Euthanasia: Ideal or Ordeal?
Tuan, now 30 years old, reminisces of the time he forestalled against his will upon deciding whether Euthanasia was the only answer and solution for his beloved dog, Spottie.
Say hello to Spottie.
Spottie is quite a special character: an all white American Pitbull with a sole black spot in the region of his eye. Tuan has been nurturing and befriending his dog for almost fifteen years. Not too long ago, the weeping in pain and the weeping in fear of losing a companionship lurked in their home. Distressingly, Spottie was diagnosed with a tumor. How do you know when is the time to let your pet go? If your pet was suffering excruciating pain would you put it to sleep? Would you be selfish to keep it near you despite its horrific pains? Indeed, this question was a troubling debate for Tuan. His companionship with his pet for more than a decade was the main reason forestalling his final decision: euthanasia or not, that was the question.
The word euthanasia comes from the Greek meaning of "good death." It is the act of putting to death painlessly, usually from animal suffering, esp. an incurable diseases or condition. Euthanasia was, considered an act of mercy, distinct from animal slaughter, being performed for purposes. There are two main types of euthanasia: the injection or the gas anesthetics. The injection is of pentobarbital or sodium thiopental that creates unconsciousness, which then is followed by a respiratory cardiac arrest within 30 seconds. The gas anesthetics, such as isoflurane/sevoflurane, is used as an inhalant on the pet which gives the same results of a cardiac arrest. Both methods are proven painless.
Just a side note: based on a national estimate, 60% of dogs and 70% of cats are euthanized. That’s approximately 5-9 million total yearly, standing of about 575 dead animals per hour. Not all of these numbers are based on euthanasia on pets with conditions. Some of these numbers are a results of euthanasia executions at animal shelters. Did you know that if the shelter is full, 85% chance of those pets will be euthanized? The core reasons for this is that animal shelters lack the food/water, treatments, and attention for all of the animals there. In this case, if the idea of euthanasia is being abused, does this conflict with righteousness and that euthanasia is suppose to be an act of mercy?
The truth is quite doleful. It is not their fault to be diagnosed with a condition or be left at an animal shelter. It never was Spottie's desires to be diagnosed with a tumor and this surely never came to thought for Tuan that he had to go through this decision of euthanasia or not for his pet. But to answer the question to his frustrating debate, poor Spottie was a victim of euthanasia. Today, family and friends try hardest not to remind Tuan of his decision. Though he is glad that Spottie no longer has to suffer the pains of the tumor, it still holds pain to Tuan's heart that he had to lose his pet. Spottie has always been family to him.
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Written by: Remedy Huynh and Juan Padilla, Edited by Remedy Huynh, Research by Misty LaVina, Intro/Headlines Brainstromer: Jason Lopez
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