Aveterinarian
had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound
named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their
little boy, Shane, all very attached to Belker, were hoping
for a miracle.
The doctor examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer.
He told the family they couldn't do anything for Belker and
offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old Dog
in their home.
As they made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told him they thought
it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure.
They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, the vet felt the familiar catch in his throat
as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting
the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood
what was going on.
Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The
little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any
difficulty or confusion.
They
sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud
about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human
lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know
why."
Startled, they all turned to him.
What came out of his mouth next stunned us all. In all his
years of practice the veterinarian said he had never heard
a more comforting explanation.
Shane calmly said, "People are born so that they can
learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all
the time and being nice, right?"
The
six-year-old continued, "Well, Dogs already know how
to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."
•
• •
|
|
EUTHANASIA
IS SCARY
Your
BEST FRIEND has
always been there for you.
BE
THERE!
|
|
"Finally,
a day came when she lay in her own pee and couldn't get up.
We cried while the vet attached the pink plastic butterfly
to her vein. We cried when the poison went in and she trustingly
took the dose. Her eyes remained open. A terrible shudder
shook her body.
A whole chapter in my life closed."
~
ERICA JONG
From
"A Woman's Best Friend" in DOG IS MY CO-PILOT
|
|
•
We
have the right to be full members of your family. We thrive
on social interaction, praise, and love.
• We have the right to stimulation. We need new games,
new toys, new experiences, and new smells to be happy.
• We have the right to regular exercise. Without it, we
could become hyper, sluggish...or fat.
• We have the right to have fun. We enjoy acting like
clowns now and then; don't expect us to be predictable all the
time.
• We have the right to quality health care. Please stay
good friends with our vet!
• We have the right to a good diet. Like some people,
we don't know what's best for us. We depend on you.
• We have the right not to be rejected because of your
expectations that we be great show dogs or show cats,watchdogs,
hunters, or baby-sitters.
• We have the right to receive proper training. Otherwise,
our good relationship could be marred by confusion and strife
- and we could become dangerous to ourselves and others
• We have the right to guidance and correction based on
understanding and compassion, rather than abuse.
• We have the right to live with dignity...
AND
TO DIE WITH DIGNITY, WHEN THE TIME COMES.
•
• •
Bill
of Rights © GoPets.LLC,1999
http://www.animalworldnetwork.com
|
|
EUTHANASIA
IS SCARY
Your
BEST FRIEND has
always been there for you.
BE
THERE!
|
|
"We
try to replace them but never quite succeed. A new Dog never
replaces an old Dog, it merely expands the heart. If you have
loved many Dogs, your heart is very big."
~
ERICA JONG
From
"A Woman's Best Friend" in DOG IS MY CO-PILOT
|
|
