When a loved one needs intensive care, is facing a terminal illness or must move into a facility that does not allow animals, you are faced with many difficult decisions.

• How do you relieve your loved one’s mind about the future of their beloved animal companions?
• Be sure to tell your animal and your loved one exactly what you are doing and why.
• Call the Veterinary Advice Line 888-367-5252 if the animal is having trouble adjusting as there are many holistic treatments that can help the transition.
• Sometimes animals will develop a physical problem in the new home that may worsen if treated without realizing that the transition is part of the illness.
• Call the Caregiver Advice Line 888-367-5252 if your loved one is having trouble parting with their beloved companion.

There are several key steps that will assure the animal has the best care:

1. Where will the animal live? A family member or close friend who can adopt the animal and bring it for visits to the ill person would be the ideal solution. Next would be a family member or friend who does not live near by. If this is not possible, contact local veterinary clinics and ask to post flyers in their offices. Say why the animal needs a home as some people worry that a medical of behavioral problem is the reason for giving the animal away. Try to adopt only to people known personally by the veterinarian or staff. Next would be to contact rescue groups for your particular breed. If they do not know of a home, they have foster families committed to placing that breed. There are also web sites for particular breeds and finding homes in general. Now you need to be more careful as you are entering the realm of finding a home with a stranger. I would not post flyers in public places. Call the Veterinary Advice Line if you are having trouble finding a great home.
2. Check out the potential new guardians. Visit their home. Bring the beloved animal with you if possible. Checklists of what to look for and questions to ask are available from Veterinary Advice Line. Since your animal may not be immediately happy at a new home, note how the other animals are cared for. I knew I had found the right home for my 22 year old horse who broke down fences to escape and eat the “other” grass when I met their other horses. They showed me how they had trained their quarter horse stallion to kiss them on the cheek, count to 10 and multiply and divide.
3. Make sure, if at all possible, you let a family know that if there is not a great match or for any reason they do not like their new animal they may return the animal and you will find a different home.
4. Now, this next advice may seem too far fetched to you, but it is offered for those who have wondered about animal communicators. www.animaltalk.net has lists of reputable communicators (psychics), many of whom can work at a distance. They can speak with your animal and ask if they think they will like the situation you have chosen. They can let the animal know why a new home is necessary and help the animal settle in with the new family of people and animals.
5. Once you have chosen a home, there is much you can do to help the transition be as easy as possible. At a health food store buy the Bach Flower Remedies Walnut, Honeysuckle and Rescue Remedy (they can also be ordered on the web). These are totally safe and can cause no harm. Put 4 drops of each essence into a 1 ounce dropper bottle of spring water for animals 20# and over. Use only 2 drops of each essence for smaller animals. Give a dropperful of the mixture four times a day for 1 week before the move and for days and weeks after the move – until the animal is settled and happy. If there is a long transition period where the animals is sometimes with your family member and sometimes at a kennel of with a caretaker, this combination may need to be given for months and that is fine.
6. Talk out loud to the animal(s). Tell them exactly what is happening every day and why. Let them know they are beloved and you are doing the best you can for them. They should not be left alone at the house except in an emergency and for a short time.
7. Write down as many touching and specific stories about the animals’ life as the owner can remember. This is a happy time to remember the joys of this animal. As part of the memories, try to elicit any ailments from the past. Certainly record special routines the animal is used to at this time. Are there special foods? Are there favorite toys, games or rituals? Does the animal like to have a heating pad available? Is the animal used to a doggie or cat door? How does she tell you she needs to go out? Is there a specific cat litter? Go through an entire day, minute by minute to discover everything that the next owner would want to know. Be honest if there are problems with behavior or elimination.
8. Obtain copies of the veterinary records to give to the new owner.
9. Most importantly, keep the original guardian appraised of the animal’s progress and be honest if there are problems as they may know the solution.