How Do I Navigate a Terminal Diagnosis for My Loved One?

As all of us animal lovers know, being told by the vet that our beloved’s illness is terminal is one of the most difficult things to hear. What do I do now? How can I best support my animal friend? What is the best way forward for our family? These are just a few of … Read more

Help Your Loved One Live the Best Life Possible Each & Every Day!

BrightHaven is a leader in the emerging field of animal hospice AND we’re also renowned for our holistic healthcare.   We’ve combined these two specialties into our latest online course, presented by BrightHaven’s President and Founder Gail Pope and Education Program Specialist Carol Hulse:   BrightHaven Holistic Animal Hospice: Fundamentals We understand that many pet … Read more

New booklet to help you help your animal!

What is one of the most difficult things for any animal lover and pet parent to hear? It’s being told by the vet that your animal’s illness is terminal. What do I do now? How can I best support my animal friend? What is the best way forward for our family? These are just a … Read more

What Does Everyone Love, Want & Need?

cat in blue jingle bell cap

I wanted to create a meaningful and helpful blog post for this holiday season, one that would apply to animals and people. I recalled a post I wrote back in December 2014 when I had my own personal blog. I thought it might be the perfect message for today and every day of the year. Although … Read more

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

It’s time to bring back the dog energy!

Rosie & Ziggy-blog-Blanca Walker-5

Meet Rosie and Ziggy! They recently joined our Hospice/Specialized care unit! BrightHaven President and Founder Gail Pope shares their stories: “During the last several years as we realized the sanctuary property may be in jeopardy, we made the decision that the BrightHaven sanctuary should stop accepting new lifetime residents—clearly a good one as things have … Read more

What a Perfect Way to Help & Honor Animals!

bonfire blanca design-040418

***THESE SHIRTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE AT OUR BRIGHTHAVEN STORE***: https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-brighthaven-store/ At BrightHaven, we are committed to helping animals and we honor them for the many ways they help us humans. For example, how many times has a special animal shown up in our lives just when we needed them most, essentially rescuing us? And how … 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