佚名/Anonymous
I had just graduated from veterinary school, and I was volunteering at the local shelter in Twin Falls, Idaho. As I looked down at the dog napping in her run, I knew I was going to have to wake her up to put her to sleep. What a cruel euphemism.
She was a Heinz-57 mixed-breed with no name, no home, and no hope. She was horrifcally malnourished, and her coat was a mass of mats and burrs.
In a way, she was lucky to be here. Found on the side of the road-like living garbage-shed been left to die in a remote area of our county.
The kind rancher who found her brought her to the local shelter where she joined dozens of other cutiest and ugliest pressing against the front of the cages hoping to catch the eye of someone who had a heart and home big enough to give them another chance.
Problem was there were too many homeless pets and not enough homes. Day after day for a week the dog waited and waited, her still-wagging tail marking the time.
But on this day, her time was up. No one had adopted her, like many in the shelter, the animals were too big, too small, too hairy, too young, and too old. Without enough cages to hold all that came through our doors, we were prepared to end her life quickly and without suffering.“Better than starving to death in the country.”I said, fnding little solace in the words.
I was inspired to enter this profession because of a deep love of animals. I had been highly trained and entrusted to save lives and prevent pain and suffering. Yet here I was about to end the life of this innocent creature. I hated this part of the job, but I had to do it. Choking back my emotions, I readied myself to perform the procedure for which Id been trained.
I set her on the table, and she wiggled her gaunt frame with delight as I spoke some soothing words and patted her head. The tempo of her tail quickened as she looked up at my face. Looking into her eyes, I saw total trust, unconditional love and absolute loyalty. I felt the cruel irony of what was taking place. God‘s precious creatures, embodying the kindest virtues on the planet, being killed for the crime of not being wanted. She held out her leg for me to inject and licked my hand. She was ready. I wasn’t.