Vet's animal euthanasia blog
The "What I Killed Today" blog keeps track of the sick and injured animals a veterinary worker euthanizes each day. The blogger says, "I work with a lot of injured wildlife. Also not wild animals that are just in a lot of pain. Sometimes I have to euthanize them. I decided to record each animal I euthanize here." This is depressing, of course, but moving, too, as with entries like:
a 13-year-old basset hound in kidney failure. she was so kind and licked my face as i carried her in from the car for the owner. he was a sweet old man with tears in his eyes. i fed her an entire bag of treats and she kept eating ferociously even after the injection. her chewing slowed down and then she was gone.Link (via Warren Ellis)
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a little courage is the least return we can give for a lifetime of receiving.
I can't read that. I'll cry.
I've had to have pets put down before because of illnesses. It's one of the hardest things I've ever done.
let's just be glad there are no pictures.
#3 Actually there is one....
Barn owl with a broken femur. It held the mask in place with its good foot as I anesthetized it.
http://tinyurl.com/36b9ug
As Cory said, sad but very moving.
As a tech who has not only had to be present for many euthanasias, but also on several occasions had to be the one to push the plunger, I can tell you that you never forget any one of the animals, but you also know that you've done the right thing for them. The hardest part is when they wag their tail or purr as they're going to sleep, but I honestly believe that's because they're finally free of pain.
I'm bookmarking this blog.
* a Pacman frog with a proplapsed anus.
that is all
I know this woman. She's quite something.
Same here, OneSwellFoop. I had both my dogs put down due to age-related illness in 2006 (April 28 and October 27) and I still can't think about it too much without crying.
Oh. There I go.
Yeah, no reading this one for me. I like the idea, though.
The more I know about people the more I love my dog.....
Oy... I don't think I can read this one.
My father's a vet and he always has those stories. What impressed me most is that he sometimes refuses to put down animals when the owners don't have a good reason. One example: in June there are lots of people who bring their old but perfectly healthy cats/dogs with the lame excuse "he's getting too old and we can't take him on vacation with us...". Instead he just injects a cocktail of vitamins and 'power' drugs and the old guy is good for another vacation.
Still, when he has to do it on some lame excuse ('I'm moving and animals aren't allowed where I go' or somesuch), he asks the owner to hold the beast while it's going ('sorry, my assistant is not available at this time'). A way to hammer some empathy on some people...
I read two or three of the entries and then just choked up. This is something most of us who have pets try not to think about, so more power to the blogger's elbow for telling us about it with matter-of-fact compassion.
I read it.
Such small simple statements.
Who knew so much compassion and dignity could be conveyed in such a small reflection. A moment, a slice of time, a glimpse into the heart of an angel.
Not only does this person, and others like him, bring peace to the suffering, but to everyone who reads the blog.
...And yet when you try to do the same for a human, you go to jail for a long time...
I can't read this.
I can't even try.
Too, too sensitive, and far too close to life.
-abs
Good for your father darguad! Especially making the owners help put their animals to sleep if the reason is petty. I mean, sheesh.
But yeah, I won't be able to read the blog either, it's too sad. Which makes me wonder, maybe we need a blog like this for all the Iraqi civilians who perish in fighting each day....