"TIKI" - 10/21/94 - 3/23/09

The following is an excerpt from an article written by Hilary Brown of VetPet Partners. I found this the other night and it sums up very well all the thoughts, anxiety, fears, and pain I have faced making the decision that we did this weekend - to put the last of the "original 4 dogs" - Tiki - to rest. Her pain has been getting progressively worse and we would not ask her to stay longer, in pain, just for us to love her. I don't know if pets go to heaven to meet us there later but I want to think that right now Tiki is running around heaven in the green grass with Thea, Fancy, and Spirit. She was our "sweet little blessing". I LOVE YOU TIKI - REST WELL.





..."When I am faced with the ultimate decision about how I can best serve the animal I love so much, I try to set aside all the complications and rationales of what I may or may not understand medically and I try to clear my mind of any of the confusions and ups and downs that are so much a part of caring for a terminally ill pet. This is hard to do, because for months and often years we have been in this mode of weighing hard data, labs, food, how many ounces did she drink, should she have her rabies shot or not, etc. But at some point it's time to put all of that in the academic folder and open the spiritual folder instead. At that point we are wise to ask ourselves the question: "Does SHE want to be here today, to experience this day in this way, as much as I want her to?"

Remember dogs are NOT afraid, they are NOT carrying anxiety and fear of the unknown. So for them it's only about whether this day holds enough companionship and ease and routine so that they would choose to have those things more than anything else and that they are able to focus on those things beyond any discomfort or pain or frustration they may feel. How great is her burden of illness THIS day, and does she want/need to live through THIS day with this burden of illness as much as I want/need her to? If I honestly believe that her condition is such, her pleasures sufficient, that she would choose to persevere, then that's the answer and we press on.

If, on the other hand, I can look honestly and bravely at the situation and admit that SHE, with none of the fear or sadness that cripples me, would choose instead to rest, then my obligation is clear. Because she needs to know in her giant heart, beyond any doubt, that I WILL have the courage to make the hard decisions on her behalf, that I will always put her peace before my own, and that I am able to love her as unselfishly as she has loved me.

After many years, and so very many loved ones now living on joyously in their forever home in my heart, this is the view I take...... The law of my state says the veterinarian is the one licensed to administer the shot, not me. But a much higher law says this is my ultimate gift to my dog and the responsibility that I undertook on the day I welcomed that dog into my life forever."