COMPANION ANIMAL END-OF-LIFE DOULA
Your doctor just gave you the prognosis for your companion animal and your time together is shorter than you’d hoped. This is difficult news and it’s hard to know what to ask when you hear it.
A companion animal end-of-life doula and spiritual life coach is a nonmedical support person who provides nonjudgmental, holistic support to those whose pets are nearing the end of life. Together, we help your animal feel safe and calm.
I will help you make the road ahead an intimate, sacred, and rich experience for everyone involved, whether medical support is required or not.
I specialize in companion animal care, which complements palliative and hospice care provided by veterinarians.
I am not a medical specialist. I am a specialist in the aspects of death and death care that medical providers do not provide. Doulas support animals and their people with compassionate care in a number of ways, including informational and emotional support.
We can help you explore options for palliative or hospice care and create a Care Plan for you, help with the quality of life scale, and create a bucket list for you and your animal.
While I have a number of options, you can choose as little or as much support as you want.
As a trained professional, I help people navigate their animal’s end-of-life journey through emotional, spiritual, and practical support to animals and their families during the dying process and after death.
This time after prognosis can often be confusing and filled with questions.
That’s where I can help you, using my training, knowledge, experience, resources, hospice assistance, rituals and ceremonies, and whatever else is needed to help families navigate the end-of-life in a way that is peaceful, respectful, and meaningful.
As a Companion Animal, End-of-Life Doula/Coach, I help you create a CARE PLAN for your animal’s continued care and well-being.
Your CARE PLAN can include a number of services. Choose what’s right for you.
Heidi B.J.
I worked with Michelle during a time when my beloved senior kitty was possibly needing to be put down. This is heartbreaking for anyone, and I was so conflicted.
Michelle had so many great recommendations, resources, and suggestions. Things I hadn’t thought of and holistic options that my vet never discussed. She guided me step by step as to what to look for when he was ready to go, with patience and kindness.
After working with her, I feel more able to focus on my grief without as much uncertainty about the time he has left. Her great compassion for animals and empathy for their people is truly a gift. She cares a great deal about you and your dear pets, and the process you’re going through.
She also brought up some really good elements to add to the ceremonies and rituals my family has to honor our pets. It was incredibly thoughtful and moving. I was really impressed and thankful for her follow-up support, just checking in to see how my baby was doing. That in itself is a blessing.
Thank you again, Michelle for the work you do! Should your beloved four-legged family member be making that journey toward the rainbow bridge, I absolutely recommend working with her. She has a true gift, and as a spiritual visor in a human niche, I don’t sat that lightly.–Heidi B.J. Feb 2023
Tiffany B.
Michelle is a natural when it comes to life coaching. She made me feel comfortable from the beginning and I was able to say anything that was on my mind without any judgment from her. She definitely helped guide me to find my purpose in life and what I’m meant to do in this world. I cannot appreciate her enough.
Raeanna L.
Michelle is an incredible coach. She brings a loving, intuitive energy to your session and allows you to feel comfortable in sharing with her. She carefully guided me over a huge hurdle in my life and I loved working with her. –Raeanna L.
Aida S.
I have been one of Michelle McKenzie’s clients for a while. Unlike a traditional life coach, she brings to the table her experience in angel card readings and Reiki. Michelle’s skills, innate instinct and spiritual wisdom has provided me exactly what I needed during the rough times that I have run into during major transitions in my life. I decided to seek out a professional like Michelle who had the formal training of spiritual depth and the know-how of a life coach. She has focus, passion, commitment, wisdom and persistence. She is also a natural intuitive, which shows through in her coaching because her focus is that you be set free so you can fly on your own. She is a healer of the soul. She goes deeper to find the root of your desire to become all that you were created to be. –Aida S.
Katrina H.
I had lots of big goals and no idea how to narrow my focus and choose the path that would make my soul sing. I was overwhelmed and getting nowhere. Michelle lovingly helped me sort through my options, get organized, and take an honest look at what I truly wanted to do with my life. In just four sessions, I had a roadmap, an abundance of motivation, and an end to the overwhelm. –Katrina H.
Atricia A.
Michelle was very personable and easy to talk to during coaching. She was direct yet compassionate. Michelle is a wonderful coach who allows you to be open with exploration and ideas. Michelle coached me through a phase and transition that was unique to me. I appreciate Michelle for her willingness to work with me. Her help was very much appreciated. —
Petra G.
Michelle’s flexible, easy nature allows for whatever you show up with during the session, yet she is able to ask those hard questions that help build awareness and forward action. She gave me valuable resources that helped me to enhance my business practices. Michelle’s manner is generally easy-going and warm, yet she’s not afraid to ask the thought-provoking questions. –Petra G.
