Lisa Riley
Posted : 3/13/2006 8:28:39 PM
Here it is, I am new at this!
>
>WHY DOGS DON'T LIVE LONGER THAN 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."
>
>Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply, Speak kindly. Leave the
rest
>to
>God.
>
>