Category
Why Dogs Don’t Live Long
Being a veterinarian, I 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, were all very attached to
Belker and they were hoping for a miracle.
examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners,
Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to
Belker and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying
of cancer. I told the family there were no miracles left for Belker,
and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their
home.
of cancer. I told the family there were no miracles left for Belker,
and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their
home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told
me they thought it would be good for the four-year-old Shane to observe
the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the
experience.
me they thought it would be good for the four-year-old Shane to observe
the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the
experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in
my 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.
my 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.
We 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.”
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, we all turned to him. What
came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation.
came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation.
He 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 four-year-old continued, “Well, dogs already know how
to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and
being nice, right?” The four-year-old continued, “Well, dogs already know how
to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
– Anonymous