More than once I’ve been asked by clients whether a pet is happy or healthy, or whether the pet has any needs that are not being addressed.
If the pet is deceased, an image of him or her will pop up in my mind and the pet may dance around the owner with excitement to let me know he or she is there. Alternatively, the pet may show me scenes of a home life and what made the pet happy.
Pet parents may sometimes feel guilt when a pet passes away. Know this: a pet’s love is unconditional. Also, pets understand the need to be released from the pain of old age or illness.
If the pet is alive but has a health problem, they will tell me in general terms “where it hurts.” One time a lady asked me to work with her bulldog. The dog told me he had a tumor that could not be seen; and he told me where the tumor was located. That sweet and gentle dog let me know that he did not want to suffer any longer, and it was time for him to go. As heartbreaking as it was for me to explain the situation to his “dog momma,” it gave her time to spend a few more days with her beloved companion before he passed.
Where do Pets Go When They Die?
I believe that pets have souls and go to heaven. When I enter into a deep meditation, I find myself in a beautiful place covered in hills, majestic trees and lovely flowers. It’s here that I have seen my old pets running around full of life. Even the dogs and cats get along!
“If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went.” -Will Rogers
Do Pets Come Back from the Other Side to Visit?
Absolutely pets can and do visit, but don’t expect it to be on your timetable. Sometimes when I am lying on the bed, I will feel the mattress move as if my cat, Pretty Girl, has jumped onto the bed. Although I don’t “see her” in the usual sense, I know it’s my beloved cat that died in June 2019.
Then there’s the story of a dog named Yabba who came back for a visit after the owner set up an area that included the dog’s toys and a candle. She would talk to Yabba every day as if he was still alive. One day she threw a ball and called the dog to play. “The ball moved! It was sitting still on the floor and rolled. Then it happened again. As I squatted down in disbelief, I felt something brush past my leg and I not only felt a tap on my arm, but I heard it.”
“Just as our loved ones who have passed over watch over us and visit us from time to time, so do our beloved pets.” – Sylvia Browne, renowned psychic
Can a Pet Return in a New Body?
In my experience, I would say no they do not come back as they once were. However, I do believe parts of them can return in new pets you may have. For example, my sweet little Shih Tzu died unexpectedly. He was a loving little guy who enjoyed giving us hugs. My new dog, who is an 85-pound mixed breed, was born two months after Gonzo died. He shares a few of my former dog’s mannerisms, including hugs.
Signs Your Departed Pet May Be Near You
According to the website, amandalinettemeder.com, here are some signs that your pet may be visiting you from the afterlife:
- You hear paws hitting the floor
- You smell them
- You hear a dog’s collar jingle
- You hear a pant to come inside
- You feel them curl up against you, especially cats
- You may see them out of the corner of your eye
- You may get a happy feeling and an image of your pet, especially when you are feeling sad
- You receive a new animal friend after your pet dies
In the case of my cat, Pretty Girl, she sent my new cat Luke to me one year after her death. While Luke doesn’t share her mannerisms, there is no doubt she sent him my way to reassure me that she is always near.
“Animal messengers travel through the dimensions of time and space to be with us. We do not have any control over this process and cannot make it happen, but when the meeting does take place, we are invited to enjoy every second of it.” – Margrit Cootes, from her book, Communicating with Animals: How to Tune Into Them Intuitively.