GRIEF AND OTHER REACTIONS AT THE LOSS OF PETS, ESPECIALLY AFTER DECISIONS TO EUTHANIZE WERE MADE

As discussed in last week’s column, it is hardly ever an easy decision to make when opting to put to sleep (euthanasia) your elderly pet, who has been with the family for many years. Your pet has offered the family (especially the children) unconditional love. Happy times with your companion animal(s) abound. After euthanasia, families seem unable to remove the memories of joyfulness, halcyon days, and euphoria created by, and enjoyed together with our pets. The following story emphasizes this point. It is a personal recollection that haunts us still, even though we have all moved on.
“Patrick” and “Maria” were born of the same litter. Of the seven pups, our choice was made immediately, notwithstanding my advice to readers delivered in a previous “Pet Care” column, in which I described the various methods and considerations involved in selecting a pup to take into what would become a “Forever Home”. They were products of incest – their mother and father being closely related. They were destined to experience health issues. But who cared? One of the caregivers was (is) a veterinarian. Besides they were the cutest, heart-captivators. In fact, they chose us, not the other way around. We must have done something right, because they both lived to be fourteen.
In the later period of life, “Patrick” was clearly exhibiting memory loss, senile dementia, and many of those symptoms of the elderly dog, described in the last three columns of “Pet Care”. The family agreed that keeping Patrick alive was not showing him love but allowing him to experience relentless and unstoppable pain and agony at an unaccustomed level. Of course, I could not administer the coup de grace (detailed in last week’s column). I asked my close colleague to carry out the final act. We immediately got on a plane to Trinidad. As we arrived at Piarco, we had a change of heart!! We, like so many other caregivers, just could not consider and accept living without Patrick’s presence. We immediately called my colleague and friend and advised him to abort the proceedings. His response was short and bitter. “You should have called ten minutes ago; I have already euthanized Patrick”. The sequel to this story is that decades have passed and we have never procured another pet to be part of our families. Our daughter herself, having a wonderfully pet-loving family, has two decades later- acquired two mixed Bichon Frises siblings – Rasam and Sambhar (see pictures below). The happiness is immense as the cycle continues.
In writing the above paragraph, it occurred to me how disturbing and difficult it is for veterinarians and Clinic Teams to be euthanising unwanted pets— week in, week out, year in, year out. Shelter staff have to help prepare the animals that will be put to sleep forever. They must undergo immense emotional stress, which sometimes goes unnoticed. Is it not surprising that the turnover of staff at Humane Society Clinics is beyond normal. Worse, the statistics show that, of all professionals in the USA, the suicide rate among veterinarians is the fourth highest. Veterinarians do have great and lasting empathy for their patients.
I had intended to let this be the last column on the topic of Euthanasia. But I have not done justice to the above-mentioned topic. In today’s article, it is clear that I have not focused enough on the consequential emotions and reactions of the caregivers to their decision to effect euthanasia. I do not think that I have given enough mental pabulum and food for thought associated with this subject matter.
I will continue this message along with further considerations in next week’s column. There is still much to be shared on this issue of EUTHANASIA.

“ANIMAL HEALTH TAKES A TEAM”
I extend fraternal greetings to my colleague veterinarians and our support team of veterinarian technicians, veterinary paraprofessionals and all stakeholders in the veterinary network in commemorating World Veterinary Day, observed every year on the last Saturday in April. May the care and treatment of our non-human wards, which provide for a more humane and compassionate society, bring you continued great satisfaction and contentment
The World Veterinary Association (WVA) announced the theme “Animal Health Takes a Team” for this year’s World Veterinary Day 2025. This theme highlights the collaborative nature of veterinary practice and underscores the essential role that multiple professionals play in delivering high-quality veterinary services. WVA calls on all veterinarians, veterinarian technicians, veterinary paraprofessional and all others that make veterinary services possible to participate in the great worldwide campaign led by the WVA.
This year’s theme focuses on the importance of teamwork in veterinary care, acknowledging that effective veterinary services often rely on the collective efforts of a range of professionals, including veterinary nurses, technicians, researchers, and other allied health professionals.
The WVA Council selected this theme to shine a spotlight on the dynamic nature of veterinary services, which require cooperation and collaboration across various fields of expertise to address the diverse challenges in animal health and care. By working together, veterinary teams can ensure the highest standards of care and support for animals, their owners, and the globe.

WVA theme for World Veterinary Day 2025 – Animal Health Takes a Team – World Veterinary Association