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PODCAST

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With Aging or Ill Pets

BrightHaven Caregiver Academy

Caring for an aging or ill pet is one of the most rewarding yet challenging journeys a pet parent can take. Peace of Mind for Pet Parents offers practical advice, emotional support, and compassionate insights to help you navigate this path with confidence. Hosted by Karen Wylie and Gail Pope, we explore topics like senior pet care, hospice support, and coping with grief, helping you bring comfort, connection, and joy into your caregiving journey. Together, we’ll help you honor your bond with your

kids & family pets & animals

All Episodes

31:45

How Animals Grieve: Supporting Your Whole Family...

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/10/29

Do your pets understand when a companion is dying? How do they grieve? And what can you do to support them through loss and adjustment?In this tender and insightful conversation, Karen Wylie and Gail Pope explore the often-overlooked reality of how animals experience grief—from anticipatory grief before death, through the dying process, and into the weeks and months that follow. In this episode, you'll discover: How pets sense when a companion's time is coming and act as "animal doulas" The

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28:34

What Happens After Your Pet Dies? Let's Talk About...

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/10/22

What should you do when your pet dies? In this episode of Peace of Mind for Pet Parents, hosts Gail Pope and Karen Wylie discuss planning for pet aftercare—what happens to your pet's body after death—so you're prepared instead of making rushed decisions while grieving.What You'll Learn in This Episode: What is pet aftercare? Understanding your options after your pet dies Cremation vs. burial: The difference between private cremation and communal cremation (and why it matters) Home burial

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27:18

When Palliative Care Becomes Hospice: Knowing When to...

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/10/16

How do you know when it's time to shift from palliative care to hospice care for your beloved pet? In this heartfelt conversation, Karen Wylie, EdD, and Gail Pope explore the gradual, often unclear transition that pet parents navigate when caring for aging, chronically ill, or terminally ill animals.In This Episode, You'll Discover: The key differences between palliative care (comfort while hoping for stability) and hospice care (comfort when time is short)—and why there's no sharp dividing line

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31:26

The Missing Word: Why "Terminal" Matters in Talking...

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/10/08

There's a word that's often missing from veterinary conversations about serious illness—and that word is "terminal." In this deeply compassionate episode, Gail Pope and Karen Wylie explore why veterinarians frequently avoid using direct language about terminal diagnoses, and how this well-intentioned softening of the truth can leave pet parents blindsided, unprepared, and robbed of precious time with their beloved companions.What You'll Learn In This Episode: - Why "terminal" goes unsaid: The

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29:21

“How Will I Know When It's Time?" Reframing...

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/10/01

If you've ever found yourself lying awake at night asking, "How will I know when it's time?"—you're not alone. This question haunts nearly every pet parent caring for an aging or seriously ill animal. In this episode of Peace of Mind for Pet Parents, Gail Pope and Karen Wylie tackle this fear-based question head-on and offer a compassionate reframing that can change everything.Gail and Karen explore why the common searches—"Is it time to put my dog down?" "What are the signs my cat is suffering?"

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29:02

The Three-Day Honoring Process: Creating Sacred Space...

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/09/25

In this compassionate episode of Peace of Mind for Pet Parents, hosts Gail Pope and Karen Wylie explore BrightHaven's sacred three-day honoring process—a Buddhist-inspired tradition that creates meaningful space for both pets and families during the dying process and after death.Gail shares the origins of this beautiful practice, which began when educator Ella Bittel introduced her to the concept that the soul needs time to leave the body after death. Drawing from Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and

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26:32

When We Becomes Me: Navigating Life When Your Pet...

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/09/19

"What happens when you lose your last pet?" "How does grief change when you have fewer pets?"Join Gail and Karen for their most personal conversation yet as Gail shares her journey through recent losses of beloved pets Purrci and Andy, leaving her with only Ollie, an 18-year-old deaf and blind dog. This heartfelt discussion explores how our identity as caregivers shifts when we go from caring for many pets to one—or none. Gail opens up about the profound silence in her home, the challenge of facing

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32:17

Beyond Grief: Celebrating Life Through Pet Obituaries...

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/09/10

September is Pet Memorial Month, making this the perfect time to explore how writing about our beloved pets can transform grief into gratitude and preserve precious memories forever.Join Gail Pope and Karen Wylie as they discuss practical approaches to writing pet tributes, from simple social media posts to full obituaries. Gail shares her evolution from writing basic newsletter updates to creating meaningful memorials for hundreds of sanctuary animals, including her unique creative process and the

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24:19

Healing for the Highest Good: Beyond the Need to Cure

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/09/04

When your pet receives a life-changing diagnosis, the pressure to find a cure can be overwhelming. But what if healing meant something deeper than just fixing the illness? In this episode, Gail Pope and Karen Wylie explore the transformative principle of "healing for the highest good" - a compassionate approach that brings peace to pet parents facing uncertainty.Gail shares how this philosophy developed through decades of caring for animals at BrightHaven, including remarkable stories of pets who

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31:27

The Whole Pet: Conventional, Holistic, and...

