A time to live, a time to die (Animal Welfare in general)

Member Name: dawnfrancis

Product:	Animal Welfare in general
Date:	26/07/01 (90 review reads)
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I have been inspired by the last op I wrote to address a more general issue of animal welfare - having your pet put to sleep.

When we choose to share our lives with an animal, we're also opening ourselves up to a life of tremendous responsibility and potential pain. Our pets rely on us totally. I don't care whether we're talking about a stick insect or a shire horse..all life is equal in worth and who are we to judge its value? The decision to end another life is a momentous one, particularly when you may have spent years caring for the animal concerned. It is heartbreaking to then be the one who imposes a death sentence...

This op won't come up with any concrete answers, but I'm going to try and deal with the issues as I see them, and how I have tried to resolve the dilemma itself. I hope it helps someone facing this difficult decision.

1. DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO END A LIFE?

My sister, who loves her animals dearly, refuses outright to have them put to sleep. This is because she believes it is fundamentally wrong to take another life, for whatever reason, and that it is taking away the individual rights of the animal.

My sister is not religious, but her views echo those of many religious people (and not just Christians), who believe that as only God is able to give life, only God has the right to end it.

2. DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROLONG SUFFERING?

Of course, the flipside to this argument is that it is just as wrong to keep a suffering animal alive. That too is taking away the rights of the animal - the right to live a life in relative peace.

Many people believe that since we have the means to end suffering humanely, it is actually cruel to allow it to continue.

These two views seem completely opposed to each other. But in fact it is possible to hold both. I actually question whether we have the right to end life as much as I question whether we have th
e right to force life onto a suffering creature.

3. IS THERE A MIDDLE WAY?

After many years of facing this heartbreaking decision I feel I have come to some kind of resolution. It's not perfect but it allows me to face the death of what is often a beloved family member in the best way I know how.

You see, I have tried both ways. I have had several rats die 'naturally' without my assistance. Sometimes this death was a prolonged business but the animal seemed in some way to 'accept' it. However in other cases the animal was quite obviously suffering. The death of my first rat, Leroy, upsets me still so much that it overshadows the memory of his life. I allowed these rats to suffer painful deaths and the guilt will always weigh heavy on me.

I felt a lot of guilt too when I had my first rat put to sleep. It was a terrible, terrible decision and I was wracked by guilt for days afterwards. Was Job ready to die? Would it have been his choice? What if he had a soul, and I had somehow stopped it from going to heaven? These thoughts may sound silly but it's amazing what grief does to you.

When I compare the two choices neither seems ideal. The way I resolve this dilemma is simple. I put the animal first. Not my beliefs or feelings.

I don't make the decision lightly. I weigh it up for days. I observe the animal in great detail. Is he eating? if so does he enjoy his food or is it just an instinct? Does he react to the things he used to enjoy? Does he seem peaceful? Does he still know me? Even a very seriously ill and debilitated animal in my mind should not be put to sleep so long as he does not appear to be suffering. Many animals in comas may look in a terrible state but are actually quite peaceful. And when you have lived so closely with animals for so long, you KNOW when your pet is suffering. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

The point I'm try
ing to make is that I am neither for nor against euthanasia. Each animal, when the time comes, is treated in an individual sense. I go through the same set of tormented decisions as before. I evaluate each rat seperately. I get advice from the vet as to the amount of distress a natural death is likely to cause. And this means that sometimes they are put to sleep, and sometimes they die naturally.

I believe that this kind of soul-searching is essential whatever you choose, because it ensures your decision is made with the utmost of seriousness. It respects the sanctity of life. To this day I do not know whether I was right to let my animals die naturally. To this day I do not know whether I was right to put the others to sleep. But I DO know that in each case I acted the way I did because I loved them and that no decision was made lightly. And I think that as long as love and care are at the heart of your decision, it's the right one.

4. ADVICE TO THOSE MAKING THE DECISION

Here are some tips that have got me through such difficult times.

a) Be kind to yourself. Don't beat yourself up for doing it/not doing it. Once you've decided, keep telling yourself you are doing this out of love. No-one on the face of this earth has the right answer. Be aware of this if people criticize you.

b) Maintain a loving and peaceful atmosphere around your pet. They CAN sense when you are distressed, and this will upset them even more. Talk to them. Remember happy memories together. Ignore people who think animals don't benefit from this. You will BOTH feel better.

c) Be assured that if you do decide to have your pet put to sleep, something inside you takes over. It's a strange kind of calm amidst the grief. You're strong for your pet.

If at all possible try to sit on your own away from the waiting room. If you really cannot bear to be with your pet as he/she passes away, that&
#39;s fine. If you want to be there, that's fine too. It's ok if you cry, ok if you don't. Remember, there are no rights and wrongs. There is no rule book for grief.

d) After the death, be it natural or euthanasia, try to put it out of your mind. Remember the animal's life, not death, and the joy you had together. Collect pictures together, write a tribute to your pet. If you are religious (I'm not, but I so sympathize with the special difficulties faced by those who are), say a prayer for your animal. Even if you're not religious, send him a thought, a 'hello, I love you'. It helps.

Whatever you decide I and many others do not judge you. It takes courage either way. I wish everyone in this situation, and their pets, peace in their last days together.

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