My husband had to put our dog to sleep this week. We have faced the gamut of responses ranging from disgust to deep love and sympathy. Naturally, the latter feels much better.

Our dog, Henry was beautiful and very loving, but could turn vicious at the drop of a dime.  He had already bitten my little boy in the face and caused him to get 17 stitches and cosmetic surgery.

Why didn’t we get rid of him then? We did not do that three years ago because I cannot even kill a spider in my home. Taking the life of a creature, let alone one that is so loved is not in my make-up. I believe that people and animals can change. I hoped that Henry would outgrow his lack of impulse control, but he did not and went on to terrorize other humans and animals in our neighborhood, attacking without provocation.

Of course there was a last straw. It came two nights ago when he took a little dog in his mouth and swung him around in the air as if it were a chew toy.

This is the same dog that I cuddled with that very afternoon.  My husband, who loved Henry as much as anyone, put his foot down and did something that required much bravery. He did something that would cause pain to all four of our children and anger.

Although I wanted to stop him, Henry was my baby, I did not. I could have talked my husband out of it, but I did not. I wanted to, but I did not.

Yesterday I met with a woman who told me that the nurse at the facility where her husband resides told her that her husband could not swallow his pills any longer.

They sought her permission to deliver his medication by liquid means. She told me that she wanted to say just let him choke on the medication and die.  He is in horrible facility, in diapers and very much demented.

Of course, she could not say that because our society covets life as if it is precious at all cost.  That would be extreme negligence at best and outright murder at worst.

Euthanasia is a very  complicated subject. It has been on our ballot in California . Many people who oppose it do not see the pain and suffering that I see on a daily basis. It is an objection based on theories usually religious in nature, for which I do respect.

Other’s object based on very real administrative concerns of abuse, such as who will deliver the dose and under what circumstances. Some think that it gives too much power to doctors who will become de-sensitized to death.

As a society we do condone taking the life of animals and humans under certain circumstances. All of these circumstances have nothing to do with the animal’s or human’s choice.

Years ago we had to put my Sheepdog to sleep because his stomach turned over on itself and he was in a great deal of pain. It was unlikely that a $5,000 emergency surgery would work especially because he had a platelet disorder. He was suffering.

We were allowed to take him out of his pain and misery. I wanted him to live forever. I wanted Henry to live forever. This great State of California has the death penalty for those who commit heinous acts upon others.

Although one could argue that by committing such acts these indivials implicty consent to the state taking their life, I would argue that they are as demented as some of my clients and like the dogs we are allowed to kill, cannot intellectually make that choice.

This is a good time to have this conversation. With the biggest growing demographic the 100+ years, and with the statics about Alzheimer’s (after the age of 85 you are at a 50% risk of getting it) we need to talk. This alone will bankrupt our country and cause pain to millions victims and their families. We need to talk.

Thank you for your kisses Henry and my love for you fills me with sadness at your death.