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The Mourning After: Dealing with pet euthanasia
It’s been a month since we said goodbye to Bono, the lively and super friendly two-month old mongrel that joined our family on Christmas Day of 2008. Our grief has been overshadowed by the usual health and work-related stress we "hoomans" have had to deal with on the regular.
But on this Undas, I cannot help but remember the dog we named Bono because I was just so into U2 at that time. Two months after Bono came into our lives, we welcomed his "brother" Simon, whose namesake was the "American Idol" judge with the acerbic wit.
Back then, I didn't even think of ever having to put any of them down — death wasn't even on our minds. New "pawrents" that we were, we were learning how to deal with the stink and mayhem that came with new pups — also things we didn't think about as new pawrents.
But such is the unconditional love that come from and with dogs, learning how to care for them came quickly. They made our home warmer for the past 13 years.
Thirteen years
In the last week of September, Bono started to get weak. He lost his appetite and began to have a hard time lifting his hind legs. My mom said he kept howling in pain late at night, probably because he can’t move and ward off the insects that feast on him in the dark.
We saw what my parents meant when we visited the dogs. As Simon gladly swiped at the snubbed kibbles, Bono could only look at us weakly as we tried to feed him his favorite treats.
It wasn't the first time Bono got sick. Five years ago, he survived a debilitating liver disease. When the veterinarian who saved him paid Bono a visit, he took one look at my aging dog and said he’s a gone case. That’s heavy, considering he was our "miracle vet."
We went to another vet to ask for a second opinion. After all the blood work and tests, the prognosis was dire: Apart from Bono’s kidneys being in bad shape and having hemangiosarcoma, an aggressive type of blood vessel cancer, Bono also had cataracts, hip dysplasia, and a bad case of dehydration.
We could opt for treatment, but his chances of survival weren't high. His internal organs were too weak to undergo chemotherapy. He didn’t mince his words when we talked about the cost, all for the sake of spending a few more months with Bono.
“It’s better to put him to sleep,” he said, when I asked for his recommendation. Then he told us how he also made the painful decision to put down his 14-year-old pomeranian, who suffered with old age.
My sister, Analyn, and I were crushed. The vet politely went out of the treatment room to give us enough time to decide. I alternated saying ‘I’m sorry, thank you, and I love you’ to Bono, as Analyn silently cried.
“We cannot afford the treatment,” she firmly said.
I didn't mind blowing off my savings for his hospitalization, but as I thought about all the other expenses we needed to pay for at home, I knew my sister was right. I looked at Bono as he stared back at me with his tired eyes.
Sweet dreams, Bono!
The whole process was quicker than our farewell. Bono was put to sleep in less than 15 minutes.
The vet had to shave a part of his leg so he could put the IV needle where the anaesthesia will go through. When we were ready, the vet gently stroked Bono’s head and looked him in the eye, probably his way of saying farewell to his patient, before administering the anaesthesia.
While waiting for the anaesthesia to take full effect, we were given a few minutes to say our final goodbyes, Bono’s eyes glazing over. Then the vet gave him the fatal shots: four doses of potassium chloride to stop his heart.
I had my hand on Bono’s trunk, which still felt warm. “Is he already gone?” I asked.
The vet nodded and pointed to his lower body. At death, all muscles relax to release excrements. Bono was so dehydrated, he only peed.
I cried for the nth time, but now, aside from grief, I also felt guilty for putting down our loyal ward.
‘Good death’
According to the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), pet euthanasia is defined as the humane means of ending the suffering of an animal with an untreatable disease or physical distress. It is recommended that the methods of administering euthanasia should only cause rapid loss of consciousness, minimal pain, distress, and suffering in animals.
“It’s not euthanasia that is negative, it’s the killing outside euthanasia — pet neglect, and irresponsibility [of pet owners],” Philippine Animal Welfare Society Executive Director, Anna Cabrera said.
The cost of euthanizing your pet in licensed veterinary clinics depends on their weight. Because Bono was 15 kilograms, we had to pay more than P5,000.
“My heart goes out to pet owners that face the hard decision of putting their animals to ‘good death.’ The decision to euthanize [for humane] reasons... it takes a brave person to do that,” Cabrera said.
