A frolic in Cambodia

[notcasesensitive]

She's writing to Dear Abby on you:

DEAR ABBY: I have fallen in love with a wonderful man I'll call "Hank." Hank is everything I want in a man. We have been together for five months, and he is always very well-dressed -- which is important to me. I take pride in the way I look and want my partner to do the same.

Hank and I went out yesterday. It was cold outside and Hank said he would wear a sweater. Well, Abby, the sweater looked like something he found in a trash bin! It was stained, dirty and faded. How do I tell Hank that sweater has to go without hurting his feelings? I felt embarrassed to be with him, which I hated to admit to myself. How can I tell him not to wear it again? -- EMBARRASSED IN ILLINOIS


DEAR EMBARRASSED: Do NOT tell him not to wear it again, or that you felt embarrassed to be seen with him in it. When an otherwise spiffy dresser wears a garment that is "old, stained, faded," etc., it is safe to assume that the item has sentimental value. Since you prefer that he wear something nicer, buy him a sweater or two -- and as the weather grows colder, let him know how much it would please you to see him in something you selected especially for him.

At least SHE thinks you are wonderful. Sounds like a keeper.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
Ah, the refreshing why-would-anyone-waste-their-love-on-pets attitude that I've only ever heard expressed by people with kids. wonderful.

I love my pets. I love lots of animals. But it's a a very different level of grief.

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
In the city, a vet administers an injection.

In the country, it's a bullet to the head.

When the time comes - and it's not the easiest thing in the world to do.

And how did that animal on your plate die?

I prefer not to think about how my lemon poundcake gave up its life.

Mygodman - what country are you talking about? Bullet to the head? Your poor kitty.

My aunts and uncles live on a farm - and the animals (pets) either die a peaceful death or someone calls a vet.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
I prefer not to think about how my lemon poundcake gave up its life.

Mygodman - what country are you talking about? Bullet to the head? Your poor kitty.

My aunts and uncles live on a farm - and the animals (pets) either die a peaceful death or someone calls a vet.

You don't really want me to describe how some of those injections work, do you?

Just think of them as going to sleep; you'll be happier.

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
You don't really want me to describe how some of those injections work, do you?

Just think of them as going to sleep; you'll be happier.

At least kitty's not looking down the barrel of a gun.
Gack - seriously.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
In the city, a vet administers an injection.

In the country, it's a bullet to the head.

When the time comes - and it's not the easiest thing in the world to do.

And how did that animal on your plate die?

FWIW, in this particular case, the dog lived on a ranch. The vet came to the ranch and administered an injection. I know a lot of people who live in the country, and I don't know any who have ever shot a dog.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
FWIW, in this particular case, the dog lived on a ranch. The vet came to the ranch and administered an injection. I know a lot of people who live in the country, and I don't know any who have ever shot a dog.

When I was at the emergency vet one weekend, a couple people came in with a somewhat mauled small dog and I overheard them telling the vet that they had shot another of their dogs, a pit bull, after he mauled the oen they brought in. The vet seemed horrified but was trying not to be too critical (probably so as not to discourage them from bringing injured animals in).

Apparently the pit bull was in the back of the truck in the parking lot. I opted not to look on my way out.

The whole thing made me very sad. And is now making me sad all over again. Despite being shooters of a dog, the guy and his son (?) seemed very sad and worried about their pets.

[Anne Elk]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
...they had shot another of their dogs, a pit bull, after he mauled the oen they brought in. The vet seemed horrified but was trying not to be too critical (probably so as not to discourage them from bringing injured animals in).

Apparently the pit bull was in the back of the truck in the parking lot. I opted not to look on my way out.

Why was the vet horrified? There is a good chance the pit bull would have been put down anyway. Besides, how else do you get them to let go?

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
When I was at the emergency vet one weekend, a couple people came in with a somewhat mauled small dog and I overheard them telling the vet that they had shot another of their dogs, a pit bull, after he mauled the oen they brought in. The vet seemed horrified but was trying not to be too critical (probably so as not to discourage them from bringing injured animals in).

Apparently the pit bull was in the back of the truck in the parking lot. I opted not to look on my way out.

The whole thing made me very sad. And is now making me sad all over again. Despite being shooters of a dog, the guy and his son (?) seemed very sad and worried about their pets.

I hope that your animal came out of the emergency vet ok.

