Regular readers have read several posts here dealing with the use of pet euthanasia by pro-euthanasia advocates to promote their agenda. You can read posts on the subject here, here, and here.
Well, today there’s a short blog post on the pretty much the same topic at the blog “Nursing: You Wanna Know What I Think?,” authored by Pat Veitenthal, who has been in the nursing profession for 42 years, according to the blog.
It pains me a little to say this, but she may have made the point about the inappropriateness of using animal euthanasia in the debate about human euthanasia more effectively than anything I’ve written. It’s certainly a gentler message than I tend to write – but very clear nonetheless.
Here’s what she has to say in “Euthanasia: Dog vs. Man“:
When I was a young nurse, euthanasia was a word only whispered, if spoken at all. Now it is a regular topic of discussion among us. We cover it from all points of view: ethical, religious, political, moral…even animal.
I am one of those sickening pet owners. I kiss on my bichon frise, love her dearly, talk to her, carry her, worry about her, take her bye-byes in the car, give her clothes, toys and treats, and I do it all devotedly and unapologetically.
The argument among nurse pet owners like myself is that if euthanasia is the humane thing for the pets we love as much as members of our family, why don’t the humans we love deserves the same humane end if they so choose?
I’ve actually been pondering this reasoning very carefully, and I happened upon the thought of looking at it another way.
Regardless of how much I do cherish my beloved dog Hollywood, the love for her is actually not the same. I would take a bullet for my son, but I would not take a bullet for my dog. So let’s leave our pets out of this very important debate.
It needed to be said…
Yes, it did need to be said – and just the way that Pat Veitenthal said it. If you think that way too, please go visit her blog and leave a note of appreciation. I did. –Stephen Drake