Fluvanna Review, July 27, 2006
By Page H. Gifford   

She lay a sleeping bag beside Reva on the cold linoleum floor in the kitchen and slept by her side, stroking her paw until Reva took her last breath and her paw went cold.

It is because of Reva, that Dr. Jackie Meyers began Peaceful Passings, a volunteer hospice to help dog and cat owners cope with the final days of their beloved pet’s life.

Meyers has set up a support system via a website with information to help those who are able to care for their dying pets. She and other volunteers also provide compassionate care to both the owner and the pet during this transition. The hospice services Meyers provides complement the veterinary care and intervention.

“The hours spent with an animal the last days of its life can be an enriching experience for both the owner and the pet,” said Meyers. “Hospice care gives families more time with an aging pet and helps prepare them for death of their pet.” 

Meyers believes it strengthens the bond between the owner and the pet and helps the owner adjust to eventual loss. The goal of the hospice care for pets is to allow the aging pet to enjoy its last days in familiar surroundings while in the company of those who love them.

Meyers also provides home visits to anywhere in Fluvanna, Albemarle, Louisa, Goochland, Buckingham and Cumberland Counties. She will provide respite care in the owner’s home for family members when they have to leave their pet for any period of time. She is also looking for any volunteers who would like to help with this.

Sometimes owners just need someone to listen or ask questions over the phone. Meyers also will accompany the owner when euthanasia is the only option left. Help in dealing with the grief and ways to honor the pet’s life and burial are other ways Meyers helps with the grief process.

Meyers admits she has never been one to get excited about puppies or kittens, but prefers senior dogs. She has adopted or fostered many over the years and saved many from being euthanized too early. She says the seniors have wisdom and other wonderful traits that are often overlooked because they are said to be too old.

Early euthanasia is one of Meyers’ pet peeves. She believes in giving a dog or cat one more chance at life and not to euthanize just because one is tired of the animal, cannot deal with behavioral issues or no longer care for it. She agrees that euthanasia is and should only be used if the animal is suffering but not if an animal is old but healthy.

 Meyers describes the natural process of death, stating it’s different for each animal though some similarities do exist. An animal nearing its final days will move slower, have a distant look in its eyes, not eat or drink and become incontinent.

As the final hours approach, they will lie down and stretch out in a comfortable, familiar place. According to Meyers, this is the time to move the pet to a linoleum surface or other area of the home (with favorite bed or bedding with incontinence pads beneath them) where the owner can easily move around the animal and to maintain the animal as death approaches.

“Making audible sounds, as well as experiencing quivering muscles that are involuntary movements and some of the sounds the animal may vocalize are not necessarily signs of pain, but rather physical displays that the animal cannot control,” Meyers says.

Meyers also states that an animal’s gums will become pale, the body temperature will drop until cold and at times pant briefly. Breathing may become heavy then shallow. And the pet will urinate and defecate involuntarily.

“This is a general description to prepare the owner for what is ahead, covering common stages typically experienced as part of the final passage.”

Meyers has useful information on her website, including hydrating the dog or cat and grinding up or mashing some of their favorite foods if they are willing to eat and working with veterinarians on pain management.

She also discusses herbal remedies and music as a source of other comfort measures.