My sister's dog ended up there about this time last year, and ended up at the local (read: 100 miles give or take) vet school to get a thong-ectomy.

ETA: He's fine now, and she makes sure to pick up her underwear.

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
Do you send a condolence card or note when you get word of the passing of a beloved pet? Patton was 13 1/2*, and he was as much a member of the family as anyone else.



*A year and a half older than the Displaced Dog, who, as we all know, is scheduled to die with me in a firey crash so I don't have to go through not having him. The Puppy will somehow find the strength to go on without us, probably licking and flirting her way through her grief.

Yes.

Separate from this (and from G3's "shoot em" dust-up), this reminded me of the extent of things that people will do for departed pets, especially pets of kids.

Reminds me of when a neighborhood friend's dog died. I could tell that the father wasn't too enthusiastic about burying the dog in the backyard, but he went ahead and did it anyway, and even reluctantly participated in the Saying of a Few Words about the departed member of the family. I think it was the rendition of "Rock of Ages" that sent him over the edge.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Anne Elk
Why was the vet horrified? There is a good chance the pit bull would have been put down anyway. Besides, how else do you get them to let go?

It had let go before it was shot. I think the vet would have wanted to use an injection.

It may have been the idea of the dog knowing it was about to be killed by its beloved owner. I mean, I think these were people who used a gun enough that the dog probably had some idea of its function, and the last thing it saw was the owner pointing the killing thing at it.

My pet was just fine.

This whole pets dying and pets being sick and pets being hurt thing is starting to get to me.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
When I was at the emergency vet one weekend, a couple people came in with a somewhat mauled small dog and I overheard them telling the vet that they had shot another of their dogs, a pit bull, after he mauled the oen they brought in. The vet seemed horrified but was trying not to be too critical (probably so as not to discourage them from bringing injured animals in).

Apparently the pit bull was in the back of the truck in the parking lot. I opted not to look on my way out.

The whole thing made me very sad. And is now making me sad all over again. Despite being shooters of a dog, the guy and his son (?) seemed very sad and worried about their pets.

The Vet didn't think they should have interrupted the pit bull while he was eating?

Look, maybe they could have gotten the pit bull off the other dog with a hose or something, but I don't know that you second guess someone in that situation. And of course they're sad - I'm sure it was a very difficult thing for them.

[Not Bob]

Originally posted by dtb
When I first read that, I read "meditation" instead of "mediation" and I thought -- "Damn! Not Bob is going all hippie on us!"

But alas, no.

I am thinking about my exploring all of my client's chakras -- does that help?

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
Ah, the refreshing why-would-anyone-waste-their-love-on-pets attitude that I've only ever heard expressed by people with kids. wonderful.

I think there is a big difference between loving your pets and being a complete lunatic.

People who are saddened because their pet died are sane. Sending a card to let them know that you are sorry their pet died is understandable.

People who dress their dogs up in outfits are nuts. People who spend thousands of dollars on shit that their pets couldn't possibly want or need are koo koo. People who leave everything in their estate to a fucking cat with explicit instructions as to how said cat is to be taken care of in its life of luxury while people are starving in the streets, should have their dying wishes ignored and their graves pissed on.

TM

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
It had let go before it was shot. I think the vet would have wanted to use an injection.

It may have been the idea of the dog knowing it was about to be killed by its beloved owner. I mean, I think these were people who used a gun enough that the dog probably had some idea of its function, and the last thing it saw was the owner pointing the killing thing at it.

Ah, so they'd ended the battle and then put it down.

I'm sure they shot him from behind the ear, so he may have heard a click but probably didn't see it.

And really, the way the injections work is by cramping up and shutting down the organs one by one, with no guarantee the brain is first. The injection is prettier for the person looking, but I'm not sure it is for the dog. We'd had more than one vet explain this growing up.

When animals got shot, the kids were kept away and we didn't understand what was happening until we were older. I think the first time I understood I'd seen a wounded animal suffering a fair bit on my aunt's farm before she was shot, and truly did think of it as merciful.

Calling a vet, waiting a few hours, and then having them die perhaps more painfully wasn't really the better option.


(ETA: I contrast this to a friend who grew up in East Tennesse and tells stories of how they slaughtered the cattle at home with her full participation at about age 8 or 9. The youngest got the gun, the older ones had the sledge and knives. Have a good lunch, people).