Angela L.
Michelle is a wonderful combination of passionate, kind and caring. As a coach, she excels at asking questions that help her clients find common threads and identify “big picture” goals. I came to her with many challenges, and she was able to help me break them down, examine them, and emerge with a concrete plan of action. This helped to increase my confidence and set me on the path to achieving my goals. –Angela L
1. Emotional & Spiritual Support Services
- Grief Support Sessions – One-on-one or group sessions (virtual or in-person) to help you process anticipatory grief and loss.
- Legacy & Remembrance Rituals – I help you create meaningful ways to honor your animals, using rituals, ceremonies, keepsakes, or written tributes.
- Guided Meditation or Energy Healing – I can use Reiki, sound healing, or breathwork to support you and your animals emotionally.
2. Practical & Logistical Support
- End-of-Life Planning Sessions – I can help you plan ahead, including vet options, home euthanasia, memorial services, and quality-of-life assessments.
- Legacy Planning – I can assist you in writing letters, creating keepsakes, or making memory books before your pet passes.
- In-Home or Virtual Vigil Support – I can be present (in person or virtually) with you for emotional and logistical guidance during your animal’s final moments.
- Assistance with Body Care & Aftercare – I can discuss with you cremation, burial, and other options.
- Pet Hospice Support – I will partner with your veterinarian to provide holistic comfort measures, nutritional guidance, or alternative therapies.
Together we can make:
Help with creating a good transition for your companion!
My training and experience. As someone who has worked with shelter and rescue animals for many years and has had many animals share my life, this work has been a natural progression for me.
I trained as a veterinary assistant and was the operations manager at an animal shelter for years. Under the direction of shelter veterinarians, I administered the day-to-day medical care of the animals at the shelter—something that is also part of my own life with my senior animals.
I am a certified Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula and a member of the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care
I am a certified Spiritual Life Coach and have a BA from Saint Mary’s College of California.
Why did I choose this work? I have suffered the deep grief of losing an animal companion. Over and over again. I’ve lost many of my animal family through the years and understand how much pain you are experiencing.
The questions and decisions after a terminal diagnosis are long and varied. Is hospice care an option for my animal? How much will it cost? How do I cope with the grief? How can I create sacred space around my dying friend?
Preparing for the loss of your best friend is extraordinarily painful and I want to help you and your animal through this important final journey. As a Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula both your animal and you are my clients. Let’s create a safe and sacred space for you both in this time of sadness.
You have many questions. Schedule a consultation with me. Death doula support services for companion animal dying, death, planning, and aftercare are created and customized following a 60-minute consultation session where together we determine what services best fit your needs. A customized CARE PLAN is then created for you and your companion animal based on which services you are seeking.
Consultation 60-minute online 1:1 session: $25 (via phone or Zoom).
I cannot issue refunds, but if you need to reschedule at any time, you can apply the payment for that session to any rescheduled future session. Once we decide to work together, we’ll create an agreement.
Testimonials
I worked with Michelle during a time when my beloved senior kitty was possibly needing to be put down. This is heartbreaking for anyone, and I was so conflicted.
Michelle was a wonderful guide through my biggest concerns… Knowing if it was time to say goodbye yet, making him comfortable, easing the transition, and possibly opting for a natural passing.
Michelle had so many great recommendations, resources, and suggestions. Things I hadn’t thought of and holistic options that my vet never discussed. She guided me step by step as to what to look for when he was ready to go, with patience and kindness.
After working with her, I feel more able to focus on my grief, without as much uncertainty about the time he has left. Her great compassion for animals and empathy for their people is truly a gift. She cares a great deal about you and your dear pets, and the process you’re going through.
She also brought up some really good elements to add to the ceremonies and rituals my family has to honor our pets. It was incredibly thoughtful and moving. I was really impressed and thankful for her follow-up support, just checking in to see how my baby was doing. That in itself is a blessing.
Thank you again, Michelle for the work you do! Should your beloved four-legged family member be making that journey toward the rainbow bridge, I absolutely recommend working with her. She has a true gift, and as a spiritual advisor in a human niche, I don’t say that lightly. —Heidi BJ, February 2023
Why Rituals Matter
Grief is not just something to endure—it’s a sacred passage. Rituals offer a way to:
💛 Express love and gratitude for your animal
💛 Process emotions in a meaningful way
💛 Feel a continued connection with their spirit
💛 Create a lasting remembrance of their impact on your life
✨ Let’s create a ritual that honors your pet’s journey with love, grace, and sacred intention. ✨
📩 Book a Session or Learn More Schedule Appointment Call