A Spec in Time Series

This month has been marred with death. My Betta fish died. Not a big deal, they do that a lot, and Flame must have been my 15th or so wet pet. I’ve even found another very pretty Betta to keep the tank lively.

However, my beloved African Gray parrot was right on his fins. This was totally unexpected. Birds die so quickly once you realize that there is something wrong, there’s nothing you can usually do. Gandalf, I am a creative writer… remember that. Gandalf was a rescue so I have no idea how old he was. I know 10 of those years but there could be so many more. The house is very quiet without him. To him, I am the Sexiest African Gray in the world. He was a really cool guy when he was not imitating the CO monitor or other sirens. He also had a love of video games and knew the sounds of every one of them I’ve played. I miss that little smoke alarm beeping bugger.

Unfortunately, my old dog was not doing well either. I’ve had Sammy for a long time, but I knew that his time was near, just hoped it wasn’t this near. He was a Newfoundland dog. I’ve done Newfie rescue throughout my life. Sammy was the last, in a long string of Newfs who have graced my house. I’ve taken them from people relinquishing them into rescue. I have had them brought to me for long term care. I have transported them all over the south east for Newf rescue, and a very special few I have adopted as my own. Sammy stayed. I knew he would be my last Newfie. Although I love the breed, I’m getting older and not able to lift one hundred and fifty pounds of dog anymore.

Sammy was one of those ‘mini-newfies’. Yes, stupid people try to breed every dog small these days. Have no doubt that I have an opinion on this: STOP THAT SHIT! It’s unhealthy for the breed, it is wrong. Most Newfies go into rescue at 11 months of age. WHY? because people are STUPID that’s why. Most Newfs are 100 lbs. at that point. DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU GET A DOG DAMNIT! They are great souls, it’s an incredible breed, but they are most certainly a breed that one should not get without prior interaction with the dog and owners. Reading pages full of information can help too. You can say this about all dogs.

When I decided to adopt Sam from the rescue unit, I did not know that he was already at his full growth. He had been picked up on the street by animal control so there was no background on him. We all thought he was a puppy. NOPE. Surprise, mini Newf with a giant heart. His heart was his ultimate downfall. In the last six months he had at least two heart attacks, one in front of my eyes. He kept coming back after each down turn. It was only a matter of time, with unknown age and previous lifestyle, all of us have our expiration date. His lungs lacking oxygen and his tummy not processing food made his quality of life take a huge and quick downturn. I’m not one to let anything suffer. I have done that earlier in my life, not wanting to let go of a beloved friend. It’s hard to see the pain in their eyes and difficult to see them not be able to play or do the things they loved. My pain has made others languish too long, I try to be more sympathetic now, more proactive.

I wish we would wake up in this country and have the same ability to release human life when it is at that point as well. Soylent Green was not about assisted suicide; it was about a dystopian food crisis, so let it go already. A few countries, and US states, now have death with dignity laws. I wonder how long they will last in the US. To be blunt – I’m looking at you Switzerland. There is no reason to hold on, to keep someone if they are in such pain and have no quality of life. There is no reason to keep a dead fetus in a woman’s body, Period. There is no reason to take a choice away from a woman for any reason; especially underaged, raped, and/or incest. If the pregnancy could kill her too…triple period.

Quality of life is important. There is no need for an unnecessary or hasty exit. I even understand the reasons of a few people I have known who have chosen suicide. Hell, I’ve tried twice. People need to make these choices for themselves. If you choose to have a gun – fine. Suppose you choose to own a yacht – good for you. If your choice is to wear red, pink and orange at the same time…okay, maybe we need laws for that.

Choice means just that, a choice. It’s the choice of the person or people involved, not that of governmental laws. I guess that many people don’t understand that it doesn’t take away their choice to not do whatever they don’t want. It must be remembered that although we may choose differently from one another my choice should not be forced upon you, nor yours on me. Just the mention of this topic nowadays seems scary in our country. I had to think about whether I really wanted to leave this section in this blog. That is what those who would take your choices away want. That fear is wrong. It stays, I stand behind it.

That brings us back to the dog. Was it Sammy’s choice as well? I know that there is even a strange political argument going on over this. Others even want to stop allowing euthanasia with our pets. WTF. That will only lead to killing (nice pun) it for humans in the few states that have legalized euthanasia. But remember – the death penalty is considered good… I can’t…it hurts my head. So odd.

All of which brings me back to quality of life. He was unable to wag and smile. That look, that transmission, that knowing. Yes, they do tell you when it’s time for them to go. I’m thankful that I can make it easier for those whom I’ve been entrusted to care for to move forward. I do hope that opportunity is there for me to perhaps choose when I’m at that point. If not, it’s Switzerland, or perhaps that third time will not be a try, it will be the charm.

Thoughts of a pooh