End-of-life care goes to the heart and spirit of the bond we have with our pets. We want their last days to be dignified, comfortable and enjoyed as much as possible.
Wallace Sife, Ph.D., in his book, The Loss of a Pet: A Guide to Coping with the Grieving Process When a Pet Dies states the following:
“The bond with a beloved pet is so potent and significant that it helps define who we are. It can change our lives and have such a profound effect on us that it stays even after our loved ones die.”
“In trying to analyze what it is, we begin to appreciate that this bond really is a very complex psychological relationship—and a challenge to define. It is an unspoken mutual transaction that changes our lives forever. The first word associations that may come to mind are attachment , union, kinship, link, relationship, connection, commitment, loyalty, alliance and covenant. Although many of these terms make perfectly good sense, they still really don’t really say what the bond is. That is because we are trying to define love, and that is so difficult. Perhaps it is not even possible.”
It is because of this bond that, as a pet owner, it is essential to be aggressive in being your pets’ advocate for what you believe is the best care for them when they are at end-of-life.
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