Veronica Crawford

Veronica Crawford is a writer, Reiki Practitioner and passionate animal welfare advocate. She has extensive experience working within the employment and homeless sectors and has seen first-hand the devastating impact grief can have on people’s lives. Veronica well understands the challenges of navigating the rollercoaster of grief. In 2011 her brother transitioned after a car accident and the past five years has seen the passing of her pet sheep Marlon, Bilbo Baggins, Womble and more recently her adored dogs Max (Jack Russell, 19 years old) and Blaze (Kelpie, 15 years old). She continues to adjust to life without Carl and her beloved pets and finds writing and sharing her grief journey with others helps with the healing process. Veronica’s writing has featured in the Bestselling 365 Book Series - 365 Ways to Connect with your Soul, 365 moments of Grace, 365 Life Shifts, 365 Soulful Messages -The Right Guidance at the Right Time, Goodness Abounds and Soul Biz due out early 2022. She has also had articles published in The Pearson Education Comet Magazine, Brainwash Magazine, Wild Sister magazine and on the Soul Speak blog.

Articles:

Loving a New Pet after the Last Pet Has Died

Loving a Pet From as early on as I can remember, I have always connected with animals. My first pet was an orphaned lamb, Mary. I was obsessed with horses and fascinated with butterflies, frogs and caterpillars – any creatures that found their way into my world. Loving animals inevitably means at some point you have to say goodbye. Now, when I see people and the beautiful bond they have with their pets, my first thought is of the grief that lies ahead. The Healing Process Ever since my beautiful dogs Max and Blaze passed on, I have not been […]

Read More

Letter to a Dear Pet: One Year After Her Death

Letter to a Dear Pet Dear Blaze, my spirited and loyal friend. It has been twelve months since you transitioned. Just twelve months, yet it feels like a lifetime ago. Your empty bed still sits on the floor, the coat you would wear when you went for a walk to keep you warm in the cooler months is still draped over the chair. Your medication is still in the kitchen drawer. I am still not ready to put away your belongings; I would have to fully accept you aren’t coming back. Your life before coming to live with us was […]

Read More

Dear Max: Last Words to a Special Dog

Dear Max – AKA squishy, macchiato, mackie, snowy, little man, maximus and monkey. I miss you so much. So much that it hurts to think about it. I haven’t fully processed losing you. The best I can do is grieve in small moments and then I shut my mind down to cope. You were my world for nineteen years. Your nose smudges (and Blaze’s) are still on the back glass door and windows, the two favourite spots where you kept a close eye on the world outside. My timber furniture still has chew marks in it as a reminder of […]

Read More

Finding Peace After the Loss of a Brother

A Brother’s Sudden Death As I walk into the beach hut, all is quiet. Still. Everything, as Carl left it. His table with a view of the ocean he loved so much. On it, an ash tray and tobacco. Carl’s beloved magpie statue, a symbol of his passion for the Collingwood Football Club. All around me, Carl’s belongings. The last time Carl closed the door, he did so with the belief he would return. He didn’t. “A luminous light remains where a beautiful soul has passed,” wrote Antoine Bovena. On March 22, 2011, my brother Carl passed over after a […]

Read More