good Dog never dies he always stays he walks besides you on crisp autumn days when frost is on the fields andwinter's drawing near, his head is within our hand in his old way.”

~ MARY CAROLYN DAVIES





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

 


EUTHANASIA
IS SCARY

Your BEST FRIEND has
always been there for you.

BE THERE!


Dogs' lives are too short.  Their only fault, really.”

~ AGNES SLIGH TURNBULL

 




ROBERT COANE 2010 © All rights reserved