Goodbye Good Dog

Dogs have provided such great comfort to people for so long. It makes one wonder how it started. Did feral canines follow the cavemen for food scraps? And how long did it take those canines to figure out that the caveman was a sucker for an affectionate pet?

In any event, a pet dog has become a fixture in many households, and in some cases, the equivalent of a family member.

Their love is unconditional, their loyalty is unmatched, and their ability to comfort is priceless. A dog is here to say, "Hey, someone loves you. Whatever happens to you, I'm here for you. I'll try to make it better just by being here. All I ask from you is a square meal, a place to sleep, and a little return affection. You can skip those vaccinations, though."

So when a beloved pet dies it leaves a gaping wound.

My own dog died exactly one week ago. He was 14 years old and had lived a long and happy life. And yes, he did all the things a good dog does.

He stopped eating a couple of weeks before his departure, and none of the veterinary recommendations solved the problem. On the Friday before he died my vet told me he would be unavailable over the weekend but could perform euthanasia the following Monday if necessary. I was naive and thought that since the dog slept most of the time he would die in his sleep. Wrong. His last day on earth was not a pleasant experience for him. His systems were shutting down, and he breathing was very labored -- not the happy pant but hard, heavy breathing. There were occasional cries of pain, and sleep was out of the question. He was immobile except for the heavy breathing.

So that Sunday I could not comfort him, and his cries were heartbreaking. I did an internet search for do-it-yourself dog euthanasia, but the best I could find was a plan for a plastic tent with a concoction of vinegar and baking soda to produce CO2 to fill the tent. Well, if it worked, it would cause asphyxiation, and while I have never experienced that, I'm pretty sure it would not be a peaceful departure.

The little guy bit down on his pad and wouldn't let go. He was holding on for dear life, to anything. And I was no help whatsoever. I toyed with the idea of putting a plastic bag over his head, securing it with a cord, and suffocating him. But looking into his sad eyes, I just couldn't do it. I woke up around 2:30am Monday and checked on him. He was dead. It was not a good death.

But here's the thing. The dog's vet was unavailable until that Monday morning, but Sunday is when he needed relief from his suffering. There really should be a way for a dog owner to administer a peaceful euthanasia to a beloved pet, not to be cruel, but to end the pain.

Regardless, there he rests, in the ground under a freshly painted grave marker. Goodbye good dog. You won't be forgotten.

Comments

[Eric]

Wow. I'm so sorry you had to go through this, George, and that your poor dog had to, as well. There's just not much worse in life than watching helplessly while a pet suffers. Peace, my friend...peace.

[Geo]

Yes, being helpless is not a comfortable position when a pet is suffering.

Thank you for the kind words, Eric.