heycods
Captain
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2005
- Messages
- 3,941
>> WHY HUMANS LIVE LONGER THAN DOGS<br />>><br />>><br />>> Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year- old Irish<br />>> Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their<br />>> little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping <br />>> for<br />>> a miracle.<br />>><br />>><br />>> I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family <br />>> there<br />>> were no miracles left for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia<br />>> procedure for the old dog in their home.<br />>><br />>><br />>> As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be<br />>> good for the four-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as<br />>> though Shane might learn something from the experience.<br />>><br />>><br />>> The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family<br />>> surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last <br />>> time,<br />>> that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes,<br />>> Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's<br />>> transition without any difficulty or confusion.<br />>><br />>><br />>> We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about <br />>> the<br />>> sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had <br />>> been<br />>> listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."<br />>><br />>><br />>> Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned <br />>> me.<br />>> I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.<br />>><br />>><br />>> He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good <br />>> life --<br />>> like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The <br />>> four-year-old<br />>> continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to<br />>> stay as long."<br />>><br />>><br />>> Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply, Speak kindly. Leave the rest <br />>> to<br />>> God.
