Writer’s Rant for 1/3/24
“Sometimes I meet people and feel bad for their dog.” (anonymous). I’m a dog person and I like most dogs. I’ll just leave it at that. I have had a few dogs over the years including a Collie, a Beagle, a German Shepherd, a Doberman, a (mixed) Black Lab, a Jack Russell Terrier, and a (mixed breed) Hound dog. The only one I didn’t like was the Doberman. He was mean and hard to control, so he came and went pretty quickly. My favorite was Baily, the Jack Russell. He had the most energy of any dog I ever met. In the morning, I would let him out and watch as he ran full speed across the horse pasture, taking a running leap into the pond and then swimming laps. Then he would visit the neighboring farm and other houses in the neighborhood. He was known and loved by everyone. At the end of the day when he had exhausted his energy, he would lay quietly at my feet and when invited, in my lap. Most of our dogs stayed around for years and lived long lives. There were a couple that died by my own hand. It wasn’t because they did anything to deserve it. When they became ill, we did everything we could to prevent their suffering. But there reached a point when nothing was left to do but take them to the vet and let them die peacefully in my lap. It was incumbent upon me to do it. I believe in mercy killing (euthanasia) and physician assisted suicide. No person should have to suffer the pain or indignity of an inevitable end. Pets shouldn’t have to suffer either. So I am all in for making their owners eligible for an assisted suicide. And it’s incumbent upon me to help.
