3/26/2006
Why dogs don’t live as long as people
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 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 as though Shane might 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, “People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The four-year-old continued, “Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
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March 26th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
I’ve been working in the veterinary field for 13 years now, and there isn’t a better occupation to experience unconditional love. Thank you for printing this story.
March 26th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
What a wonderful story, even as sad as it is. I have 3 dogs and two cats, one of my dogs and one of the cats will soon be 17 years old. The cat has arthritis, but otherwise healthy, my little Becki is so deaf, she barely hears me and her eyesight seems to be going as well. Otherwise, though, both animals are healthy. How much longer, not much I would guess. Losing them will be hard, but I will keep this small child’s words in my heart. Thank you for sharing this.
March 26th, 2006 at 7:05 pm
Thanks, you two. I thought it was a lovely sentiment and I sometimes put some pretty harsh things up here. So these ‘from the heart’ tidbits are a small oasis away from the harsh realities we’re facing –
March 26th, 2006 at 7:34 pm
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March 27th, 2006 at 10:54 am
JUST A DOG
From time to time, people tell me, “lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or, “that’s a lot of money for just a dog.”
They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for “just a dog.”
Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog.”
Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog,” but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a dog,” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it’s “just a dog,” then you will probably understand phrases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.”
“Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.
“Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.
Because of “just a dog”, I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.
So for me and folks like me, it’s not “just a dog” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.
“Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “just a dog”, but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a man or woman.”
So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog”, just smile — because they “just don’t understand.”
Until then — I will still enjoy the company; joy and happiness that my little 5-lb female Toy Poodle brings to me everyday … after all; she’s “just a dog” … but, is far better than most humans I’ve met.
March 27th, 2006 at 11:00 am
That is a wonderful story. I have had, and lost, many cats and dogs over the years. Such truth comes out of the mouths of babes…
March 27th, 2006 at 3:48 pm
Very nice. Just nice.
March 29th, 2006 at 10:34 am
Out of the mouths of babes…
We have a cocker spaniel who is now 12 years old. Two years ago we discovered she had **** gland cancer. We were referred to NCSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Raleigh, NC, where they staged her cancer and then did surgery to remove the tumor and a cancerous lymph node.
She then went back for radiation treatment for 28 sessions (we rented a corporate apt. so she could come home at night) and four chemo treaments using carboplatin.
She then went for checkups every 3 months to have ultrasounds done and various other tests. She had a lot of trouble with her ears unrelated to the cancer, so we took her to a more local vet to have ear ablation surgery done. While having that done the vet discovered a small melanoma on the top corner of her ear and removed it with clean margins.
We still have her, she has learned to watch to see what we are doing and has overcome the disability of deafness from it.
Yes, we took extraordinary measures, but God blessed us to have the means to do so.
Now our chow/golden mix has a liver enzyme that is too high but it is the only one and after an extensive series of tests our vet told us today she feels comfortable telling us he doesn’t have liver disease and if the count goes way up next time in three months she will recommend an ultrasound needle biopsy on his liver.
We love our animals as we love our children.
BTW I’m the only official person on the blacklist at our favorite French site! You’re only in moderation queue.
March 29th, 2006 at 10:45 am
[…] A story that will break your heart and then make you feel good again. A nice lesson from a child at Cao’s Blog. […]
March 29th, 2006 at 11:51 am
Jeanette, I am so proud of you that you hung in there to give them grief. You had far more patience with them than I did. I don’t think even Kender is blacklisted over there, is he? Now there’s a guy who knows how to get under their skin. He was put in moderation over at Cramer’s, too. hehehe and even the Stupes are annoyed with him.
I hate reading what they write, although they never took the fight to email with me the way Phillippe did with you.
I wonder why. 
Anyway, good to see you, I haven’t been over in a while–thanks for commenting!
March 29th, 2006 at 8:29 pm
Jeanette - as an avid dog lover, I pray your precious pets will be just fine … don’t forget; “dog” spelled backwards is GOD!
March 29th, 2006 at 9:49 pm
Yatahey,
dont forget your named spelled in pig latin is ….. ****** Idiot.
Bwah hahahahahahahahah
March 30th, 2006 at 9:07 pm
:mrgreen:Jeanette,I will be praying that God heals your precious canine.:smile:
March 31st, 2006 at 9:56 pm
Howard Lededer — can I come over and nail your Sister?