The older gentleman wearing the slightly rumpled suit had just finished his Eulogy. There wasn’t a dry eye in the audience as he shakily resumed his seat. He had spoken of the deceased's lifetime of love and devotion to her family.  His voice had broken when he said “How she was always there for him, no matter how bad the day or how long she had waited for him to come home.” He knew now more than ever how much she had added to his life and how much he would miss her. Eighteen years of love, never a complaint and always a soft touch to let him know she cared. The family joined hands and bowed their heads as the final prayer was recited. The music from Rachel’s Song filled the air as the small, rose covered casket was lifted and taken to the cemetery for burial.

I stood in the back of the room and cried too. Cassandra was eighteen years old when she died and I was the one who had put her to sleep and to her final rest with the family’s blessings. The tiny Persian cat had been dying of kidney failure and I could do no more that would insure quality to her life.   Sunrise as a kitten and sunset as an old, sick cat, I had known her all her life. My part in “letting her go with dignity” and counseling the bereaved family, are the most difficult things I ever do in my life.

Many people cannot handle Death. They see it as a cruel trick played on them by some unseen power. They cannot understand that as we live, we also die. All beings go through this natural cycle of nature.

My part as a Veterinarian is not only to care for the living but also to help the family when they must make decisions about the continued quality of their pet’s life. Modern medicine has greatly increased the years we have with our beloved pets. We are seeing many of the same geriatric problems of humans in our cats and dogs. Preventative medicine including diet, environment and vaccination has allowed our pets to remain by our side years longer then before. Many of my clients have had their cat longer than their husband, wife or children. The loss of their companion is like the loss of a child and the same process of denial, anger and resignation is gone through. Depression and/or denial are not an uncommon occurrence following the diagnosis of a terminal cancer or illness in a cherished pet.  The feelings are the same as one would feel about a human child. Not many people understand this, especially those who have never had a close feline or canine companion.

In the world today we live at such a fast pace and move around so much that we do not have the close family ties that our ancestors enjoyed. Our pets have become our family. They are loved and cared for as if they were our natural children. They have Birthday parties, Christmas stockings and special toys. They are loved and give love and affection in return. They are the total family to many people. When a companion dies it is a very important and emotional event. It is not a time to rush; it’s a time to slow down. Allowing the family to be present if they wish helps them to bring an “ending” to what may have been a long illness or severe injury. Without doing this, many people go on to doubt their decisions. This is my place to be there with them at this “sunset” time of their pet’s life and reassure them that they are doing the kindest act possible. They are alleviating pain and suffering by putting their pet’s condition before their own feelings. This is the most unselfish act they can perform.

"Well it’s time to go back to work. There’s a new kitten in room one. The excited kids are giggling and the parents are trying to quiet them. There’s a twenty-one year old Siamese in room two. The worried, young couple with him stated that he has refused food for two days… Sunrise, Sunset."

Dr. Gray