{"id":6820,"date":"2022-01-18T07:40:26","date_gmt":"2022-01-18T12:40:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.silvercentury.org\/?p=6820"},"modified":"2022-01-18T07:36:19","modified_gmt":"2022-01-18T12:36:19","slug":"a-loss-without-a-funeral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/78.142.243.82\/~silvercentury\/2022\/01\/a-loss-without-a-funeral\/","title":{"rendered":"A Loss Without a Funeral"},"content":{"rendered":"

After months of medical intervention and prayer, a friend made the agonizing decision to euthanize her very old, very loyal dog. I am an animal lover who has been in her shoes, so I could appreciate what she was going through. Making the call to \u201cput them to sleep\u201d is merciful, but not easy, and can leave feelings of guilt and doubt for quite some time. Did I give up too soon? Should the call have been sooner? Did I end their suffering<\/span>,<\/span> or mine?<\/span><\/p>\n

So many of us find love and companionship in later life from faithful canines. If you\u2019re lucky enough to know the steadfast love of a good dog, you know they can be relied upon to never judge and to always comfort. Often, our dogs outlast loved ones, who leave us for a variety of reasons. When they come after the parting, dogs fill holes in our hearts. I got my bulldog, Maisy, after my oldest daughter left for college. Maisy\u2019s at my desk now and by my side whenever I\u2019m home. I know she won\u2019t live forever, but I can\u2019t imagine my life without her, and I\u2019ve lost friends, parents and my husband. <\/span><\/p>\n

Why is it so hard to lose a cherished pet? <\/span>When I lost a human partner, there were the usual funeral rituals and sharing of memories and support for weeks afterward. Being an emotional basket case seemed understandable. But our culture treats the death of a pet more like the loss of an automobile. When it wears out, you should just go buy another one. When I lost my dog, well-meaning friends and family members had advised this in their attempts to help me feel better. What they didn\u2019t get was that I had lost a soul mate\u2014an irreplaceable relationship\u2014not a piece of property.<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve learned that pets can help us maintain our health by reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, imparting a sense of purpose and bringing us companionship and joy. As an older adult myself, having a dog gets me out of the house\u2014a little walk each day, moderate exercise and often a chance to meet new people. <\/span><\/p>\n

So I\u2019m asking you to understand, if you don\u2019t already, the very real grief that someone can feel when they lose a furry friend, especially if they had to make the choice to end their companion\u2019s life. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After months of medical intervention and prayer, a friend made the agonizing decision to euthanize her very old, very loyal dog. I am an animal lover who has been in her shoes, so I could appreciate what she was going…<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more A Loss Without a Funeral<\/span> ›<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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