A beautiful death of an animal

Chris Erskine's article on his beloved dog touched the core of my heart. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that I am a dog-lover.

His dog was a quiet and lovable pet who never whimpered. I would love this dog to bits too. His dog's eyes just melted his heart. Indeed, the face of a dog can create havoc in a seemingly cold heart, what more in mine. Dogs with droppy ears, like bloodhounds, do me in too. My stuffed dog is one.

When he agreed to take Lucky in, Lucky went into spasms. Dogs do have feelings and that's why they are man's best friends. Lucky was probably afraid that he'd be homeless when his Korean owners left. With Chris agreeing to keep him, he knew he'd have a home and be loved. He'd not become a stray dog. Lucky was like the head of the house, making sure all his family members were safely back home before he could rest in bed. Such a sweet dog who was atypical as well. Dogs usually don't do that.

To Chris, Lucky was grateful and contented. Dogs are that. They don't ask for much except for love. A simple and yet profound request. Sometimes humans are even more demanding, myself included. How ironic that humans are associated with the greatest emotion - love and they are like that. Most females demand not just love but material goods too. They are allegedly more loving than males are but oh well..... Love isn't just buying things for your partner but doing little sweet things for him or her too.

I can sympathise with Chris's pain when Lucky didn't wag his tail anymore and just flopped on the grass, inert. My heart is filled with pangs too. To see your loved one withering away and losing weight, not eating well anymore, in misery and confusion, and just awaiting death, is a traumatic experience. Death thus becomes a release from such intense suffering. It's better for death to claim him or her then.

Lucky could have whimpered in such a condition but he didn't. Such strength in a dog just makes his loss to the family all the more tragic and greater. Strangely though, it also gives a sense of beauty to his departure. The sorrow they must have experienced is something I understand. He was indeed the best dog, from Chris's point of view.