What's Going On: Why the biggest pet lover really doesn’t love their pet like family

 A friend emailed me last week a link to a story about a three-legged dog that was dying from cancer. 

The dog had undergone a previous amputation in an effort to contain the cancer and that seemingly worked for about two years until the cancer returned.

This time, the cancer came back stronger and more aggressive and the terminal diagnosis quickly followed for the beloved Labrador Retriever. 

So the dog’s owner decided to give the dog a last day of glory, filled with cheeseburgers, a romp through a water park, and of course, tear-filled goodbyes. What made the story even more unique is the dog’s owner hired a professional photographer to document those final few hours. 

The collection of a dozen or so photos of the dog’s last day went viral as animal lovers everywhere shared the final moments of joy, and tears, between the owner and the dog. 

In full disclosure, I don’t pamper my pets. I’m not a guy who takes his dog to a “pet hotel” or “resort” when I’m out of town. I don’t buy her organic dog food, nor do I prioritize her welfare and comfort at the same level as a family member’s. 

I subscribe to the tenants of be kind to animals and even more so to your pets and take care of them responsibly, providing for their needs. Doggie sweaters with a matching collar though? I’ll pass. 

So the idea of hiring a pet photographer in the first place seems a little extragavant in my opinion. But after looking at the pictures, I thought it was pretty cool and worth the money, if you have that kind of disposable cash. I’m sure the family that truly cared for that dog will treasure the high quality pictures for a lifetime. 

But regardless, I thought giving the dog a “last hurrah” was even a greater idea. Why not feed the dog a dozen cheeseburgers and let it live in the lap of luxury for one last time? If nothing else, it’s a sign of gratitude for the years of loyalty and companionship the dog provided while giving the surviving family that rare opportunity to make a final memory one they will remember forever. 

As you may be right now, when I looked through those photos I couldn’t help but wish I had a similar experience with some of the dogs I was fortunate to share my life. I’m sure if I had them, I would still flip through the photos today and smile at the memories. 

With that warm, fuzzy feeling, I can’t help but wonder if those same pet owners who would pay money to hire a photographer, or at least go to the trouble of creating a one-day paradise for their four-legged friend would do the same for Grandma? 

Or Uncle Fred?

Or their dad.

Or son. 

Nearly all devout, faithful and loving pet owners, who will tell you their dog is “treated like family” have no reservations about euthanizing the animal. They whitewash it with the phrase “put him to sleep” because that sounds better than “killing it.” But that’s exactly what’s going on. The owner is killing the suffering pet, albeit a mercy killing. However, as humans, we fight death every step of the way and we will carry that fight on for family members until the very last breath.

Morality plays a big role in that distinction, specifically in the belief humans, unlike their animal brethren, possess a soul. 

 Like most of us, I have lots of family and friends who are as devoted to their pets as I seemingly am to my children. I find the behavior bizarre, but to each their own. 

However, what I find most compelling is in many of those cases, I see an individual(s) projecting emotions onto the animal that would be typically directed elsewhere, be it towards a spouse or children. 

And that makes me wonder if those same pet owners who quickly embrace the “mercy killing” of an ailing loved one isn’t another example of projecting their true desires. 

Or maybe I’m just over thinking a story about a three-legged dog. 

Gregory Orear is the General Manager/Editor of the Red Oak Express and Glenwood Opinion-Tribune. He can be contacted at publisher@redoakexpress.com.