"I killed my pets to move in with my fiancé…"

MSNBC ^ | June 21, 2005 | Dr. Gail Saltz (advice columnist )

[grundle]

Q: About a year ago, I made the heart-wrenching decision to leave a great job, house, friends and family to move to Hawaii with my fiancé.

As part of this transition, I also chose to have my two beloved chow chow dogs put to sleep.

I adored those dogs, but I justified their sacrifice to the greater good of a successful relationship.

After six months, I am still tormented by memories of my dogs. The depths of anguish and loss make me think I got rid of them for purely selfish reasons, which is the kind of behavior I thought I reviled. I feel that I have gone from dog-lover to dog-killer in one trans-Pacific flight.

A: I am truly sorry you feel so wracked with guilt about your decision to put your dogs to sleep.

[Dashing Dasher]

Putting a dying pet to sleep because you don't want her/him to suffer further pain is a LOT different than putting a perfectly healthy pet to sleep because he/she is an inconvenience.

[Dashing Dasher]

Braggart.

[GBA]

"The depths of anguish and loss make me think I got rid of them for purely selfish reasons, which is the kind of behavior I thought I reviled. I feel that I have gone from dog-lover to dog-killer in one trans-Pacific flight."

One of the most amazing things about humans is our ability to rationalize almost anything or any behavior and usually these things turn out badly. I once gave up the best job I've ever had for a relationship with a woman and her son. It didn't work out. I also have moved from a place I liked to an entirely new area and started over mostly just to keep a relationship alive. But, I would never kill my dogs for a girl. I don't know what kind of ralationship she had with her dogs, but I could not do what she did.

Along with that ability to rationize anything comes an equally impressive capacity for experiencing guilt. This "Dr." is an idiot. Guilt, as long as it's not taken to extreme, is necessary for people to be good and decent. She has earned the guilt she feels and the fact that she feels it is hopeful for her.

[Gay State Conservative]

Yes.

Hmmmmm....I guess that you and I have different priorities.To me,the woman I loved would be far,far more important than a pet.

Would I kill the pet? Certainly not.Would I find a good home for him/her? In a heartbeat,but with great sadness.

[YoungCurmudgeon]

We can only hope. I admit I did that once when a person wanted me to euthanize the friendliest cat I've encountered because it was too friendly. They didn't like the rubbing against their legs, etc., though they tolerated the wild cats who hid out under the porch. They gave me the frequently uttered threat "either you kill it or my boyfriend is going to shoot it". So I took it, charged them an exam fee rather than a euthanasia fee, spayed her and let her join the crowd in my backyard. I can't do that much, since it's unethical from a business sense and I've got too many critters as it is.

[Maximus of Texas]

$100 million?

[Fiddlstix]

LOL
I have, and I will again if neccesary.

ROTFLMAO!
Good For You!
LOL!

[HOTTIEBOY]

"""Braggart."""


You like it.

[HOTTIEBOY]

nope.

[Dark Skies]

I have, and I will again if neccesary.

Maintaining a social life is hard work (mostly the digging)!

[Joe 6-pack]

"Come on...they're dogs."

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men."

- St. Francis of Assisi -

[republican4ever]

LOL... I din't know cats have in them too!!! Good kitty!

[Dashing Dasher]

Jealous.

[Maximus of Texas]

$500 million

[HOTTIEBOY]

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity"


I agree, there's room on this planet for all God's creatures.

Right beside the mashed potatoes.

[republican4ever]

I guess the key here is "sooner than she would have otherwise"...

[HOTTIEBOY]

There is no amount of money.

[p23185]

Are you surprised....baby butchers lie all the time to women about abortion.

I read recently that over the years since abortion on demand was found in the Constitution, technology has allowed us to view the fetus via ultrasound. The butchers do not want woman to see this picture since they may choose to allow the baby to be born. The most startling news I have read in recent months is that between 30 and 50 million fetus have been aborted since we re-read the Constitution with the light turned on.

[MplsSteve]

Good.

[Millee]

There was a movie made about this story too with Farrah Fawcet & Ryan O'Neal. They were actually both pretty good in it.

The book is chilling.