Author Unknown (From the Internet)
Being a veterinarian, I went to examine a 10-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa and their little boy Shane, all valued Belker. They hoped for a miracle.
Sadly, Belker was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for the dog and suggested a euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it might be good for six-year-old Shane to watch. They believed he might learn from the experience.
At a designated time the next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm petting the old dog for the last time that I wondered if he understood. Within minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy appeared to accept Belker's transition without difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are so short.
Shane, who had listened quietly, piped up. “I know why.”
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation, and it changed the way I try to live.
The boy said, “People are born so they can learn to live good lives -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right? Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't need to stay as long.”
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Dogs know how to be nice,
even in unexpected ways.
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