Her owners did not have an air-conditioned car, and it was a hot summer’s day. I evaluated the situation and concluded that there was nothing I could do to help her condition—something I explained to the owners as Gretchen listened. They were very worried about taking her home in the hot car, as her temperature was already quite elevated due to the seizures.

As Gretchen looked at me, we seemed to make a telepathic connection as the images of three young children suddenly flashed across my mind. I asked the owners if they had any children at home. “Yes,” they replied, “we have three small children, and she behaves like a nanny to them.” Tears came to my eyes as I conveyed to them what it was that Gretchen seemed to be saying—that she wanted to see the children just one more time. I explained to Gretchen that she might not make it through the hot ride home. She seemed to understand and accept that her time had come, her only concern being how the children might react and whether her loved ones would be all right without her watchful eye and constant devotion.

The Gift of a Golden Twilight

As with all veterinarians, there have been times when people have brought their pets to me, convinced that it is time to end their suffering. Often, the whole family will show up, emotionally distraught. I know that they have gone through hours, perhaps days or even weeks, of heart- wrenching decision making and have finally prepared themselves to face this difficult and dispiriting decision. But sometimes, when I have looked at the dog whose fate seemed to have been decided, I will notice a certain brightness still residing in his eyes, reflecting the tenacity to hang on to life despite the distress and pain of the affliction.

While I know it would be much easier for the family at that point to simply end the ordeal, as a healer of animals I feel obligated to convey to them what I sense to be the dog’s viewpoint. In such instances, I will quietly tell them, “It
is not yet his time. He is not ready to go now.” Their eyes willbrighten up as well, and they will look at the dog as if to say, “OK then, you continue to hang in there with us, buddy, and you tell us when your time has come.” The special kind of love that they have had between them for years becomes even more powerful as they respect their pet’s desire to have perhaps just a few more cherished days with them.

Many people, upon learning that their pets have only a short time left to live, have found a new perspective on life and love. So many of the things that they had long taken for granted suddenly began to take on a precious and beautiful glow. Whether it be a sunrise or a special gift received from a loved one years ago, each experience was now savored and remembered with a heartfelt reverence. Arguments and disagreements suddenly seemed petty, and sharing love became all important.

Just as that love proves to be the eternal aspect of our lives, so it is with the lives of our pets.

If anything, their depth of feeling for the families with whom they live is even purer (and more forbearing and forgiving) than that of most people. 

And because their time on earth is so much shorter than that of other loved ones, every day they spend with us is that much more meaningful. 

That’s why, even when a dog has been discovered to have a terminal illness, it shouldn’t necessarily be viewed as a cause to cut short his remaining days simply to “put him out of his misery.” For what may seem like a painful existence to us is likely to be mitigated for the dog by the chance to spend additional precious times with the people to whom he is so devoted—a kind of golden twilight you can give your companion as a parting gift.