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The 'humane' thing to doI was waffling. I wanted the consultation and an exam. Afterward, I asked for a night to think about it. My patient husband sighed. He said we had to do what's best for the dog. The vet's assistant, her eyes red, said, "I know it shouldn't be a consideration, but you'll have to think about burying him before the ground is too frozen." We knew that. The visiting vet, who is leaving Friday morning and won't back until mid-December said that we could do "this" anytime and it would be the right decision. The cancer in my poor dog's shoulder is big, hot and uncomfortable. So is he. His temperature is 104. He can't stand for more than a minute. He pants and cries. He's lived with this for nearly two years. Cheerfully. Without complaint. But winter is bearing down and he can hardly walk, which, next to eating and being in my way, is his favorite activity. He's in pain. Everyone agrees that putting the dog down is the most humane thing to do. We all do. Even me, who loves that stupid dog way more than I ever should have let myself. Forte is just so darn endearing. He should have been named Happy. My friend Chuck says that when he gets to heaven he's going to ask St. Peter why the heck he allows parrots to live to 90 and dogs only 12 -- which is how old Forte just turned. Which just goes to show that even God makes mistakes. My friend Tom wants to know why we can't end human life this way. He says he would like that option if his body and mind ever give out, but won't shut down. He says we all would. You bet we would. All I have to say is easier said than done, buddy. Easier said than done. Heather Lende writes from Haines. Her new book is "Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs." This post originally appeared on her blog. It has been reprinted with permission. I don't understand why he went on for 2 years with cancer in his shoulder; why didn't he have surgery to remove it? We went through the same thing with our Golden Retriever being diagnosed with bone cancer in her shoulder. It was a big surgery to remove it, but she lived a good and pain-free 2 more years until she was 13 1/2 years old. Letting a very painful situation go on and on like that has not been humane already for a long time. Time to relieve this poor being of its suffering. My mother's mother put all her dogs down herself. Didn't trust any of the menfolk to do it right. I never talked to her about it, but it involved a 22, a shovel, and a quiet spot in the woods. My grandma was a hellcat, the most stubborn and onrey lady I have ever known. She wasn't going to let a creature in her care suffer, and when it came time she ended the suffering, at whatever cost to herself. My grandma went down quick. To many years of Camels and Canadian Hunter. She had quit smoking a few years before the end, but the damage was done. She was in and out of the hospital in 12 hours. I think she did it on purpose. She could have fought for a few more years, but she decided it was time to go. Like a dog in the woods, grit your teeth, pull the trigger, dig a hole and water it with tears. Your dog has lived his life. Nature is cruel, if he was a wild animal he would have suffered a horrible death of starvation and pain. We entered into a contract 15,000 years ago with the dog. Bark at stuff, help us hunt food, and both our lives will be better. And they are. Your only responsibility to Forte is to make his life better, and now his life is reaching its end. Make the end better, and water a hole in the woods with your tears. Been there and done that. Just remember, His suffering pain for your enjoyment? Accept it that HIS GOOD LIFE has ended, NOW only Pain SO let him go. MINE BOJI 14 YEARS OLD DOBIE. I know, TIS SAD. My dad asked to be given a shot during his last week, "can't you just put me to sleep, like a horse?" when I told him his condition was not sustainable, and his doctor said, "you're dying, my friend." We had had unplanned weekly trips to the hospital for that last month. I found out then that in Washington and Oregon you can choose to be "humanely put down" but you have to sign up for it at least a month in advance. The doctor did ask dad if he wanted to be put on the ventilator - he answered no; it was then the DNR band was put on his wrist. I spent the next four days midwifing his death. Now I wish I could do that for my mother, who was said to be terminal for several years but is dying by inches, but I don't want to let her go, either. I still miss every dog I've ever owned and had to say goodbye to. And as I look at the one who shares my life now, and realize that I'll probably outlive her and therefore experience the heartbreak once again, all I can do is give her a hug and say, "Let's get outside and play, because right now both of us still can. We can't let this time go to waste." Heather, l've read this twice and cried both times. He knows he's sick. Let him go to that big backyard inthe sky. He'll still be with you. |
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