Grugger’s Way

When the “Time” comes for a Pet to “Retire,” I imagine we all struggle with mixed emotions.  If the pet is elderly, even past the normal life span, we rationalize that he or she has lived a good life, been well taken care of, was never left wanting for any necessity, never neglected, always loved and appreciated, etc…. 

So how does one decide that the ”Time” has come? There is no single answer, I guess.  When medications for thyroid conditions and arthritis and other physically debilitating conditions no long “work” for a pet; when bowel movements are difficult or impossible, or uncontrollable, when disorientation due to dementia becomes unbearable to watch, when sight is gone, when hearing seems to be going too….I could go on and on.  My Sister calls it the decision to ”send them off to college.”  Ohh, God, but they do become our ”children” don’t they?  It is so hard to let them go; it is so hard to let them suffer.    

Does that make Euthanasia any easier to endure?  We don’t want our pets to be miserable or in pain during their final days, yet we hesitate to “put them down.”  Ranchers have a lot more experience in this vein, perhaps it gets easier for them over time, but we city folks only face this decision a few times in our own lives, and from my own experence, it does not get any easier.

Euthanasia is a subject that we do not, as a society, find acceptable for the human race, and we reluctantly accept it for our pets.  I don’t have any ideas or recommendations for resolving this dilemma, it seems unresolvable, and, like abortion…there isn’t much middle ground.  

So, as in everything “life and death,” my spouse and I will make this decision together.  We will schedule the appointment, we will accompany him, we will hold him close, we will claim his ashes and we will bury him here at home in the plot with those who preceded him in our “family.” 

Farewell Friend and Companion.  We will love you Always.

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