This evening, a rescuer I know had to make that very painful decision of having a sick puppy under her care put to sleep.
She came by just now, to return the remaining RetroMAD1 to me. It had not worked on her puppy and the puppy was deteriorating to a state where she could not cope anymore.
She told me this morning that she had decided to have the puppy put down. I did not quite know what to say because I have always resisted that option in all the animals I've dealt with, no matter how bad it is, but maybe I've never really faced such intensely suffering animals before.
Wendy was the closest (she had distemper seizures) and if you remember, I was scolded by quite a few people for having not resorted to euthanasia. They said I was cruel to let her suffer. But I personally nursed Wendy until she passed away. Is that cruel? I don't know. In the first place, was Wendy even suffering? Yes, she was dying, but was she suffering? To me, I felt she was calm and at peace. Those people who insisted that she was suffering had actually never even visited her, yet they insisted I should have her euthanised. But I felt I had no right to order her death. That's not my call. My call is to nurse her and keep her as comfortable as best I can, which was what I did. But even by doing that, I got bombarded by those who believed strongly in euthanasing sick and terminally-ill animals.
I live by a simple guideline. I just need to ask myself - would you do this to your child? If the answer is "no", then I would not do it to any animal.
However, I've always maintained that even though we have never resorted to euthanasia for any animal that comes to us, we do not and will never judge harshly anyone who opts for euthanasia for their suffering animals. They cannot cope anymore and nobody can help them out, so they have to resort to that painful decision. I think if anyone were to criticise someone who chooses euthanasia - instead of criticising, the critic should just take over the animal and nurse it. Isn't that more constructive than criticising?
I used to ask a vet why many vets (not all, but many) are quick to recommend euthanasia for ill animals. Apparently, the main reason is this - the human caregiver can no longer cope and there is no one willing to look after the sick animal. What choice do you have, they ask me.
If you think about that objectively, it may be true to a certain extent.
But what is true does not necessarily make it right.
What is legal also does not necessarily make it right.
Euthanasia is legal for animals. Why isn't it not legal for humans in most countries?
Yet I think this is no longer a question of right or wrong. There will never be an answer to whether euthanasia is right or wrong and there is no point in debating over it. Some countries have legalized euthanasia for humans. A vet I know who strongly believes in euthanasia to end the suffering of animals says he wished euthanasia was legal for humans in this country as he, personally, cannot bear to see suffering, human or animal. He'd rather just end it. He told me about his own suffering uncle and how he wished he could have euthanised the poor man as he was just wasting away and was in such intense pain.
I have seen dying humans who cope beautifully with their dying state. They may be stricken with the most critical illnesses, yet they display a mental strength so great that they are calm and at peace with whatever state they are in. And there are those who cannot cope. They cry in pain and they hang on to dear life, unwilling to let go. Now, that is suffering.
Pain is not an option. Suffering is.
Pain is physical. Suffering is mental.
For those who believe in karma, they believe that everyone (including animals) carry karmic debts that have to be paid. Suffering is a form of paying a past karmic debt. If we end it for them prematurely, they would have to pay for it in another life (there is no escape from karmic debts), so we are not doing that person/animal a favour by ending their lives for them. The other question is, we also need to ask ourselves whether we are actually ending our suffering or theirs. Is it because we cannot bear to see them suffer, or is it because they are really suffering?
In my own brief experience with dying animals, I feel animals know when to let go. When conditions are no longer favourable, they will let go on their own. Sometimes, they just need our blessings, especially if they have been particularly close to us. It takes great strength on our part, both to stay on with them and also to give them our blessings.
But, there will be SO many different viewpoints to this debate and that is why I say there is no point in debating. I think what is most important for us is to do what we FEEL is right. When it comes to this matter, it is not so much about seeking an answer from the brain, but from the heart.
We all need to do is to look deep within and do what we FEEL is right.
So, for the rescuer who came to see me tonight, I'm sorry I did not quite know how to comfort you, but I know how painful it must be for you as I can see the sadness on your face and in your eyes.
I searched and I found this for you - http://www.specialneedspets.org/euthanasia.htm
I hope it helps.
And if it helps further, I was praying for your puppy this afternoon too. I pray your puppy will have a good transition to his next destination, and may that be a happier one.
All dogs go to heaven.
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