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August 18, 2003
Sad Idea: Dog Hit Man
I'm sorry to say that my 15 year old dalmatian Lita went the way of all things last week. My mother had the at-home euthenasia lady come while Chris and I were at the beach on our honeymoon. Lita had gotten so weak and incontinent that it was her time, but with the wedding and all I literally didn't have time -- or the will -- to do it. Thankfully, Betsy was able to do it, and I am very grateful to her. I worry I should have done it myself before the wedding started, but Lita was actually in pretty good shape up until the wedding, and I was hoping she'd be able to stay in a doggie day care place. But they sent her home because she kept crapping all over the kennel.
ANYWAY: All of this is to say, while I was debating what do to about poor old Lita, I had an idea for a service: a doggie hit man. You would contract with this person to take out a hit on your dog. But, here's the good part: you would agree that the hit man would come to your house in the next 6 months or so and put your dog down peacefully, but they would make it look like natural causes OR (this is the key) -- they *wouldn't* come by in the next six months, and your dog would die of actual natural causes.
See, the point is, you'd never know, and could thereby avoid the painful step of consciously and willfully taking your dog's life. This would be very handy for people in the situation I was in. My dog was not so sick that I could bring myself to kill her, but she did have some serious health problems (heart murmer as well as nerve damage in her back).
Now I know there will be those of you who might say that this is part of being a dog owner, and that we need to face up to our responsibilities, and that the dog might like us to be there with them, etc. but I think this would still sell.
Posted by mary at August 18, 2003 10:34 AM
Comments
You are a freak show. I hope someone takes a hit out on you.
Posted by: Jennifer at August 18, 2003 02:27 PM
Who is that mean person named Jennifer? I bet she's never had the sad responsibility of having to send a pet shuffling off its mortal coil. I know how hard it was for Mary and seeing Lita in her sick and weak condition made me cry too.
So shut up, Jennifer!
Mary is the best dog-owner and all around person.
Lita we miss you!
Posted by: Kathy at August 18, 2003 03:22 PM
I have no idea who Jennifer is! Perhaps this is only the first in the flood of controversy my ideas will generate -- much like Chris's "Aquarium Fish Euthenasia" article in the Nov. 93 issue of Aquarium Fish magazine (ask Chris to learn more!).
I would like to clarify, however, that this would be a measure taken only when one was pretty darn certain that one's dog was not much longer for this world and comfortable. And I'm also not saying this idea is right -- just that it would sell. I freely admit to feelings of deep ambivalence about having my dog put down, both instead of letting her live (sure, her life was literally pretty shitty, but who am I to say?) and because I had someone else do it.
Thanks for the props, Kathy!!! You were the best dog roommate ever!!!
Posted by: Mary at August 18, 2003 06:46 PM
Because the hit man would make it look like natural causes, this could also be useful for dealing with your nextdoor neighbor's annoying yappy dog.
Posted by: Rich at August 25, 2003 11:00 AM
No props are needed....
I have had the honor or dishonor of becoming the Doggie "hitman" in my family and friends...only have racked up 2 kills but one was my dear heart "Flash" a 14 year old hound that she and I literraly fought back to back on 3 occasions where she was trying to protect me and I wouldn't leave her....if I could tell her one more time I would tell her she was a "Dog's dog" we loved each other and fought together and I put her down and I breathed in her last breathe...she was and always will be my favorite...I couldn't let anyone else " do her" I had to do it myself becasue I respected her life and her role in my family....I still whear her dog tag around my neck instead of gold chains and jewlerey....I also had to take care of Kelsey who was a "friend" of mine that belonged to my EX...he was cool and loved me a lot. He was an Alpha Male White German Sheperad and was prone to killing anything small enough to chew up until he met me...and Flash...he never messed with Flash they never growled or fought but one time I caught them touching noses and both backed off and walked away...Flash was gone for 2 years and I got the call to take Kelsey to the vet...I took him and when I took him into the office in my arms ( he could no longer walk) he bite me hard on the arm and thrashed me but I wouldn't let him go...anyways the vet did his deed and I held Kelsey until he went to Flash and he bit me again before he went but I feel I did the right thing. He rests next to flash at the horse farm and if I had to do it again I would....You can't make the one's you love suffer...but honestly it really hurt me that I had to put 2 of my beloved dog friends down and now I have 2 more and several friends that have dogs and I know I will be called on again to "hit" them...it is kind of horrible to think about killing something you love but the idea of a Doggie "Hitman" isn't so bad...maybe kind of sick but I understand the need....God bless all of you that have had to put down a loved hound...but why is it wrong when we do it to a human?? Flash didn't know...she was too far gone....but Kelsey knew...he fought me and bit me when they shoved the pink juice into his paw and he fought until I cried and let him go.....I am not trying to freak anyone out but....if death is knocking on your door...maybe you should let him in....
Pete
Posted by: kurushu at January 5, 2004 12:09 AM