i keep finding litters of newborn puppies or kittens without a mom around, and one of them is always sick and dying. there’s always family around, and they always want to help it. they want to keep it alive. i want it to live too, but there is a deeper feeling of remorse for letting it suffer. I sneak it away from everyone and distract them with the healthy babies while i wrap the sick one in a damp cloth and set it out into the woods. sometimes i hold it and watch it die naturally, in peace, knowing it didn’t suffer long. sometimes, it’s so bad off I just put it somewhere quiet and shady and leave it alone. The action feels like a betrayal of my instincts, and i feel like everyone will think I am awful. It feels like an awful thing to do, but I know it is right. I know it is more merciful.
This dream may symbolize conflicting emotions and a sense of responsibility in difficult situations. The newborn puppies or kittens without a mother around represent vulnerable aspects of your own self or projects that require nurturing and care. The sick and dying one represents an area of your life that is struggling or facing challenges.
The presence of family indicates external influences and opinions on how to handle these challenges. Their desire to help and keep the sick animal alive may represent the pressure you feel from others to maintain struggling aspects rather than facing the reality of the situation.
Your desire to provide relief for the suffering animal reflects your compassionate nature and your underlying need to alleviate pain. Sneaking it away and seeking a place for it to pass away peacefully may represent your attempt to protect yourself and others from the emotional burden associated with letting go. This can be seen as a conflict between your instincts to provide care and your recognition that sometimes allowing natural progression is more merciful.
The feeling of remorse and the fear of being judged by others signal your internal struggle and fear of being seen as "awful." However, your awareness that your actions are right and more merciful suggest an underlying belief in making difficult but necessary decisions for the greater good.
Overall, this dream may indicate an internal conflict between nurturing and letting go, and the need to prioritize the well-being of all involved, even if it means making difficult choices. It suggests the importance of listening to your own instincts and not always succumbing to external pressures.