Re: Cowman and killing old, injured or disabled critters...
Yes, I was raised with that philosophy. In fact, I believe that in certain situations we should do as much for humans in terms of allowing us to choose how we end our lives.
BUT (you knew there would be a "but") there is an entire dimension you and others may be missing: that illness and challenge bring opportunities for personal and spiritual growth, even with animals. There is a Zen saying that "The obstacle IS the path."
With that in mind, I have been privileged to facilitate the healing of many creatures who otherwise might have met the fate you favour (which is usually far less expensive and time-consuming than rehabilitation) if they had belonged to anyone else.
I know I walk a road less traveled, but I have learned volumes from the critters who have come our way in need of fostering or rehabilitation.
The first was a retired standardbred off the Alberta track, 8 years old, recently gelded and a bleeder. Most owners would have "canned" him, but his owner knew we were looking for a good family horse. I accepted many challenges in exchange for a $400 price tag on a $20,000 claimer, and it took 2 years for his hormones to quit raging, but we learned together. Now 22, Star is my therapy horse who keeps me limber despite rheumatoid arthritis.
Our success in reclaiming Star paved the way for the rehab of many other critters, wild and domestic, whose courage and wisdom have changed our lives. We would not have had these experiences if we held unwaveringly to the "killing is kindness" rule. Sometimes that rule is meant to be broken.
For example, if you had given your BC the option of a good quality of life with a little cart, he may well have taught you a thing or two about the flip side of "humane euthanasia."
When our BC got tangled up in the legs of our horse, the vet wanted to amputate his rear right leg just below the hock. All four metatarsal bones had been sheared, rotated and displaced upward. One look at Jake and we knew he didn't want to forfeit his leg. Collectively, we managed to re-aligne 3 of the 4 metatarsals and the vet applied a walking cast. Jake was 4 then. Today he is a vibrant 13 and to see him run you'd never guess he'd had such a serious injury.
I guess it depends on our willingness to look for the lessons in such challenges. Some people simply don't have the interest, time or money to invest in rehab. In those cases, it is likely more humane for the animal to be destroyed.
Or.... you can send them to us.
)
Yes, I was raised with that philosophy. In fact, I believe that in certain situations we should do as much for humans in terms of allowing us to choose how we end our lives.
BUT (you knew there would be a "but") there is an entire dimension you and others may be missing: that illness and challenge bring opportunities for personal and spiritual growth, even with animals. There is a Zen saying that "The obstacle IS the path."
With that in mind, I have been privileged to facilitate the healing of many creatures who otherwise might have met the fate you favour (which is usually far less expensive and time-consuming than rehabilitation) if they had belonged to anyone else.
I know I walk a road less traveled, but I have learned volumes from the critters who have come our way in need of fostering or rehabilitation.
The first was a retired standardbred off the Alberta track, 8 years old, recently gelded and a bleeder. Most owners would have "canned" him, but his owner knew we were looking for a good family horse. I accepted many challenges in exchange for a $400 price tag on a $20,000 claimer, and it took 2 years for his hormones to quit raging, but we learned together. Now 22, Star is my therapy horse who keeps me limber despite rheumatoid arthritis.
Our success in reclaiming Star paved the way for the rehab of many other critters, wild and domestic, whose courage and wisdom have changed our lives. We would not have had these experiences if we held unwaveringly to the "killing is kindness" rule. Sometimes that rule is meant to be broken.
For example, if you had given your BC the option of a good quality of life with a little cart, he may well have taught you a thing or two about the flip side of "humane euthanasia."
When our BC got tangled up in the legs of our horse, the vet wanted to amputate his rear right leg just below the hock. All four metatarsal bones had been sheared, rotated and displaced upward. One look at Jake and we knew he didn't want to forfeit his leg. Collectively, we managed to re-aligne 3 of the 4 metatarsals and the vet applied a walking cast. Jake was 4 then. Today he is a vibrant 13 and to see him run you'd never guess he'd had such a serious injury.
I guess it depends on our willingness to look for the lessons in such challenges. Some people simply don't have the interest, time or money to invest in rehab. In those cases, it is likely more humane for the animal to be destroyed.
Or.... you can send them to us.
)
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