Thinking About Having A Pet
Perhaps you’re seeking companionship — another living thing to hold, to talk to, to cuddle, to nurture… in short, to pet. The very definition of the word “pet” is a broad one. This word with Middle English roots can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective. It is a beloved animal, a gentle touch or a cherished object. And pets are certainly all those things.
Perhaps you live alone and think you would enjoy having a dog to accompany you on your evening walks. A cat could purr in your lap while you’re watching Casablanca or Star Wars for the 27th time. Or maybe you’re trying to decide between feathers and fins — and you need a place to help you discover the pros and cons.
If you have a family, maybe you’re tired of the kids bringing home roly-poly bugs, earthworms and crickets in a determined effort to adopt a pet in spite of your objections. Whatever your motivation, you can rest assured it is not a singular one. Humankind has been keeping pets for anywhere from 15,000 to 30,000 years. Today, more than half of all American and British households have pets.
A March 15, 1996 article in Time for Kids, lists dogs as the number one favorite for American households with 37% of those surveyed saying they owned a dog. Cats were a close second at 31%, followed by birds at 6%, fish at 3% and horses at 3%. Other conflicting studies show cats gaining or even surpassing dogs in popularity.
Can Pets Keep the Doctor Away?
If you are having difficulty making the “Big Decision,” consider that you might just get a better return on your investment in pet food than you do on your investment in the stock market. There is mounting evidence that pets contribute to the emotional and physical health of their human owners. They can reduce your risk of heart disease, lower your blood pressure and, if you are married, they might help make your union a happier one. Recent studies are also revealing that they can raise a child’s IQ scores, cognitive and social skills, as well as help that child to develop compassion and positive self-esteem.
Of course, pets still help us in other ways. Seeing-eye dogs help the blind to live full, rich lives, and hearing dogs help the deaf to “hear” sounds. And there are innumerable police dogs, drug dogs and rescue dogs that all make it part of their daily routines to keep us safe from harm. Their courage and unfailing loyalty set an example for us all. But there are also thousands of companion animal programs across the country that use cats, birds or rabbits, in addition to dogs, in nursing homes and hospitals, and these animals are heroic in their own right.
Modern Pets, or Who Owns Who?
With all the benefits of pet ownership, it’s no wonder that some owners will go to any lengths to keep their pets healthy and happy — and occasionally just plain pampered. From dinners of filet mignon to spa vacations and for-canines-only delis and fast food restaurants, facilities for pampered pets are popping up all over. And naturally, celebrities are among the first to be extravagant. Daryl Hannah, for example, jokingly claims that she needs to work just to pay the vet bills on her five horses. There are more than a few pooches out there with air-conditioned dog houses, and at least one who sports a mink coat in the wintertime. You’ve seen cat collars with rhinestones? Try diamonds and sapphires for the cat who has everything. Or then again, perhaps a simple scratching post will do.
No matter how much we want to give them, time, attention and understanding are what our pets crave most. That’s often the hardest thing to come by, but it is absolutely vital to the happiness of the pets we love so well.
Why do we go so dog-gone crazy for pets anyway? Because they’re worth it, of course! And with so many different kinds to choose from, there’s a perfect pet for everyone.
Grieving The Loss Of A Pet
How Do I Know When It Is Time ?
Perhaps the kindest thing you can do for a pet that is so sick or so severely injured that he or she will never recover normal health is to have your veterinarian induce its death quietly and humanely through euthanasia. Your decision is a serious one, seldom easy to make.
What should I do?
Your relationship with your pet is special, and you are responsible for its care and welfare. Eventually, many owners are faced with making life or death decisions for their pets. Such a decision may become necessary for the welfare of the animal and for you and your family.
A decision concerning euthanasia may be one of the most difficult decisions you will ever make regarding your pet. Your decision is a personal one, but it need not be a solitary one. Your veterinarian and your family and friends can assist and support you. Consider not only what is best for your pet, but also what is best for you and your family. Quality of life is important for pets and people alike.
How will I know when?
If your pet can no longer do with you and your family the things he or she once enjoyed, if your pet cannot respond to you in the usual ways, or if there is more pain than pleasure in his or her life, you may need to consider euthanasia. Likewise, if your pet is terminally ill or critically injured, or if the financial or emotional cost of treatment is beyond your means, euthanasia may be a valid option.
Your veterinarian understands attachment to pets, and can examine and evaluate your pet’s condition, estimate your pet’s chances for recovery, and discuss potential disabilities and long-term problems. He or she can explain the medical options and possible outcomes. Because your veterinarian cannot make the euthanasia decision for you, it is important that you fully understand your pet’s condition. If there is any part of the diagnosis or the implications for your pet’s future that you don’t understand, ask to have it explained again. Rarely will the situation require an immediate decision. Usually, you will have time to review the facts before making your decision.
As you make your decision, you may wish to discuss the care of the remains of your pet’s body with your family and veterinarian. You have several options, and your veterinarian can provide information about burial, cremation, or other alternatives.
What if the animal is healthy?
