Bobbie blogs about dogs as she lives with mostly hounds. While no longer rescuing, she maintains Silverwalk Hounds Sanctuary for the remaining Sanctuary dogs as well as occasional fosters. She enjoys talking about dogs, including rescue, fostering and adoption.

Requiem for a Beagle

Posted Thursday, October 29, 2009, at 10:42 PM

Ernie was a stray. He had attached himself to a family who fed him and gave him a dog house. By reports, they did not give him love; in fact, they tried to dump him twice in the county. Most Beagles use their noses and find themselves lost from their homes. Ernie used his to find the only home he knew, twice. The family moved - and left Ernie abandoned in the back yard, with the gate open. Abandoning an animal is a crime. The neighbors were incensed. They cared for Ernie while trying to find him a safe haven. I was contacted and agreed, w/some financial help, to bring Ernie to Silverwalk. The person who contacted me took him to her vet. He was overwhelmed with heartworms and anemic from fleas, among other things. It was decided the best thing for Ernie was heaven. My only consolation is he knew some love and care at the end of his life.

It is OK to not want a pet or animals. We are all different, thank God - many do not want the care and cost of pets. Please, if you truly do not want a pet, don't get one. You are not bad or lesser than anyone else. You are like one of my sisters - just not a pet person but boy, is she a people person! and no, they are not mutually exclusive. If a strange dog or cat comes to your home, please check them for tags and call the phone numbers. If you don't want to deal w/them, call Animal Control, the Humane Society in your county or take them there, call a rescue such as myself or Safe Harbor (cats) among others but act on their behalf - it is the least you can do for a creature of God. Ernie's story is true as I know it - and it happens way too often. Thank you for being willing to be honest and caring. Ernie appreciated his rescuers who saw him to Heaven.

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Ernie will be joining an amazing group of dogs waiting for us at the bridge. Glad he got to experience the good life with you at the Sanctuary. God Bless you for what you are doing!

-- Posted by Melanie Coy on Fri, Oct 30, 2009, at 12:18 PM
As the person responsible, I feel the need to respond to "Defy Tyranny"'s post.

Ernie was very sick with a host of preventable conditions. And while you can treat most there was no guarantee he would make it through the treatments much less be cured. Heartworms alone often need more than one treatment to cure.

I do rescue work and am in the middle of buying a horse to rescue her. I am already financially obligated for well over $2000 in that situation. Unfortunately real life financial situations must come into play when making some of these decisions. It's a very, very difficult and emotional decision. It's also very unfair.

If the "owners" had just done the right thing ...

-- Posted by Animal Friend on Sat, Oct 31, 2009, at 11:10 AM
I would love to wait on God for all the deaths of my animals and yet, He often uses me to end suffering that could have gone on way too long. I read a book which I enjoyed until the author spoke of how "as long as her dog would eat, she would not put him down." Her lovely dog was in so much pain he, who previously did not bite, was biting anyone who touched him, had to be carried out or cleaned up from soiling himself and yet, he was still eating...To me, this was allowing an animal to endure undue suffering. It is always a hard but necessarily honest call. I will indeed pray for a "happy death" for all my animals. Thanks for the discussion.

-- Posted by silverwalk on Sun, Nov 1, 2009, at 5:54 PM
Defy, please define "happy death" for me. I have been thinking a lot about it. Thanks!

-- Posted by silverwalk on Tue, Nov 3, 2009, at 2:48 PM

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