Joe Willie On The Shrimpbox: "A Dog's Purpose"

"A Dog's Purpose"
(from a 6-year-old)

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine
a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The
dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy,
Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they
were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer.
I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker,
and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure
for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me
they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane
to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane
might learn something from the experience

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as
Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so
calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I
wondered if he understood what was going on.

Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully
away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition
without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together
for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud
about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than
human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up,
"I know why."

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his
mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more
comforting explanation.

He said, "People are born so that they can learn how
to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time
and being nice, right?"

The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know
how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."