A veterinarian was called to examine a twelve-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Bobber. The dog’s owners and their little boy, Caden, were all very attached to Bobber and they were hoping for a miracle.
The vet examined Bobber and found he was dying. He told the family he couldn’t do anything for Bobber and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As they discussed arrangements, the parents told the vet they thought it would be good for six-year-old Caden to observe the procedure. They felt Caden might learn something from the experience.
The next day, the family surrounded Bobber as the vet stood by. Caden seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time. The vet wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Bobber slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Bobber’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. Afterwards, everyone sat together for a while, wondering aloud why dogs’ lives are shorter than human lives. Caden, who had been listening quietly, piped up, “I know why.”
Startled, the vet asked him to continue. What he said next stunned everyone.
The six-year-old said, “People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” He continued, “Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
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