The Last Breath
When it’s time to say GoodBye!
Death is a door that marks the end of one’s journey on this earth and it stands firm, looking out on any creature who’s breathing their last whether that be a human, an animal, or even a plant. While no one can yet escape death, what really matters is that if your loved ones were holding you or were simply there with you when you took that last step across the threshold of the door of Death. Then, the transition doesn’t seem to be as painful as your loved ones were there to bade you farewell and you trust that sometime in the near future, you might even meet them at the other end.
Pets, too, have that last wish to be with their pet owners before they are put to sleep. Euthanasia marks the final step to a lifetime of care and your pet deserves compassion and dignity as they are administered the final dose.
90% of pet owners avoid being in the same room as their pets while they die. While this is a very personal decision, it is one that can seal your relationship with your pet with empathy and compassion. Although veterinarians are sure to treat your pet in a soothing manner since they have taken up their job due to their love of animals, however, they can never replace your presence and its significance for your pet. Most pets are often brought into homes in their infancies, and thus, for their entire lives, their owner and his/her family becomes the center of that animal’s entire universe.
When they are brought into a pet clinic, animals usually have a very strong intuition that this might be the end, or they are aware that this place is one that injects them, and so, just like a child, the pet clinic isn’t their most favorite places to visit. On top of that, they are left to close their eyes with a complete stranger by their side at a place they don’t like and that is the most heartbreaking thing any creature should ever have to endure.
A woman from Tennessee, Jessi Dietrich tweeted about the response she received from her vet when she asked him about the most difficult part of his job. “Asked my vet what the hardest part was about his job and he said when he has to put an animal down,” she wrote.
“90 per cent of owners don’t actually want to be in the room when he injects them so the animal’s last moments are usually them frantically looking around for their owners and tbh that broke me.”
Her tweet resonated with a large number of people, many among whom had pets, all over the globe, garnering many retweets and likes. While some were brought to the realization of this process, others yet argued that staying in the room with a pet, that has become a family member, as it passes away is far easier said than done.
Knowing that your pet will no longer walk the way back to your home with you is a thought that’s very hard to come to terms with. The pet owner is in a state of turmoil when they bring their pet to the clinic to be put to sleep. So, its not great to label them as cowards or judge them for walking away at that last moment. However, having said that, clinics should ensure that pet owners are aware of the process beforehand so they don’t leave out of fear of uncertainty of how their pet is going to react.
It is also important that they don’t feel like ashamed of bringing their pet for euthanasia since the process is very quick and gentle as opposed to what the pet has to go through otherwise. Most pets who are brought in are either too old and have lost basic senses such as that of sight or have major health concerns such as breathing problems that are incurable. Hence, euthanasia is their best bet at peace.
When the pet is undergoing the process, it is important that pet owners don’t display their emotions since that may upset the pet. Try thinking of your pet: bear this pain for their sake and be with them until the end!
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