A letter to a bereaved friend heartbroken from the loss of a pet –

“Yes, end-of-life decisions can be heartbreaking. Yet there is courage in making the choice. You freed your pet from prolonged suffering.

“There are those who say, “Suffering is one of life’s noble truths.” I think otherwise, that alleviating suffering is a noble act, and fatalistic acceptance of suffering is inaction. This is why hunters (animals and humans) often end the lives of prey immediately.

“When Lucy, the feral cat mom who adopted my home, fell ill a few years ago, my daughter and I took her to the vet…and she nursed Lucy back to health day by day. Lucy lived two more years, and then fell very ill. Her blood sugar was off the charts, and her kidneys weren’t functioning. She was very weak, and could only stumble a few steps before falling.

After the first time, I had ensured Lucy had insurance coverage, but hadn’t taken her for checks every six months or so…as I should have. Despite a controlled diet, her blood sugar had risen likely because of a complete lack of exercise – play, being chased around – and I hadn’t done that either.

Could I blame myself for her eventual illness? Perhaps…the vet advised euthanasia after keeping Lucy overnight, and that was the most difficult decision for my daughter. I kept my composure at the hospital, but bawled when alone at home. 

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