Pet euthanasia can only be done by a duly licensed veterinarian. It is allowed when the animal is suffering from an incurable disease, or where their condition can be addressed but the quality of life will be poor, when an animal poses danger on the life and limb of humans, or when a pet owner cannot afford the animal rehabilitation. It is also acceptable when it is necessary to put an end to the misery suffered by the animals as determined and certified by a licensed veterinarian.
“I do not pressure them on the time when to put their dog to sleep, but [I] tell them to spend quality time until they feel and accept that it’s time to let go,” Born to be Wild host and veterinarian Doc Nielsen Donato said. “The best thing to give their pets on the last day of their life is not to make them suffer,” he added.
In the Philippines, an average of 200 dogs are euthanized at city pounds every week. They have no choice but to do it to accommodate other animals and address public health concerns (e.g. stray dogs biting humans).
According to the Animal Welfare Act, the acceptable method of euthanasia are the injection of the drug pentobarbital, the much cheaper option, potassium chloride, and pure carbon monoxide poisoning.
Cabrera clarified that euthanasia of animals that uses the "tambucho method" or gassing using engines is illegal after PAWS and other organizations protested it. Auto emissions are not pure carbon monoxide as there are other gases mixed with it. Euthanasia should be painless and should be done within one minute unlike the ‘tambucho method’, where animals suffer for five minutes, then they suffocate to death for fifteen minutes more before they expire.
“If you kill the animal violently and the animal is conscious, that is not euthanasia, that’s simply killing,” Cabrera said, adding “euthanasia is not the problem. It’s a consequence of irresponsible pet ownership."
PAWS also recommends owners to accompany their pets up to their last moments.
“If the animal is going to go, you give him one good day and then you hold him or her while the euthanasia drug is being injected. Your vet will allow that because the animal will be scared if you are just going to give the animal to the vet and then the vet will put him down in a cold room— wala siyang kilala (they don’t know anyone). You have to sing to your pet, or talk to him or her until the last moment.”’
She believes that it is painful for pet owners but she reminded them that “You’re not doing this for you, you’re doing this for the animal. Like that’s the least you can do for them because you’ve been the whole life of the animal.” Cabrera said.
In Memoriam: Pet Memorials
After putting Bono to sleep, we called a pet aftercare service that would look after his remains.
Even if the costs are high, we decided on pet cremation spending P8,500 for the memorial service, cremation, and photobox urn with fur samples and paw prints.
We figured spending a little extra for Bono’s send off was probably one way of easing our grief.
Once his remains were ready, we entered the pet chapel and we did not expect the setup to be that special. Thank God we were the only people at that time, so we had time to say our final goodbyes and whisper a prayer for Bono. The ambience was also solemn and the setup made me glad we gave him the memorial he deserved.
The Reality of Pet Depression
A couple of days after we put Bono to sleep, it seemed Simon realized his best buddy was not coming back. He started showing signs of pet depression.
“Pets do get emotionally depressed like humans; they enjoy routines and get emotionally bonded. And if all of this suddenly cuts off, depression starts to ease in,” Nielsen said.
The worst thing that could happen when pets are depressed is they become defensive. “They can easily defecate or urinate when frightened, some won't eat at all,” he said.
“There is too much stress and they can stop eating too and if they are not brought to the veterinary clinic, they can get sick and die, '' he added.
However, Nielsen assures that pets can recover from depression if they are more trusting and if they allow humans to intervene, “What’s important is to “give [them] time and care,” he said.
‘Rainbow bridge’
A month after we said goodbye to Bono, Simon, like us, is learning how to cope.
Maybe it helps that we always see the picture box with Bono’s ashes sitting somewhere inconspicuous in our living room --- makes us think that, somehow, he’s still ‘watching’ over us.
If there really is a "rainbow bridge" for pets who have already passed, I’m hoping Bono’s living his best afterlife –– no more pain or sickness.
Just love, and of course, an unlimited supply of doggie treats. — with reports from Rochelle Senaida and Keith Barbarona/ LA, GMA News
