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We learned that our neighbor had her dog put down last night. Personally, I will not miss the large black canine, for he growled and barked and tried to intimidate people on the other side of the fence pretty consistently. Recently, he and I had come to an arrangement: I would ignore him completely when he barked at me, and he would soon lose interest. With the element of surprise gone, all he had was noisemaking. I tried my best to take a Buddhist perspective: the dog barked because he was unhappy. For his suffering, I tried to feel compassion.
It turns out that this dog was actually (and not only apparently) brain-damaged. Some scar tissue on his brain (evidently from prior abuse) was causing him great pain and was likely to kill him eventually. As little as I miss that dog, I completely sympathize with the owner. Dogs are really good at providing their masters just that thing that the master cannot obtain elsewhere: simple, true, and unqualified love. All this in exchange for some food, walks, and the occasional vet visit. Lord help those who have to make the decision of life and death for their faithful but speechless companions.
Posted by Underblog at June 13, 2005 6:29 AM
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