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Re: [RC] [RC] [RC] Blind in Two Eyes - Howard Bramhall

I kind of expected some posts like this one. For the sake of the horse/dog, you should put them down. Ease their pain, their suffering. That sort of thing.

That's fine, that's your opinion, that's what you would do. My only question is, "Why do you think I'm giving this dog pills in the first place?" It's for the pain. She will not suffer.

I won't allow someone to put me on "trial" for this choice I've made and will continue to make. She's my dog, not yours. You do what you want with your animals and I'll do what I must with mine.

When my dog looks up, from her cart, hearing, and, sort of seeing, as the horses go running by (she loves them as much as I), with that doggish grin on her face and her tail wagging, I know she wants to continue living to "hear" another day. And, she will, as long as I'm alive to take care of her.

Like I said, I'm greedy. These last few months with her are precious to me. We might be down to days or weeks; I have no idea how long she has. When she wants me to put her out of her pain she will tell me and I will do as she asks. But, it will only come from her. Not my vet, not you, not me. Till then, life goes on, for as long as it possibly can.

cya,
Howard


From: "Karen Sullivan" <greymare56@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Howard Bramhall" <howard9732@xxxxxxx>,<ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [RC]   [RC] Blind in Two Eyes
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 19:36:50 -0800


----- Original Message -----
From: "Howard Bramhall" <howard9732@xxxxxxx>
. She has severe arthritis and a host of other
problems. She is barely hanging on. I give her seven pills each morning to
keep her going. I've built a cart to haul her around in cause walking's
getting kind of tough. I'll continue to do this until her very last day.
She sleeps a lot and quite often I lay next to her to listen to her breathe.

I'm greedy; each moment I spend with her is more valuable than the last and
I won't cut any of it short.    I just cannot be
the one to make that call; that has to go to a higher power.

Life is too darn precious and if the creature is still able to draw a breath
they deserve to continue doing just that for as long as they possibly can.
cya,
Howard (not a Saint)
________

*Well Howard.....it seems to me that if you were putting this creatures life
in the hands of
"a higher power," you would not be stuffing pills down it every day.

Not seeing your dog....I have no idea how much discomfort or suffering this
animal is in.  I have no doubt that
you are doing everything to make the quality of her life as good as
possible.

However, are your fears of loss more important than the pain this animal
might be in?  It's a theoretical
question.  I have had euthanized an elderly dog with an extremely bad hip,
and a cat with advanced cancer.
Both times I was a total wreck in tears...and held them while the injection
was given.  BOTH TIMES, I looked
back and wished I had done it SOONER!  Neither was enjoying life any more
and I feel both were in a lot of pain.
I could have eased that sooner....

I have a pug that is coming 6 and the absolute love of my life. He has a
collapsed trachea, bad hips and bad teeth.
I truly cherish each and every day and moment. I have never felt quite this
way about any animal. But, because I love him
so much, I hope I can see the day when he is in so much pain he is not
enjoying life....and give him the gift of the release
from it. We do have the choice to do this, and far too often, people
prolong the pain and suffering of the animal because
they are too weak to follow through

You might want to read what Julie Suhr has to say in her book, TEN FEET
TALL, STILL., under the chapter "When a good horse dies."  I will not quote
her, but she has some beautiful words to the effect of being able to ease
the suffereing of an honored animal.....

Karen




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