If pets can, why not humans?

By Rick Fromm

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We said our goodbyes with love and respect ... and I'm sure he appreciated it. I know we did.

He had lived a long, full and happy life. Deeply loved by his family and friends, he got to do what he was born to do. Together we romped through the hills and dales of Northeast Iowa in search of his passion: the wily pheasant.

When he wasn't hunting, he was the most devoted companion anyone could ever wish for. Simply put, he was a dog you could trust, and he returned that trust with an unyielding sense of peace and happiness.

Near the end, he began to suffer. His mannerisms and advancing years told me his days in this dimension were numbered. I was heartbroken, but instead of crying, I did what he had taught me to do so very well: I kept smiling.

When I gave the matter some deep reflection, there was really nothing else to do but rejoice in a life so joyously lived. No regrets. No bitterness. We'd been good owners, and in return he'd been the best pooch of all time.

Rather than prolong our beloved Labrador's agony any longer than necessary, we decided to ease his pain.

We made arrangements with our local veterinarian and took him in for what we knew would be the last time. The compassionate vet handled the matter with grace and respect. He examined Abe thoroughly and then told us without hesitation we were doing the right thing. It was time to send Abe to glory, not prolong his distress for some selfish reason.

When I relayed the story to a friend and told him how peaceful the entire process had been, his reply caught me a bit off guard, “Too bad we don't treat humans as well as we do our pets.”

The more I thought about that statement, the more I knew he was right. Why must some people suffer for extended periods of time when they know full well there is no hope for recovery? Why can't they make the coherent choice to end their lives via assisted suicide in a peaceful, loving setting surrounded by family and friends?

Polls show that roughly 70 percent of U.S. adults - and about 60 percent of the elderly - think the terminally or irreversibly ill should have the right to end their own lives.

So why haven't we come to the logical conclusion that a dignified death is the natural and appropriate ending to a well-lived life, when life as we know it is no longer possible?

If we've got enough common sense to put our pets down when the end is obvious, then why can't humans have the right to determine their final farewell? It's the right thing to do, and I know Abe would totally agree.

Rick Fromm is managing editor of Decorah Newspapers. Comments: fromm@decorahnews

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