How Animals Guide Us Through the Toughest Times

(I decided to include the original post I wrote a few weeks after Alina’s transition)

Hi sweet friends.

This post is for my fellow alpaca farmers and animal loving friends. I hope this brings you hope, love, and healing especially if you've experienced loss. I've loved animals and always found such comfort and peace being with them. My first dog Honey got me through so much of the rough times when I had to adjust and live in Japan. He was with me for almost 17 years! I can't tell you the amount of grief and pain I felt when he crossed over in 2003.

I became an alpaca shepherdess in 2008 and became responsible for many beautiful lives. I like to adopt mature/senior dogs as I find they are extra wise and appreciative I struggled with quite a few of my senior animals transitioning in the last few years and had to take time to process and do some soul searching to find peace. But all in all, as hard as it is, when animals transition due mostly to old age and we see the process unfold, we do what we can to prepare and cope.

On Aug. 6, 2019, we had our first "freak accident" where Alina broke her leg badly. She was the first baby alpaca born on our farm 10 years ago! I managed to stabilize her with a creative splint, electrolytes and homeopathic arnica (at a very high potency) and she was up and eating in a stall within an hour. ER vet felt she was fine for the night and came the next morning. But I was not prepared to hear the results of her x-ray.

I had been naively hopeful since she was up and eating. My options were terrible and even more terrible...and in a state of overwhelm and desperation, I asked Alina "What should I do?" Not sure what I was expecting to be completely honest...but to my huge surprise...I heard/sensed an answer!

"We perceive death differently and I can just as easily come back in a younger body if and when I want to." Did she say that????? I don't know but the reason I trusted this message was because I felt a sense of peace, calm and love come over me. As creative as I am, I really don't think I was in a state to make something this soothing up.

Anyway...I've been processing this and although it was difficult, I was guided to record a 6 min. video to share my story in hopes of helping grieving friends...and you can see 2 of my alpacas coming to comfort me! If you look super closely, the white one at the end has a flower in her bangs!!! What a cute touch. Leave it to Snowflake. Much love and healing. Alina went peacefully- she only knew love and kindness which gives me so much peace. Love and hugs!