As a veterinarian I get asked all the time how I handle putting animals to sleep. "Isn't it hard?" they ask, or, "I could never do that because I love animals too much". I don't think you will find a body of professionals that loves animals more than veterinarians. We have dedicated countless hours to the study of them and spend our every waking hour covered in some excretion from them. You don't become a veterinarian because you are cold hearted and able to end animals lives without a second thought. Thankfully it is most often a great kindness we offer; the chance for an animal to miss out on the pain and suffering of a terminal disease or miss the hardships of frigid temperatures on a tired old body.
In our practice as rural large animal vets in North Idaho humane euthanasia definitely has a "season". So many of my clients want to give their horse that one last summer or glorious fall and choose to say goodbye as the temperature starts to drop in late fall. While I support and in fact encourage this practice it does cast a shadow on our fall work as we send so many of our old friends on their journey across that rainbow bridge.
Although we specialize in large animals we also offer at home euthanasia for dogs and these are usually the hardest for both myself and my husband. Our clients appreciate being able to quietly say goodbye to their dog in comforts of their home and quite often it's a nicer way for the dog to go too surrounded by family on his own bed in front of the fire.
Recently we were called to provide this service for a retired police dog. He had had a very long and active life but had recently suffered from failure of his hind legs. To see these elegant and prideful dogs reduced to scooting around is tough all by itself. I don't know what it is about police dogs, but they seem somehow more human. I have tremendous respect for these animals and the work that they do as well as the bond that forms between dog and handler. I had the privilege, while in Veterinary School, to see a couple of these dogs during my small animal rotation and was struck with their grace and intelligence then as well.
This old boy was a beautiful dog. I could see that in his prime he would have been a specimen of canine supreme athleticism. Though he had been retired for several years, he and his handler still had a close working relationship and as I sat down next to him on his blanket he looked to his handler for support and instruction. This is probably the hardest part about working with police dogs. It's very important for most of these dogs to have the handler remain calm and quiet throughout the procedure. If the dog picks up on the distress of the handler they can get upset themselves. Watching their strong handlers fight for emotional control as they quietly send their old partners on their way is absolutely heart wrenching.
I'm generally able to maintain a semblance of professional demeanor until I walk back to my truck. This time I barely made it. Watching the end of a human animal partnership like that just tears at your heart and I was openly sobbing by the time I reached my tail gate. Throughout the rest of the day I would remember the officer stroking that big head as he slipped away and tear up all over again.
So, yes, now that you mention it, it is hard on us vets to have to put animals to sleep. But what an amazing gift we are able to offer our patients. To quietly leave this life and cross over into the next surrounded by family and friends and the feel of a well loved hand stroking your ears. I hope I will be so lucky myself.
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