many gifts including deepened love and connection, and and transformational life lessons. While … Read more

How to Expand Your Understanding of the Animal Dying Experience

blanca tarka blog

We are excited to announce the newest module in our The BrightHaven Guide to Animal Hospice series! BrightHaven’s Gail and Richard Pope have been present at more than 600 animal deaths and share their firsthand knowledge in The Animal Dying Experience. In this two-part course, Gail and Richard will take you through the final stages … Read more

Enjoy Life More By Learning About Death

BrightHaven Co-Founders Gail and Richard Pope have been privileged to be present at the deaths over more than 600 animals and they have learned so much about dying and living from these wonderful beings. Here are just a few of these life-changing lessons: Death is the one great certainty in life, which is why it’s … Read more