A free excerpt from Dr. Liz Fernandez's book, plus a short, private check-in to help you understand exactly where you are right now — and what kind of support might help most.
One year, a few months before Thanksgiving, a woman named Lane called Dr. Liz Fernandez with a question she couldn't answer alone: Is it time? Her senior dog, China, could no longer get up on her own. Lane's husband was recovering from a heart attack and could no longer help lift her. The family was exhausted, frightened, and unsure what the most loving next step really was.
Rather than telling Lane what to do, Dr. Liz Fernandez guided her through something simpler and more reliable than any checklist: she asked Lane to notice what happened in her own body. First, imagining things staying the same. Then, imagining a peaceful goodbye that same day. Lane's body answered before her mind could — the tension gave way to relief.
Dr. Liz Fernandez has learned, over decades of sitting beside families in this exact moment, that our bodies are a physical manifestation of love — and they can only exist in the present moment. Our minds, by contrast, spin through guilt, fear, and second-guessing. Feeling guilty doesn't mean you're making the wrong choice. It's simply a small, scared part of you that can be gently reassured.
There is no universal right answer, and there doesn't need to be a logical case built to justify whatever you decide. Every family's path depends on a mix of things — physical, emotional, financial, logistical, and spiritual. What's right for one family may not be right for another, and that's not a failure of clarity. That's just how personal this decision is.
A Simple Practice from Dr. Liz Fernandez
Take two quiet minutes. Find a comfortable position and try this now.
Take a few moments to focus on your breath.
Bring forward the decision you're facing. Notice what happens in your body imagining one choice, NOTE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR BODY. IS IT TENSE OR RELAXED?
Now refocus on your breath and then imagining the other choice NOTE AGAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR BODY.
Your body is always in the present moment. You can trust this
Sometimes this process can be more easily accomplished with a trusted partner or someone from the Wisdom Paws team.
This chapter is just the beginning. Take two quiet minutes to answer the questions below, and we'll recommend what kind of support could help you most right now — whether that's a resource to explore quietly on your own, or time with Dr. Liz Fernandez herself.
"There are no wrong answers here. Answer from where you actually are today, not where you think you should be."
After completing the check-in, the next step is a compassionate, unhurried conversation with Dr. Liz Fernandez. No pressure. No judgment. Just clarity and care.
Sacred Gifts of a Short Life by Dr. Liz Fernandez, DVM — available now. The full chapter is waiting in your inbox after the check-in.
Telehealth consultations available nationwide. In-home services in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles counties.