Loving the dark
roasted bean ...
roasted bean ...
the teaching ...
and the learning ...
and, one day, the earning ...
and the learning ...
and, one day, the earning ...
I love my dogs. Ever since I was a child I've had dogs, cats and other pets. Somehow, though, when I was a child I was spared the woes of taking care of my aging pets. My mom was of the "he ran away" school of thought when it came to helping me deal with sickness and death. I believed her when she said it. It broke my heart that my beloved pets would want to run away. Perhaps, though, it was a lesser heartbreak to think that they ran away rather than to know that they were gone from this Earth forever. As I grew into an adult and was responsible for pets on my own, I believed the advice of the veterinarians when they said it was time to put them to sleep. After all, the professionals had to know what they were talking about. Who was I to try to second guess their wealth of knowledge. Then, when my black lab mix Lucky lost control of his back legs and bladder in the middle of the night, I relied on my conditioned response that "it must be time." When the vet came to administer the lethal injection (which was supposed to be the humane way to let your pet go to his final rest) I was totally unprepared for my beloved boy to fight so dearly for his life. Not only did he not "go gently in to that good night" he put up such a struggle to stay with us that it was beyond heartbreaking. It took two big injections to put him down. Had I been aware of his will to live, if one vet had even hinted that his disability wasn't the end, if someone--anyone--mentioned the possibility of caring for an elder dog in his time of need or told me that there were options besides euthanasia I would never have put him through that awful night. Even through that horrific ordeal, I thought of the veterinarian's words that night that it was the right thing to do because "it was time." It was difficult to believe anything he said after what had happened. I could see that he was visibly shaken about what had occurred. Maybe he hadn't before encountered a dog with that strong a will to live. Who knows. Years later, I had the experience that would forever change my mind about euthanizing elder dogs. I met a dog that had powerful will live through her disabilities. She had such a joy for life that although her lameness, congestive heart failure, seizures and bouts with cancer slowed her down at times, they never extinguished her spirit. She taught me what caring for elder dogs entailed and caring for her instilled in me the knowledge that it was not only possible but also a responsibility to allow your dogs that choice to live, even after major disabilities. Now, not all animals fight for life. I do agree that when it is time the choice to euthanize is the right one. However, I know in my heart that most times that choice is made for animals not by animals. I also understand that in many cases finances or the pet owner's lifestyle do not allow for elder pet care and that euthanasia is the owner's only choice. I bring this up now because I am again faced with a sick dog. His doctors do not know exactly why he's sick. In my next post, I'll talk a little more about him and the choices we're now faced with.
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And, on this day I'd like to post a link to his famous "I Have a Dream" speech text. MLKOnline And here's the video: |
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