A dog named Belker

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

My daughter sent me this and I think it explains why dogs don't live as

long as humans.

, this is poor solace but I do think it helps a little.

Cy, the Ancient Okie.

A WOLFHOUND NAMED BELKER....

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to

examine a ten-year-old Irish

Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners; Ron,

his wife, , 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 there were no miracles left

for Belker, and offered to

perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog

in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and told me

they thought it would be

good for the four-year-old Shane to observe the

procedure. They felt

Shane could 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, " Everybody is born so that they can

learn how to live a good

life - like loving everybody and being nice,

right? " The four-year-old

continued, " Well, animals already know how to do

that, so they don't

have to stay as long. "