Euthanasia might be necessary if a pet has become vicious, dangerous, or unmanageable. However, some undesirable and abnormal behavior can be changed.
Economic, emotional, and space limitations or changes in lifestyle also may force an owner to consider euthanasia of a pet, but it is better to find another solution or an alternative home for these pets. Euthanasia should be considered only when another alternative is not available.
The Next Step
How do I tell my family?
Family members usually are already aware of a pet’s problems. However, you should review with them the information you have received from your veterinarian. Long-term medical care can be a burden that you and your family may be unable to bear emotionally or financially, and this should be discussed openly and honestly. Encourage family members to express their thoughts and feelings. Even if you have reached a decision, it is important that family members, especially children, have their feelings considered.
Children have special relationships with their pets. Excluding or protecting children from this decision-making process, because they are thought to be too young to understand, may only complicate their grieving. Children respect straightforward, truthful, and simple answers. If they are prepared adequately, children usually are able to accept a pet’s death.
Will it be painless?
Euthanasia is almost always accomplished by injection of a death-inducing drug. Your veterinarian may administer a tranquilizer first to relax your pet. Following the death-inducing injection, your pet will immediately go into a quiet and irreversible deep unconsciousness. Death will come quickly and painlessly.
How can I say goodbye?
The act of saying goodbye is an important step in managing the natural and healthy feelings of grief, sorrow, and sense of loss. Your pet is an important part of your life and it is natural to feel you are losing a friend–for you are.
Once the decision for euthanasia has been made, you and other family members may want to say goodbye to your pet. A last evening with your pet at home or a visit to the pet at the hospital may be appropriate. Family members who want to be alone with the animal should be allowed to do so. Farewells are always difficult.
How can I face the loss?
After your pet has died, it is natural and normal to feel grief and sorrow. The grieving process includes accepting the reality of your loss, accepting that the loss and accompanying feelings are painful, and adjusting to your new life that no longer includes your pet.
There are many signs of grief, but not everyone experiences them all, or in the same order. Even before death has occurred, your reaction may be to deny your pet is sick or injured when you learn the extent of your pet’s illness or injuries.
Anger may follow denial. This anger can be directed toward people you normally love and respect, including your family and veterinarian. People will often say things that they do not really mean, perhaps hurting those whom they do not mean to hurt. You may blame yourself or others for not recognizing the illness earlier or for being careless and allowing the pet to be injured.
You also may feel guilt and depression. This is when you usually feel the greatest sense of loss. The tears flow, there are knots in your stomach, and you are drained of all your energy. Day-to-day tasks can seem impossible. Sometimes you may even ask yourself if you can go on without your pet. The answer is yes, but there are times when special assistance may be helpful.
Once you and your family come to terms with your feelings, you can begin to resolve and accept your pet’s death. When you have reached resolution and acceptance, the feelings of anger, denial, guilt, and depression may reappear. If this does occur, the intensity of these feelings will be much less, and with time, these feelings will be replaced with fond memories.
Although the signs of grief apply whether the loss is of a loving pet or a human loved one, grieving is a personal process. Some people take longer than others to come to terms with denial, anger, guilt, or depression. If you understand that these are normal reactions, you will be better prepared to cope with your own feelings and to help others face theirs. Family members should be reassured that sorrow and grief are normal, natural responses to death.
They may not understand
Often, well-meaning family and friends may not realize how important your pet was to you or the intensity of your grief. Being honest with yourself and others about how you feel is best. If despair mounts, talk to someone who will listen about your pet and the illness and death.
I cannot forget
If you or a family member has great difficulty in accepting your pet’s death and cannot resolve feelings of grief and sorrow, you may want to discuss those feelings with a person who is trained to understand the grieving process such as a grief counselor, clergyman, social worker, physician, or psychologist. Your veterinarian certainly understands the loving relationship you have lost and may be able to direct you to community resources, such as a pet loss support group or hot line. Talking about your loss will often help.
Should I get another pet?
The death of a pet can upset you emotionally, especially when euthanasia is involved. Some people may feel they would never want another pet. A new pet may help others get over the loss more quickly. Just as grief is a personal experience, the decision of when, if ever, to bring a new pet into your home is also a personal one. If a family member is having difficulty accepting the pet’s death, bringing a new pet into the home before that individual has resolved his or her grief may imply that the life of the deceased pet was unworthy of the grief that is still being felt. Family members should come to an agreement on the appropriate time to acquire a new pet. Although you can never replace the pet you lost you can get another one to share your life.
Remembering your pet.
The period from birth to old age is much more brief in pets than in people. Death is part of the life cycle for all creatures. It cannot be avoided, but its impact can be met with understanding and compassion. Try to recall the good times you spent with your pet. By remembering the pleasure of those times, you can realize your pet was worthy of your grief. You may also wish to establish a memorial of some type in honor of your pet.
Suggested website for additional information:
www.avma.org
REACH provides free confidential counseling and referral assistance to help with your emotional concerns of Pet Care. To speak to a counselor call toll free 1-800-273-5273.