I read a news story recently about shelter staff who fed an aged, abandoned dog chocolate to distract her while they were putting her to sleep. I thought, “Yes. That could work!”
Chocolate is generally considered toxic to dogs but as a last meal that doesn’t matter so much.
You see, it is almost time for our elderly dog Bessie to ‘pass over the rainbow bridge’.
Bessie is about 15-and-a-half years-old and has basically lost control of her bodily functions. She also has difficulty standing up.
Our basic principle at this time in our dogs’ lives is that we keep them going as long as possible if they are still enjoying life and not in pain.
Bessie is still wagging her tail, trying to play with the ball and eating well, very well! It is a tough call.
A complicating factor is that Bessie really hates going to the vet so when the time comes it is going to be hard to give her a peaceful exit. Hence our interest in the chocolate story.
The first dog I had put to sleep was my collie, Jake. We were really close after years of training and competing in obedience trials.
When the time came, my sons, who were about eight and 10, both insisted on being present.
On this occasion, the vet came to the back of our station wagon to give the required injections and Jake slipped away surrounded by his loving family.
I have never forgotten the look he gave me before he left us, a mixture of acceptance and sadness.
He was a very wise old friend and I was glad we were able to let him go gently.
When Bessie’s time comes, it is going to be tough on our younger border collie, Robbie.
Bessie has been his mentor and his constant companion. He dotes on her and checks in with her as soon as he gets home from a walk.
There has been some research recently looking into the question of whether a dog should be allowed to see his owner’s body if the owner passes away first.
Apparently, if you do not permit this, many dogs will keep anxiously waiting for their owner to come home.
So I think it will be best to apply the same thinking to Bessie’s demise.
We will have Robbie there to support Bessie as usual and hopefully this will help him to make sense of what is happening.
