Yesterday I received a very sad call from my sister-in-law letting me know that they were going to euthanize my doggie nephew Blake. As we cried on the phone together I flashed back on when I had to euthanize my dog, Clyde.
It was the worst day of my life.
Making the choice to euthanize a pet is a difficult decision. When the quality of life is gone I think it is the most humane thing to do. Humans should be so lucky.
There are a lot of different choices today versus twenty years ago. My veterinarian came to my home and we were under the pines. He was relaxed and I spent the entire week with him–sitting quietly under the trees talking and attempting to prepare myself for that day.
I arranged to get an all terrain red wagon and hauled him up to his favorite hiking spot where we often tromped. We sat gazing over the valley–I haven’t been able to go back since.
It took me four years to stop grieving heavily. My dog was my surrogate son, my protector, my friend, and my business partner. He helped teach people to not fear big dogs and helped aggressive dogs learn to make friends.
He was special and so was Blake.
When my brother got Blake, I happened to be heading up to spend some time with them. Black as a cute little black retriever–smart as a whip. We had him house trained in no time and my brother began training him to be a hunting dog–one who took home trophies and loved his life with my brother.
He grew into a big stopping dog with a strong mind and strong heart.
Today my brother is off fighting fires and so had to say good-bye to his beloved dog two days ago. My sister-in-law has her hands full with a new baby and is so distraught that a friend is helping them by taking Blake to his favorite vet.
Some people don’t understand the impact an animal can have on your heart. They don’t get the deep emotional growth they impart upon their humans.
I do. I’ve seen it, I’ve felt it, I’ve lived it–am living it.
There isn’t much you can do to relieve the pain of loss–whether it is human or non-human but you can be loving, be understanding, and be there if they need you.
RIP Blake–we loved you deeply…may Clyde be there to show you around the new terrain.
Keeping Pets Safe & Sane July 4th
Fireworks and other staples of the Fourth of July can pose a threat to pets. Many pets cower, quiver, behave frantically or become destructive in response to noise trauma. Fireworks, garbage trucks, thunder storms and other problems need behavior modification. Pet owners can temporarily address these problems quickly with a few July 4th pet precautions.
It amazes me that people don’t actually know that they can reduce their pet’s anxiety or stress during the 4th of July weekend. I always hope that there will be motivation to change behaviors prior to the holiday–but no such luck.
Good Samaritans who find animals and take them to the shelters are a blessing to those who lose animals–but there are preparations you can take prior to the holiday to prevent stress and to keep animals safe.
I’ve known of animals that have defecated in fear throughout their homes, others that have bolted through windows or escaped, and heard of some escapees that ran to their death on the roadway.
All of these are preventable. Below are some tips but you can also find previous press releases on the topic for safe and sane pets during July 4th or July 4th pet safety tips. Feel free to reprint and share–just please include a back link.
The biggest mistake pet lovers need to avoid is comforting the pet, although done with good intentions, petting and coddling can actually reinforce the fear and panic.
Voice communication does not reinforce the fear like cuddling, petting, holding, and trying to physically relieve the stress does…use that as an option if you can’t refrain from trying to sooth your pet.
The age of your pet, socialization, experience, and breed can also influence their reactions. Animals with an established history of problems will likely worsen. Elderly animals may get better simply because they lose their hearing.
There are ways to work through noise phobia exhibited before earthquakes, during thunderstorms and throughout firework displays, but it takes time and preplanning. In the meantime use some quick tips and tools to address the problem behavior, which escalates annually during the Fourth of July holiday.
July 4th Pet Tips
Finally, be alert if you have guests at home–since an open door can provide an opportunity for animals to bolt outside.