My Pet Didn't Die Options

[walt]

My friend Page did, about two weeks ago.
I've known Page for years--he lived on the river with his four dogs.
When I'd visit him , the dogs were always happy to see me, and Page and I
would take them across the river for a run in the woods. It was always a joy to see them,
running, happy, free.

Page loved his dogs and cared for them faithfully, but I guess he didn't expect to die
so soon because he never made any provisions for the dogs.

I just learned that his son has taken the dogs to the pound where they'll eventually be
euthenized. I am heartsick. Those dogs are a living, breathing part of Page, and the thought
that they've been tossed away makes me sick. They're healthy, dogs! Just kill them?

I've been losing sleep over this trying to figure out what I can do to save them. I can't
take them. I don't have enough space and I have my own dog, but I feel like I'm their
only hope and I'm going to let them down.

I wish I knew someone with a farm or ranch where they could live out their lives in happiness,
but that's pretty unlikely, people have their own dogs and are usually not interested in taking on others.

I also look at the huge suffering that's going on in Haiti right now. My petty concerns are inconsequential
compared that.

But still, when I think of those dogs, there's a part of me that is still a kid that
cannot comprehend the injustice of it.

[walt]

I'm having a change of heart on this.

I've been giving it serious thought, and it occurred to me that
Page's dogs were as lucky as dogs can be. They had two owners
that loved and cared for them dearly, Page and his wife--while she
was there, a wonderful home on a river across from a state park
where they could run and explore, and with four of them, never a
moment of loneliness. This is not common for dogs, it's rare.

If they were to die now, well, their lives were full. They had what we
would want all dogs to have, but what few ever get. If I can extend
there lives a bit, what have they got to look forward to, sitting all day
in a cage? Bringing them to that from where they've been is nothing
less than cruelty and abuse.

Sure, I feel better because they can live longer, but how do they feel?

Can I guarantee them anything close to the full life they had? No. All I can
guarantee is a good chance of boredom, idleness, loneliness and more
suffering, and finally getting euthenized anyway.

Two of the dogs are quite old and probably not candidates for adoptions.
The other two are fairly young, but not much different than thousands and
thousands of other dogs waiting to be adopted.

Sure, miracles can happen, but it should have happened already. More waiting
just means inflicting more punishment on the ones I'm trying to help. I probably
should not have interfered, but I was selfish, trying to keep Page alive a little longer.

I think it's time for me to give this up.

I know this is not what you guys want to hear. But it seems right to me. It feels right.