An Introduction to Work With the Animal Dead
In loving memory of Brownie, and all the lives lost to the uncaring asphalt. I dedicate this to you, and I hope you will know peace.
It is said that death waits for no one. However violent, however sudden, there is no negotiating the time you have. Some times, there are those human monsters who would bring that death about an hour sooner. How many, do you know? How many animals are harmed, intentionally or not, on the road? “Roadkill” people scoff, and turn away, like it is something disgusting, something beneath them. Every day, people come face to face with the vulnerability of death, and some make the choice to feed the road innocent blood.
Just three days past, my day began with death and grief. I live near a road where people speed, for no reason other than to save some three seconds on their trip. It was those very seconds that could have made the difference between life and death for a cat named Brownie. Instead of slowing down at the sight of the cat, the driver sped up. And after he hit the cat, again he did not slow. He ran away. My only comfort has been that Brownie did not suffer. I picked up his body from the road, still warm. The fur was soft in the places the blood had not touched. I carried him to a field, and blood dripped on the road, alongside my tears. “He was just a stray,” someone told me. So what? Must he belong to a human for his life to have worth? Is not existing enough of reason for someone to care? If I was not here, would anyone have cared? Would anyone have seen him?
As a death worker, it is paramount to me that all Dead are tended to. Human or animal, all of them deserve to be mourned and looked after. That is why I am writing this. A series of articles on working with the Animal Dead had been on my to-do list for almost a year now, but it felt like I never quite knew how to incorporate both the educational and personal aspects of this work into a piece. Until now. A part of me is sad that this is driven by loss, but it is driven by compassion just as much. I care about the Dead, I care for the Dead. And it is my hope that through my work, I will inspire others to do the same.
When it comes to primers, one typically presents only the parts that would draw someone in. When it comes to this work, doing so would be dangerous and neglectful. Death work of any kind is difficult, intensive and exhausting. It is, inherently, an act of service to those who have passed. You cannot come to this work with rose-tinted glasses and a carefree attitude. Trauma and pain tend to lurk when you are examining someone’s life. When it comes to people, you’re able to talk through things with the deceased. With animals, you do not have that luxury. But let us not get too ahead of ourselves here. This work begins far before communication of any kind can take place.
This work begins with the self- cultivating awareness, both spiritual and physical. So many have been conditioned to not notice the death around them, but if you are to connect with the Animal Dead, you need to see them. See the bodies, or what remains of them, traces of scales, feathers and fur strewn about. See the blood, and think kindly of the being that passed. Take the time to notice them, and notice your reactions to what you see. Does the sight of a dead body discomfit you? Do not judge yourself too harshly for it. Your perception of them will change as you grow accustomed to them. Some times, even I am taken aback by a sight. It is okay. It never is the sight alone, but the implications that the mangled body you see was once a vessel of life. It is okay to mourn that life, but do not forget to honour the death.
This is where I must mention legalities. Depending on your country of residence, different laws are in effect when it comes to the handling and possession of animal remains. Where I live, what I describe is legal. If it is illegal where you live, do not do it.
Let us speak of animals killed on the road, and how to best handle such situations. What I believe is the most respectful is moving them away from the road, granted it is safe for you to do so. In some instances, you will not be able to, whether that is because there is too much traffic, or because the body is already in pieces or otherwise unmoveable. The next best thing would be stopping nearby, but sometimes that’s not feasible either. While physical proximity to the remains is desired, it is not mandatory. It is possible to honour and commune with the spirit even from afar, even without possessing its remains.
This brings me to another crucial point, the remains themselves. If it is legal for you to handle the remains, do so with care and your health in mind. Gloves and a mask are (hopefully) commonplace nowadays, and I would highly recommend using both to shield yourself from pathogens. Being legally in the clear to possess animal remains of that species does not mean you should blindly take home any bones or bodies you find. You should acquire the animal’s consent prior to interacting with its remains, especially if you are wanting to bring them home. Not all animals will want for their bodies to be processed. Some wish simply to return to the earth, and their wishes should be respected.
It should be noted that remains should not feel energetically hollow, even if they are worn and old. Remains that have been stripped may be cause for concern, and could indicate an entity is feeding off of them.
Communication itself is an interesting experience when it comes to animals. They tend to “speak” through sensory information, body language and vocalisations, utilising their lived experiences and instincts rather than logic and speech through words. When it comes to the Animal Dead, I’ve noticed opinions are split on whether they are easy to work with. One side argues that the fact they communicate in similar ways to living animals makes it difficult to bond with them and get complex ideas across. The other side says that it’s that intuitive, instinctual manner of being that makes it effortless to connect and communicate with them. One should not forget that while they are dead, they are still animals, with everything that entails. As such, there is no one way to commune with the Animal Dead. They are individuals even in death, despite it. It all comes back to the individual animal, and the life it has led. No two cats are alike, and how could they be when their experiences have not been quite the same? One thing that is essential to this line of work is patience, and that rings especially true when one is dealing with animals that may be skittish or even afraid of humans. Some will be aggressive, and it is up to the death worker to discern whether they are able and willing to assist the animal, or if they should put themselves first and step away from the situation.
Valid hesitations surface when death work is discussed. “Why do such heavy work?” is a question I see often, and it’s a question that should be posed. Death work is altruistic by default, but it isn’t self-sacrifice. You can, and should be forging alliances with the Dead. Relationships can be mutually beneficial. You’re not a tool they get to use, though that is more of an issue with deceased humans. The Animal Dead are powerful allies and capable teachers, liminal entities that carry wisdom across worlds. If you care for the Dead, the Dead will care for you. In forging a relationship with them, one of mutual respect, you cultivate bonds which will guide you onward. Memories and insights are revealed to you, worlds you may have never accessed otherwise laid bare at your feet to traverse. Beyond what you learn, working with the Animal Dead initiates you into experiences and emotions- primal instinct overriding human rationality to bring down the veils of the modern world. You walk as one of their own, you feel with an animal heart. You become Other when you connect to the Animal Dead, and that is an invaluable tool in one’s path.
Nurture, and you unlock.
Honour, and you understand.
Wise and old, eager and young, the Animal Dead are many and grand.
Bonds of feather and claw rise with the Dawn,
Fur and the warmth of spring, river water and stillness in trees.