February 2003
In March of 1987 my parents bought me a puppy — a female Rat Terrier I named Daisy Mae. She was my constant companion as I went through college and then into my adult life.
She was always there at the door to greet me excitedly as I came home. She loved to sleep next to me where ever I happened to be — on the floor next to my desk or on the couch with me as I watched TV. When I was not home, she would whine and stare at the door awaiting my arrival (just ask Reed!).
Last month, just after her 16th birthday I had to euthanize Daisy. She was diagnosed with liver cancer last year and things were rapidly getting worse for her. She was sick and in pain, and I could not bear to see her suffer further. It was by far the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life.
I spent many weeks anguishing over the decision. In the end, I knew the right thing to do was to not consider my feelings, but rather to consider hers. I was responsible for making sure she did not needlessly suffer. It was probably one of the most selfless things I have ever done. Sometimes an act of kindness is the hardest thing we have to do.
I have done much thinking on this issue and I can’t help but see how much this relates to the assisted suicide issue. I am rather taken aback at how easily we accept that it is best to not let our cherished pets suffer needlessly, yet we do not allow the same basic dignity for human beings. I don’t presume to compare an animal with a human, but in this case, we can’t stand to see our pets suffer and yet somehow think it is nobler to allow a human to suffer.
I also find it amusing that the ones who voice the greatest objections are devout Christians. These are people who are “sure” that there is life after death. They are sure they will go live in heaven with their God, yet they are terrified at the prospect of ending the physical existence. Is it not better to allow someone to end their pain and go on to live the magical existence that awaits them? Or perhaps, they aren’t fully sure that there really is such a thing as life after death?
No one who suffers from a terminal condition should have to be made to live a miserable life. Because our pets can not make this decision for themselves, we make it for them. We should allow the same basic right to human beings who are capable of making the choice for themselves. In fact, the state of Oregon has voted (more than once) and agreed on this very issue. Yet, extreme Christians, such as John Ashcroft, try to force their ideology on others and try to deny the people of Oregon their right to pass fair and just laws. I wonder if Ashcroft ever had a pet he loved dearly become sick. I wonder if he did the right thing and end that pet’s life before it needlessly suffered. I wonder.
Daisy had a few scrapes with death in her 16 years. My dad liked to go hiking around the Three Sisters and would often take Daisy with him so he wouldn’t have to be alone. They went on a long hike one day and Daisy happily followed him jumping over one log after another. They finally made it to the top of a ravine and dad sat down on a log at the edge of a precipice to rest. Daisy assumed it was just another log to jump over so she took a run and began to bound over, not realizing on the other side awaited a several hundred foot drop. Luckily dad caught her out of the corner of his eye and managed to swing his arm around, sending her tumbling backwards to the ground — all the while, the thought running through his head: “If I don’t bring this dog home in one piece my daughter is going to kill me!” Usually by the end of the day he would end up carrying Daisy the last mile or two because her feet were just too tired.
14 years old
Since I could not stand being home by myself all day long with no warm furry canine to love, Reed and I decided to look for a new dog. I’m pleased to report that we adopted a
6-week-old Beagle puppy. We’ve named her Buttercup and plan to spoil her rotten.
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Angela C. Byers
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