"Your Pet Has Six Months To Live" ....What Would You Do?
Posted: Tuesday, May 25, 2010
by Gerry Charbonneau
http://nibblednews.typepad.com
"The difference between friends and pets is that friends we allow into our company, pets we allow into our solitude. " ~Robert Brault
What would do if your pet's veterinarian informed you on an annual routine medical checkup that your favorite pet had developed cancer or another fatal disease and had roughly six months to live?
When pet owners are informed by their pet's veterinarian that their beloved and trusted friend will soon be taken from them , they understandably are shocked and then try and cope as best they can with the impending loss.
The amount of loss experienced might be greater for an older adult as compared to a younger, more socially active person. The younger person's social network might act as a prop to help the person cope a little better with the tragic news.
The senior adult might also suffer an emotional setback especially if a deep and ongoing relationship had developed over time. The older adult's social network may be much more limited than a younger person's. The pet might have been a faithful and trusted companion to the elderly or the bed ridden individual.
Many folks tend to spoil their pets buying them special food, treats, powders, lotions, potions and notions. A few pet owners I know have purchased special clothing to protect their animals from the elements. Dog blankets, sunglasses, booties and bibs are purchased by loving dog owners to protect their pets.
One person I know pampered his pet for seventeen years. His canine friend passed away this past spring and you can see that a major part of this man's life and day have been removed from his daily routine. His step is now strained and his gait a little slower than it used to be. His wry wit and sense of humor absent from his demeanor.
The following is an email response I received from Liz, a younger cat owner who answered an opinion topic poll I posted a while ago.
"I'm 20 years old and just got my first pet around three years ago. I have a cat and I love him very much. Unlike some pet owners, I don't mind feeding him, giving him water, and cleaning his litter box. He's such a great cat.
" He loved to cuddle and be petted unlike a lot of other cats I've been around. If I was told that he was suffering from cancer and had six months to live I would be very upset. I would spend as much time with him as possible. Other than that I do not know how I would cope with the loss of him"
To Liz the sense of loss she would feel would be devastating. Many pet owners focus their lives on their pets and this helps them cope better with the trials and tribulations the world throws their way.
When I was a student at university I had a pet hamster, Ziggy, who was a comfort and a friend. I spoiled him with hamster treats, fresh shavings for his cage and fresh veggies every day.
Although he was a nocturnal animal and ran on his wheel all night long I did enjoy his company and appreciated the way he seemed to sit in his cage and listen attentively as I rambled on about my day at class.
He was with me four years and then passed away. I felt a cetain degree of loss but also an appreciation of the fact that for those four short years I was able to enjoy his antics and company as well.
People experience deep and lasting bonds with their pets. This bonding is a beneficial and life enhancing experience which I think makes people all the more human and better able to appreciate life and living a lot more fully.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)I enjoyed your article Gerry. I'm a avid animal lover. I know the bonding that you have written of and recently wrote an article about this called "Do we own our pets or do they own us"? I love the quote and will have to use it myself. ..."we allow pets into our solitude"Hello CraigThanks for your comments.Our pets enable us to be more humane, caring, sharing and funloving.This laid back atitude that invariably develops in pet owners helps pets enjoy us a whole lot more as well.Enjoy the day.
I have a cat that is a HUGE part of my life. If I got this terrible news I would be crushed. I suppose I would just make him as comfortable as possible and spend as much of my time with him before the end. Goodness, I think I may cry...Thank you for your comment WilliamThe attachment we feel towards our pets can get overly emotional especially when they have been with us for a length of time.
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