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/08/27

Confused about different pet care approaches? Gail Pope and Karen Wylie explain conventional, holistic, and integrative veterinary care in simple terms. Learn how to create the perfect blend of care for your aging or ill pet, when each approach works best, and how hospice care brings them all together. Essential listening for pet parents navigating difficult health decisions.Whether you're dealing with an emergency situation, managing chronic illness, or exploring hospice care options, this episode

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23:19

Advocating for Your Pet's Hospice Care in the ER

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/08/22

When your hospice pet needs emergency veterinary care, you might face unexpected pressure to euthanize instead of continuing comfort care at home. In this essential episode, Gail Pope and Karen Wylie share real stories from pet parents who felt uncomfortable at emergency clinics and provide practical strategies to protect your hospice journey.Learn how to prepare before you need emergency services, communicate effectively with ER vets who may not understand hospice care, and advocate for your pet's

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31:37

You're Not Alone: Our Personal Stories of Life Beyond...

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/08/14

Personal experiences with mediumship, signs from beyond, and finding comfort in continuing bonds. In this deeply personal episode of Peace of Mind for Pet Parents, Karen and Gail courageously share their own beliefs about death, dying, and what comes after—shaped by decades of loving and losing both human family members and beloved animals.💜 Karen's Incredible Mediumship Journey: Powerful training experiences and spiritual connections The stunning purple butterfly message from a murder victim's

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34:01

The Other Doctor in the Room

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/08/06

What if there's another doctor guiding your pet’s final journey—one you can’t see, but can feel? In this episode, Gail and Karen explore how trusting Mother Nature can help pet parents let go, find peace, and recognize the signs of dying without panic. A heartfelt conversation on intuitive care, hospice, and surrender. 💬 “Sometimes the most difficult thing as a human being is simply being—especially when you're worried or afraid of losing the one you love.” 📌 Related Resource: Blog Post: ""The

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25:38

Living to the Last Breath: A Pet Parent’s Perspective...

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/07/30

What happens when there’s no cure—but life still has meaning? When people enter hospice, there's an understanding that death is near but also that life continues in meaningful ways. But when it comes to our beloved animals, end-of-life conversations are often rushed, and the only option presented is euthanasia.In this honest and deeply compassionate conversation, Karen and Gail explore what happens when medical options run out—but love and presence remain. They talk about their own personal

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31:50

Letting Go of Treatment, Not Love: A Candid...

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/07/25

How do you know when it’s time to stop treating your pet? In this heartfelt conversation, Gail Pope and Karen Wylie explore the emotional, physical, and spiritual crossroads that many pet parents face when caring for a chronically ill or aging animal.Together, they reflect on what “treatment” really means—from medications and vet visits to special diets and home care routines—and how stopping treatment isn’t the same as giving up. You’ll hear honest stories from their personal caregiving journeys,

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26:25

If I’d Only Known: Navigating Regret as a Pet Parent

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/07/17

Why do so many pet parents carry regrets—even years after saying goodbye? In this heartfelt episode, Gail and Karen explore the many faces of regret in the grieving process: from sudden losses to long hospice journeys, from things we didn’t know to things we wish we’d done differently.We talk about how hindsight can distort our memories, how caregiving often brings a painful illusion of control, and why self-forgiveness isn’t just helpful—it’s necessary. You’ll hear our personal stories, along with

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28:58

Death Is Part of Life: What Vet Schools Leave Out

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/07/10

Why teaching about dying, hospice, and the natural cycle of life and death matters to pets, parents, and professionals.In this candid conversation, Gail and Karen explore the hidden gaps in veterinary education, especially around end-of-life care, the natural dying process, and how our cultural fear of death has shaped the way veterinarians are trained. From hospice and palliative care to ritual, grief, and honoring the sacred moment of passing, this episode invites listeners to consider: What if

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34:48

What to Do When Your Pet Dies at Home: Understanding...

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/07/04

What happens after your pet dies at home? In this tender and practical conversation, Karen Wylie and Gail Pope guide pet parents through what to expect—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. From how to care for your pet’s body, to creating space for honoring and grief, this episode is filled with comforting insights and gentle support.Whether you’re planning ahead or navigating a recent loss, you’ll find reassurance and clarity here. 📌 Related Resource: PEACEFUL: The Quality of Dying Guide:

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18:38

A Sacred Space for Pet Loss Grief: The Story of the...

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/06/26

What if grieving the loss of your beloved pet wasn’t something you had to do alone—or quietly, or quickly? In this week’s episode, Karen and Gail share the heartwarming story of the BrightHaven Rose Ceremony, a monthly ritual of remembrance created to honor the animals who had passed and the humans who loved them. From candles and rose petals to laughter and stories, this ceremony offered a sacred space for grieving, healing, and celebrating. Tune in to hear its origin, the memories that live on,

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32:02

Listening, Questioning, Deciding: What to Do When...

Peace of Mind for Pet Parents: Navigating Life With... ·

2025/06/19

What do you do when your veterinarian makes a recommendation that doesn’t feel quite right? In this episode of Peace of Mind for Pet Parents, Gail Pope and Karen Wylie explore what it means to listen with care, ask thoughtful questions, and stand strong for your beloved animal — especially when your intuition says something’s not right.Together, they share tips for preparing for veterinary visits, communicating clearly under emotional pressure, and advocating respectfully for your pet’s individual

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36 results

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