[OLS]

It might not surprise some of you to know I come from a family of old-school pragmatists
that never saw dogs as patients. Then again, we were pretty lucky with dogs and never
had any dogs that needed some kind of major treatment. But when it comes to dogs,
it is easy to think of them as part of the family and all the cliche's that people use,
because for the most part, they ring true. People really love their dogs. But with that
said, they are dogs. They do have feelings, but they cannot talk. Whether it is severe
arthritis or cancer, when it is a dogs time to go, they do NOT go to M.D. Anderson, they
go behind the barn while the kids are at school. If doctors want money to play "Dog
Mayo Clinic" on your hound, get a biopsy and that's it. If its cancer, send em off to the
doggie heaven, because it is a ton of money for a pet that can best be replaced by a
good old POUND PUP. Just because you euthanize them doesn't mean that they weren't
part of the family. It meant you cared enough about a dog that couldn't put his pain
into words to end his/her pain in a human way. People who over-extend a dog's life are
hurting two dogs...their own, and the dog at the pound who dies because you didn't need
him yet. Save two dogs, euthanize one and replace him with another that needs you, too.