Sukie wrote:
>"... So, we are spoiling her and she is going to have some Lasix now
>added to her other meds, plus arrangements are in place for pain meds to
>be provided when she comes to need those.  The testing evidence is that
>multiple organ systems are having problems with her kidneys the worst
>right now..."
 
I know that this is not going to be a popular post.  And please believe
me when I say it is no way an attack or a flame against Sukie personally.
But I have something I need to say here and it is something I feel very
very strongly about.
 
I absolutely do not understand the rationale behind making little ones
who are obviously "going downhill" and have been diagnosed with something
that will inevitably make their little lives horrendous stay around for
our benefit.  I have seen this time and time again, where "heroic
measures" are taken to keep a furkid in this world far longer than they
should have been..  where quality of life becomes a daily routine of
medications and inability to get around and pain... where their HUMANS
should have made the transition painless and easy.
 
We are the caretakers of these little souls..  the ones they turn to when
they are in pain..  when they want to be loved... and we are the ones
that they trust.  Why then is it so difficult to make the decision to...
yes I'm going to say the dreaded word... euthanize ....instead of prolong
an inevitable and painful end.  If the diagnosis includes multiple organ
systems being invovled... and there is reason to believe that PAIN meds
will be needed and that there is no hope for a bright future... would it
not be kinder to allow these little ones the dignity of being able to
remember their last days as ones filled with love..  and feel their
"owner" holding them, carressing them..  and helping them on to a better
world that is pain and disease free?  I for one hate the thought of one
of my furkids having their last memories of me and the world they live
in with me being one of having medications forced down their throats...
living in a drug induced haze still filled with pain and confusion.
 
I've personally seen people hold on to a ferret or another animal long
past where its quality of life was functional..  when there was no fur..
no hope... incontinence and confusion...and for the sole purpose of
making the HUMAN feel they were being heroic.
 
When its time to let go... when a future is not possible... it is our
responsibility to make sure that our furkids, be they ferrets, dogs,
cats, WHATEVER, pass with dignity and with as little pain and suffering
as possible.... not hold on to them with the misguided thought that we
are "spoiling them" or "helping them" by clouding their pain and symptoms
with drugs.
 
Its emotionally painful to say goodbye to our furkids..  thats a fact.
And in a "perfect world" the best of our fur companions would be able to
stay with us for OUR lifetimes but that just isnt reality folks.
 
When is it time to say goodbye?  A tough decision, but one we need to
carefully consider.
 
DookDancer and her Ferret Collective
"Resistance is Futile"
The McKnight Clan -
Barnum, Bailey, Kami, YokoOHNO!, Clio, Sasha
Nanook, Bandit, Swee'Pea, Memphis
(missing but never forgetting Smokey, Maggie, Boopsie and Miko)
[Posted in FML issue 4344]