Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 4, 1994 TAG: 9404050006
SECTION: NEWSFUN PAGE: NF-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By NANCY GLEINER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
I remember my mom holding me and telling me that my dad had rushed Rusty to the vet's office, but, by the time he got there, our dog was gone.
When I was 9, I wasn't sure what ``gone'' meant. Did Rusty disappear? Or did he just stop breathing and die? But, I never asked what it meant. And I wondered for a long time.
When a pet is ill or hurt and won't ever get better, sometimes veterinarians suggest to parents that the animal be euthanized (pronounced U-than-ized). That means it's given a shot that quickly and painlessly helps it die. Sometimes people say, ``It was put to sleep.'' But, it's different from sleeping. Animals don't ever wake up when they've died.
A pet that is too sick or injured to get well might be in a lot of pain. Sometimes it may be better to let it die peacefully than to let it suffer.
If you know a pet is dying, it's important to say goodbye. You can spend special time with your pet, take it to a place it really likes, give it special food or let it go into a room it usually isn't allowed in.
Tell your pet how much you love it, what a good animal it is and that you will miss it.
``If you've ever had a pet and been good to it, you'll always have happy memories of it, no matter how it was lost to you," said Carolyn Harlowe, special services coordinator at Vinton Veterinary Clinic.
``It's OK to feel sad when you lose a pet," she said. ``And remember, your parents might be sad, too.'' Talk to them about how you and they are feeling.
Part of Harlowe's job is grief counseling - helping people who have lost pets express their emotions and then learn to feel better.
``It's important to take the time to grieve,'' Harlowe said. Even though losing something you love makes you sad, you'll feel better in time.
``Don't rush out and get another pet right away,'' Harlowe said. Take the time to remember how important that pet was to you.
Some people like to keep a pet's collar or name tag or a favorite toy to remember the pet by. Some look at photos of the pet and talk about special memories.
Find a way to let your feelings out - write a story or poem, play music or make a scrapbook in memory of your pet.
If your pet disappeared and you don't think it will come back or if it has died, you could have a special ceremony for it. You could plant some flowers, tell stories about it or send money to an animal shelter in its memory.
Sometimes things happen to pets, no matter how careful we are. Even if your pet is kept in the house, it's important it has a name tag in case it accidentally gets out. If your pet rides in the car, it also needs a tag.
Pets might run away, get lost, be stolen or have to be given away. If you've taken good care of your pet, don't feel as if it was your fault.
Before you even get one, talk with your parents about sharing the responsibility of caring for a pet. Having a pet, whether it's as small as a mouse or as large as a horse, means taking care of something that is alive, just as you are. It's not fair to mistreat it, to hurt it, or to let it be hungry or thirsty.
Just as you get shots to prevent diseases, pets need their shots, too, and may need pills on a regular schedule.
If you need to give away a pet, it's unkind to just leave it by the side of the road. Many animals starve or are hurt by cars or trucks. Veterinarians usually have names of people looking for pets and will help you find a home for the animal. Newspapers have free advertisements for pets being given away.
A pet is like a friend: It's important to treat it well. If you do, you can have a long and happy relationship. Sometimes, despite proper care, a pet dies or is lost. If that happens, just realize that there are some things beyond your control. Remember the happy times and be thankful for the memories.
by CNB