RideCamp@endurance.net
Fwd: Fw: Animal Lovers
I would not normaly post this on ridecamp, but it did touch me, and I wanted
to pass it along. Dog debates? Well, some of us just plain love animals.
Tammy Robinson
In a message dated 3/26/99 6:33:52 AM Pacific Standard Time, ridnhigh@gte.net
writes:
<< ----- Original Message -----
>Sent: Thursday, March 25, 1999 11:46 AM
>Subject: FW: Animal Lovers
>
>
>>
>>
>>
>> > > Rites of Passage
>> > >
>> > > Some of the most poignant moments I spend as a
>> > > veterinarian are those spent with my clients assisting the
>> > > transition of my animal patients from this world to the
>> > > next. When living becomes a burden, whether from pain or
>> > > loss of normal functions, I can help a family by ensuring
>> > > that their beloved pet has an easy passing. Making this
>> > > final decision is painful, and I have often felt powerless
>> > > to comfort the grieving owners.
>> > > That was before I met Shane.
>> > > I had been called to examine a ten-year-old blue heeler
>> > > named Belker who had developed a serious health problem.
>> > > 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 were no 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."
>> > >
>> > > By Robin Downing, D.V.M.
>> > > from Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul
>> > > Copyright 1998 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Marty
>> > > Becker and Carol Kline >>
---- Begin included message ----
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Reimers <poolman@gte.net>
To: Charlene Lewis <ridnhigh@gte.net>
Cc: JIMMY JO MEEKER <poolman@gte.net>
Date: Thursday, March 25, 1999 12:45 PM
Subject: Fw: Animal Lovers
>
>----- Original Message -----
>Sent: Thursday, March 25, 1999 11:46 AM
>Subject: FW: Animal Lovers
>
>
>>
>>
>>
>> > > Rites of Passage
>> > >
>> > > Some of the most poignant moments I spend as a
>> > > veterinarian are those spent with my clients assisting the
>> > > transition of my animal patients from this world to the
>> > > next. When living becomes a burden, whether from pain or
>> > > loss of normal functions, I can help a family by ensuring
>> > > that their beloved pet has an easy passing. Making this
>> > > final decision is painful, and I have often felt powerless
>> > > to comfort the grieving owners.
>> > > That was before I met Shane.
>> > > I had been called to examine a ten-year-old blue heeler
>> > > named Belker who had developed a serious health problem.
>> > > 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 were no 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."
>> > >
>> > > By Robin Downing, D.V.M.
>> > > from Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul
>> > > Copyright 1998 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Marty
>> > > Becker and Carol Kline
>> > >
>> >
>
---- End included message ----
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