Clover's Mom
Super Boxer
I saw this on a website, and it just tugged at my heart strings, had to share.
WHY DOGS DON'T LIVE LONGER
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. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the
family there was no more 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 Shane could 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.
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."
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his
mouth next stunned me - I'd never heard a more comforting explanation:
He said, "Everybody is born so that they can learn how
to live a good life... like loving everybody and being nice, right?"
The four-year-old continued, "Well, animals already
know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."
WHY DOGS DON'T LIVE LONGER
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. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the
family there was no more 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 Shane could 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.
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."
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his
mouth next stunned me - I'd never heard a more comforting explanation:
He said, "Everybody is born so that they can learn how
to live a good life... like loving everybody and being nice, right?"
The four-year-old continued, "Well, animals already
know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."
