A gentle note before we begin: this is a story about losing a dog many people loved. It is also, I hope, a story about how much of that love stays with us.
I know our animals are aware of so much more than we think they are. The painting above is one I did of Sadie, a sweet, gentle yellow Labrador Retriever who, with our yellow Lab Sumo, had 8 beautiful puppies. The painting always brings me right back to the love she had for her puppies and the messages of love she had for her family.
From this experience, I firmly believe two things:
- Our animals know much more about what goes on in a human household than we may believe.
- Meaningful conversations between people and their animals are real. These conversations most often happen telepathically (without words), and they can happen whether an animal is still alive or has passed.
I know that second one may be new for some of you... I'll explain what I mean as we go. Please read with an open heart.
How Sadie and Sumo Met
Sadie and Sumo went to the same doggie daycare, a place in Southern New Hampshire called Wunderdog.
One day Sadie's family asked if we would be interested in having Sadie and Sumo breed together. They wanted a litter with Sadie because many of their family members were hoping to raise one of her puppies, and they felt Sumo would be a great match!
We were all very excited, but we also did our due diligence to make sure everyone was in a good, healthy state. Both dogs had a vet checkup and a PennHIP analysis before we went ahead. (A PennHIP is done by taking x-rays while a dog is under sedation to predict the risk of hip dysplasia. It is still considered the gold standard for breeds that are especially prone to hip issues.) To everyone's delight, they were both good to go!
Sadie was just a love. During their breeding time we got to spend time with them both together, and it was sheer joy to be in their presence.
The breeding was successful, and they had 8 puppies!
The Afternoon I Felt Sadie Leave
OK... here comes the difficult part.
Maybe a couple of years after the puppies were born (it has been nearly 20 years, so I can't quite remember the timeline), I was at the office of the software company I worked for in Manchester, NH. It was a Thursday afternoon, and I was about to start a small workshop.
Right before I went into the meeting, a deep sadness hit me like a ton of bricks. It came on quickly and profoundly, and I could not shake it.
I remember standing at the whiteboard thinking, "Wow, do I hate this work that I would feel like this?" It was so unusual. I had never felt anything close to that before.
I finished the meeting. When I got home that evening, I called my folks: "Hey, is everyone OK? I feel so sad and I have no idea why." (This was before we all carried our own phones!) They assured me everyone was fine. The sadness wasn't as strong, but it was still there.
The next morning, a Friday, I was back at work when I got an email from one of Sadie's parents. Sadie had passed away the afternoon before.
Ugh...
The only conclusion I could come to was that Sadie's passing was why I had felt so sad. I truly loved that dog and felt very close to her.
What Is Animal Communication?
Before I tell you what happened next, I want to explain a little about animal communication, since it may be new to you.
Several years earlier, I had felt drawn to take a class in interspecies communication, which is connecting and sharing information with animals without words. I would occasionally practice with friends' animals. I wasn't always correct, but some things came through that seemed genuinely helpful.
Information can come through in different ways, sometimes as images and sometimes as feelings. The idea is to let whatever the animal is trying to share simply flow through you. You don't judge it or try to interpret it. You just pass it on. And you do not have to be in the animal's physical presence for this communication to happen.
I also believe that when animals die, their spirit lives on, so it is possible to communicate with them even after their physical death.
Reaching Out to Sadie
The next day was Saturday. I sat with my sadness that morning and felt I should see if I could connect with Sadie, even though she had passed.
A quick note before I go on: from here, I'm using made-up names for Sadie's family, because each of her messages was meant for a specific person. And in case you're wondering how I remember all of this so clearly, I kept the email I sent her family, along with my notes, on my computer all these years.
I sat in my chair in a quiet place and opened my heart to her. Here is what came through:
- She loves everyone in her family very much, and she loves her puppies.
- For one of the sons, "Jonathan," something about good luck in school, and/or do well in school.
- For the other son, "Kevin," a thank you for playing ball with her. I kept getting a sense of a red ball. (I also got a sense of deflated soccer balls, but I had seen one of those in their yard, so it's hard to tell where that came from!) She loved playing with him.
- For the husband, "John," something about loving him and wanting to give him kisses and licks on his face.
- For Sadie's mom, "Carol," that Carol was a great mom, and a deep thank you for letting Sadie be a mom. There was a strong sense of appreciation about that.
- She feels peaceful, and she misses them all.
- Watch over Keeper, their other dog at the time.
I felt I had to share all of this, because Sadie clearly wanted it known. That meant putting aside my own fear about how it would be received, or whether it was "right or wrong." (That takes practice, and I'm not sure I'm all the way there yet.)
I emailed Carol everything that came through, and we talked about it soon after.
"How the Heck Did She Know That?!"
We always assume our dogs love us, but it is still so nice to hear that they really do feel it. And as Carol and I talked, some of the specifics turned out to mean a great deal:
- Being a mom. Carol had always wondered whether Sadie enjoyed being a mom, and she was so glad to hear that she did. I certainly didn't know Carol had been wondering about that.
- Morning kisses. Carol told me that in the morning, Sadie would often go over to John's side of the bed and lick his face while he was still lying there. This was so helpful for me to hear! I had seen something like that, but I almost held it back because I wasn't sure how they would receive it. (Note to self: find a way to share what you get that feels comfortable for everyone.)
- Playing ball. Carol was very happy to hear that Sadie loved playing with Kevin.
But what surprised them most was Sadie's message for Jonathan, wishing him good luck in school.
Because...
Jonathan had been homeschooled, and the family was planning to send him to public school for the first time that fall.
There was no way I could have known that. That message came straight from Sadie, and I think it shows most clearly how the animals who share our homes understand what is going on.
"How the heck did she know that?!"
I so clearly remember Sadie's family saying that to me. They were amazed she understood that specific son would soon be experiencing a big, significant change in his schooling.
And remember, all of this came through after Sadie had passed.
What Sadie Taught Me About Our Animals
So yes, I believe in animal communication. I believe there is an "ability of understanding and connection" among all of us who share our lives together, one that goes beyond language. Our animals understand what we are feeling and thinking and saying (even if they sometimes CHOOSE not to do what we ask of them!).
I believe our animals' spirits are still with us, even when they are no longer with us in the physical. We are so lucky to have their physical presence and love while they are here, and even when they pass, their active, unconditional love remains.
If you'd like another example of how our animals are with us in spirit, you may enjoy this post about how Sumo is hanging around with our relatives who have passed.
Sadie's Painting and Her Pups
I painted Sadie and her beloved pups from a photo her family took. To be honest, I can't remember whether I painted it before or after she passed. I think it was before; it became our Christmas card one year.
We were so blessed to have Sadie in our lives, and I feel honored that she shared these messages for her family.
Since Sumo was the father, we got to receive one of the puppies from the litter. They were all so beautiful, and this is Nora.
We gave Nora to a friend of ours. Since this was so long ago, Nora has since passed too, as I imagine all of her siblings have by now.
But I do believe they are ALL having a wonderful time back together again in the unseen realm.