BULLYING: There is An Answer!-DH DeForge, VMD

24April2017

If A Dog Was The Teacher . . . . . A lesson to be learned . . . . . . .  It has been a privilege being a veterinarian for four decades. I have seen triumphs and miraculous turn-arounds with patients escaping crisis and returning to normal lives. The hit by car with internal injuries that recovers after extensive surgery; the patient with cancer that beats the odds and stats and goes into complete remission; the dog in a coma that returns to normal after 3 weeks; the cat with internal injuries, after being torn apart by wildlife, that finds a way to make it through surgery and return home a week later; and the abandoned pet who becomes part of a veterinary family to have a long and happy life. But laced in the beauty of wonder are the tragedies!   Those that didn't make it will never be forgotten.  Those we had to say good-bye to because of pain and suffering.  The families whose tears became our tears and whose suffering were embedded in our hearts and continue to be a memory. Barbara Streisand sings: "The Way We Were".  It easily could describe the Human-Animal-Bond relationship with the pain that arises when we have to separate ourselves from unconditional love.  "If we had the chance to do it all again, tell me, would we, could we?"  The answer is yes!   When you read the letter, in this blog, sent to me and concentrate on the words of Shane, you can see the Human-Animal Bond come back to life in a shape and form that no artist could put on a canvas or any Pulitzer Prize author ever pen into a novel.  It is more than real because it is the strength; the power; and the love of the Human-Animal Bond. If A Dog Was The Teacher . . . . . A lesson to be learned . . . . . . . The Human-Animal Bond 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 as they felt that 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.  It has changed the way I try and live. 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." Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: ·         When loved ones come home, always run to greet them; ·         Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride; ·         Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy; ·         Take naps; ·         Stretch before rising; ·         Run, romp, and play daily; ·         Thrive on attention and let people touch you; ·         Avoid biting when a simple growl will do; ·         On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass; ·         On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree; ·         When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body; ·         Delight in the simple joy of a long walk; ·         Be loyal; ·         Never pretend to be something you're not; ·         If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it; ·         When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently. There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good, so, love the people who treat you right. Think good thoughts for the ones who don't ~ life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is part of LIFE... Getting back up is LIVING... DON’T COMPLAIN ABOUT GROWING OLD… FEW PEOPLE GET THE PRIVILEGE!!!!! With gratitude: Donald H. DeForge, VMD DoctorDeForge@yahoo.com Medical Director Silver Sands Veterinary Milford Veterinary Hospital www.SilverSandsVeterinary.com www.SilverSandsVeterinary.blogspot.com 24April2017 A lesson to be learned . . . . . . . The Human-Animal Bond 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. iI 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 as they felt that 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.  It has changed the way I try and live. 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." Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: ·         When loved ones come home, always run to greet them; ·         Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride; ·         Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy; ·         Take naps; ·         Stretch before rising; ·         Run, romp, and play daily; ·         Thrive on attention and let people touch you; ·         Avoid biting when a simple growl will do; ·         On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass; ·         On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree; ·         When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body; ·         Delight in the simple joy of a long walk; ·         Be loyal; ·         Never pretend to be something you're not; ·         If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it; ·         When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently. There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good, so, love the people who treat you right. Think good thoughts for the ones who don't ~ life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is part of LIFE... Getting back up is LIVING... DON’T COMPLAIN ABOUT GROWING OLD… FEW PEOPLE GET THE PRIVILEGE.