Eminent biologist Rupert Sheldrake has spent 25 years collecting accounts from pet owners and others, which he believes suggest animals possess an awareness of their impending death and may offer emotional farewells. Sheldrake's research into unexplained phenomena in animal psychology highlights instances of what he terms 'the last rally' or 'terminal lucidity,' a phenomenon also observed in humans.

This concept, known in Spanish as ‘mejoria de la muerte’ or ‘improvement of death,’ describes a sudden surge of mental and physical energy, often accompanied by unusual clarity, that occurs shortly before death. Sheldrake posits that this phenomenon might have an evolutionary benefit, allowing a dying animal to detach from its group and seek isolation to prevent the spread of disease.

Anecdotal evidence gathered by Sheldrake includes stories such as Piglet, a Jack Russell terrier who, after fading away, experienced a brief period of rejuvenation, playing with other dogs before dying peacefully. Veterinarians have also reported similar occurrences, encountering seemingly moribund dogs that greet them with unexpected vitality upon their arrival.

Sheldrake's work draws parallels with research on 'terminal lucidity' in humans, particularly in individuals with conditions like Alzheimer's disease, where a burst of clear memory can occur just before death. This suggests that memories may not be lost but merely inaccessible until the end of life.

The collected accounts detail various end-of-life phenomena in animals. These include reports of psychic premonitions of disaster, extraordinary journeys undertaken by pets to revisit familiar places or people, and explicit goodbyes. One documented instance involves a cat named Pussy, who, before being euthanized, reportedly dragged himself out of his basket to shake paws with his owners individually before returning to his basket to await his fate.

Other accounts shared with Sheldrake include:

  • Bruce: A mongrel dog who traveled three miles to visit his former home and family before passing away a few weeks later. He had never been to the new address before.
  • Orio: A black Labrador who appeared at a neighbor's door for comfort before becoming ill and dying the next day. Her owners could not explain how she escaped her yard.
  • The Houffalize Sheep: During World War II, a flock of sheep reportedly began bleating incessantly for a whole night before a bomb destroyed the greenhouse where they were housed, killing them all. This event was witnessed by the owner's granddaughter.
  • Lab Rats: In 1997, a student observed rats in a cancer research program gathering in a corner and exhibiting signs of alarm on the days they were scheduled to be sacrificed, leading her to believe they sensed their fate.
  • Petie: A Staffordshire bulldog who, an hour before dying, individually visited each member of his family, displaying unusual energy.
  • Foxi: An old, weakened dog who, before dying, struggled to his feet to individually give his paw to each family member during dinner.
  • Baker: A cat who, before his death, spent approximately 15 minutes sitting on each family member's lap in a seemingly deliberate farewell.
  • Emilia: A cat with Feline leukemia who, on the day she died, licked her owner's hand and exhaled deeply as the sun rose.
  • Ollie and Barney: Two dogs who exhibited unusual behavior before death, including longer walks than they had been capable of for some time.
  • Balou: A cat who, the evening before euthanasia, sought comfort with his owner, stretching a paw to their hand. The next morning, he displayed unusual vitality, cleaning himself and climbing stairs before dying after a shared moment watching birds.
  • Snowy: A dog who, after slipping into a coma, sat upright and appeared to be joyfully watching an unseen object, wagging her tail briefly before collapsing back into a coma. This was interpreted as a possible near-death vision.
  • Prince Moonshadow: A family dog who appeared to exhibit a state of joyful enlightenment, smiling continuously for weeks before his death, which his owner interpreted as seeing 'heaven.'

Sheldrake continues to collect these accounts, inviting anyone with similar experiences to share their stories through his website.