Little Darling

こんなお話が夫から転送されてきました。

ウィルソンを亡くした時、「犬の十戒」「レインボーブリッジ」を読み、心が救われ、本当にそうだと何度も何度もうなずく日が続きました。

今新しくルークを迎え、心満たされる日々を送っている私たちです。送られてきたお話は英語ですが、比較的簡単なので、訳さずにそのまま掲載します。犬と暮らす皆さんには　きっとおわかりなのではないかと思います。我々はウィルソンを尊厳死を私たちが選び安楽死させる道を選びませんでしたが、最後の笑顔を見たとき、選択は間違って居なかったと思います。そして、犬達がこの世にいる意味がここに書かれている、その通りだとあらためて想うのです。　

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The Purpose of a Dog - from a 4 yr. old

How true...

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for the four-year old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood wat was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life - - like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The four- year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. May you always have LOVE to share, HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care.