Whether it’s severe arthritis, organ failure, cancer or simply old age, it seems our dogs are reluctant to tell us it’s time to let them go.
Try to see things from your pet’s point of view: A dog’s job is to be there. When he’s old or seriously ill, he can’t get up and walk away, even if that is what he so deeply needs to do. He would see that as abandoning his duty.
That is why we, the caretakers, owe it to them to be well informed—so we can confidently intervene when their burden becomes too much to humanely bear.
Of course, that doesn’t make it any easier for us who will have to continue without them—a dilemma author Rob Pasick explores in his book, Conversations With My Old Dog. He shows us how he aches, as his 13-year-old Yellow Lab suffers from arthritis and glaucoma; he describes the trepidation he feels when thinking about life after she is gone.
As you seek to alleviate the suffering of your own precious pet, you may find comfort from Rob’s insights.
Conversations With My Old Dog is available from this web site or from Amazon.com. This slender book also makes an ideal addition to any dog-lover’s library or as a thoughtful gift to someone who has recently lost a pet.
