The Answer is Love

Today, like many other days at a veterinary hospital, I had the unique privilege to share in a woman’s grief. 

Why do I call this experience a privilege? Please let me explain.

As veterinarians we often have to deal with the death of a pet.  Most often the death is brought on by a difficult choice called euthanasia.  Clients say, “Doctor, I don’t know how you do this everyday.“ Or friends say, “How do you deal with all the grief?”  I am never sure just how to answer, but in my mind I always think that I am witnessing something uniquely beautiful.  That may sound strange, but it is my truth.  In those difficult moments, I am witness to the profound love between a person and their pet. 

There is a quote from Zig Ziglar that says, “If there were no love, there would be no grief.” 

One of my daily appointments was for a cat named Tigger.  I had seen Tigger just a few short days before because his health was quickly failing.  He was losing weight, having trouble eating and falling over while walking.  Tigger was a sweet old emaciated, dehydrated, 17 year old cat with a beautiful personality.  He was very ill, but he remained dignified and friendly, purring weakly when he was stroked or touched.  The women that cared for him was very distraught, telling me that this cat had previously belonged to her relative that had died.  She had struggled with the decision for several days as we came to the conclusion that Tigger had cancer and would not recover.   Today was the day that she decided that she had to say goodbye.  As he lay on the blanket that we laid out, the woman talked to him gently stroking his chin and he returned the gesture by purring and leaning into her hand.   I watched the woman grieving over her sweet cat and the cat returning her love by lifting his head and allowing her to rub his boney chin for the last time.    As she whispered her last goodbyes, her tears landing on his little face, he gazed at her with a look that could only be complete trust and love.  The love that passed between them was amazing and beautiful.  She quietly left the room as I gave him his final rest.

I have lived through so many versions of this story, with many clients and with my own personal pets.  Over and over again I come to the same conclusion.  Grief is the price we pay for love, and a life without love would not be worth living. 

So the answer to the question, “How do you do this everyday?”

The answer is simply, love.

Dr. Julie Cappel