Why Give a Home to a Dying Animal?

Through my volunteer work at the Toronto Humane Society, I have encountered a number of animals who still had a good quality of life (and were therefore adoptable), but were geriatric and/or afflicted with a terminal illness. For those willing to take these animals into their homes, there is little doubt that their time together will be very limited and that grief and sorrow will be an inevitable consequence in the not too distant future. So why do it? Here are some of my thoughts:

1) Because it makes us feel less helpless. For those of us who love animals and feel despair when faced with the abandonment and abuse that so many endure, it can be a crippling feeling to realize how little we can do to curb the problem. Yet by taking in one of these special animals in its hour of greatest need, we can affirm for ourselves that, yes, we really can make a difference. By taking in animals that otherwise would have no hope for life whatsoever, we can really know that we are part of the solution;






2) Because we can witness something beautiful: animals who have spent any amount of time in a shelter know the score. They know that they have been abandoned. They sense that their lives could be at risk. Geriatric and dying animals feel especially vulnerable in these strange environments. In my experience, many of them shut down and appear far more decrepit and lifeless than they really are, or they act out in an attempt to appear less weak in the eyes of others who could harm them. But when you get them home and make them feel safe and loved, they begin to blossom in a most extraordinary way. Suddenly that dull-eyed, dying old dog that appeared comatose on the concrete floor of a shelter is prancing around like a puppy with new light in her eyes. It is indescribable how great a privilege this is to experience.



3) Because the bond is unlike any other: Having gone from a state of extreme vulnerability into a stable, loving environment, these animals express their gratitude through a bond that has no comparison. People often wonder if an older animal might be less inclined to bond with a new family than a younger one would be, but the reality is that vulnerable animals are much more aware of the gift that you are giving them. It doesn't take long before they are gazing at you with sheer adoration, knowing that you lifted them out from a terrible fate for no other reason than that you wanted to protect them.





4) Because we can be part of an inspirational story: It's okay to admit that we like to feel good about ourselves. When you rescue an animal in extreme need in circumstances where most other people would have turned away, you get to feel like you have done something really amazing. It's okay to enjoy that because you earned it. When you tell people the story of how you came to adopt or foster your new companion, not only will people appreciate what you have done, but for many it will be a source of inspiration that moves them to see animals in a more compassionate way. This feels good.





5) Because we can learn something important: Death is scary. Yet we all have to face it sometime. Animals are incredibly wise and dignified in how they face death. As painful as the loss of our beloved companion will be, it is a privilege to be able to learn from the strength and character that they display when facing down their own mortality. Moreover, we are freer to learn this lesson when we take in an animal that we know is dying because there is no shock or surprise. We know it is coming from the moment we take them in. We are therefore ready to be part of this journey and open to learning from it.


6) Because we will never forget: Let's not fool ourselves. It's still going to hurt like hell when we lose them, even though we know what we are getting into right from the beginning and think we can steel ourselves against it. Yet, when it is over, we have a poignant and beautiful memory--a tale of how a lost soul found us and enriched our lives just in the nick of time. And what persists the most, beyond the sadness, is our gratitude that we were able to take them in, rather than having them suffer some anonymous death on a cold shelter table, never having had the opportunity to show us what a privilege it is to love them.




Rest in Peace, Lilly