My friend has fostered two of them, the last one a blond cocker about 1.5 years old who was a day away from euthanasia. That is how difficult it can be to find a home. Imagine two old chows with attitudes
The woman obviously takes major commitment less than seriously; likewise, her paramour is pretty unyielding as well...I doubt their relationship will last... It's the relationship du jour with her, and before long there will be another man with whom she will be convinced she can have a more, "successful relationship," and the old guy will be discarded like last week's buttermilk.
Not a very Christian or plain compassionate thing to say in my opinion. Possibly her relationship with an important human being matters enough to give up her dogs, that's all. Obviously her commitments matter or she wouldn't be so bothered by it. In the meantime, I have a cat and she's just fine being a cat and not a furry little human. She's indoor, well fed and I'll probably have to put her down some day.
Sorry. My decisions to try and do the right thing are not based on how difficult they are.
"Not a very Christian or plain compassionate thing to say in my opinion."
I'll take that for what it's worth. I know lots of people that would have probably called Christ 'un-Christian' (I'm not drawing a parallel between myself and the Savior, mind you.) I do appreciate you qualifying that as your opinion, but otherwise it's kind of like using the 'Nazi' accusation when you disagree with somebody, and threatens to push the conversation out of the domain or rationality.
"Possibly her relationship with an important human being matters enough to give up her dogs, that's all."
Dogs and other domestic animals are not disposable like an old VCR or piece of furniture. Again, I believe that for a terminally ill animal euthanasia is not only acceptable, but honorable, but this was not the case here. When she accepted responsibility for the lives of these animals, she should have considered the possibilities, and her choices and decisions should have been made in light of that responsibility. Frankly her decision with regards to the dogs is the moral equivalent of torching a village to save it. If the issue was a purple sofa the boyfriend didn't like, I can understand the rationale behind ditching it; however, care for the life of an animal is an internalized responsibility rather than an inanimate externality, and this will not be the last 'change' the boyfriend expects or demands her to make to comply with his rules.
"Obviously her commitments matter or she wouldn't be so bothered by it."
Doesn't do the dogs much good. This is classic intentions vs. outcomes liberal thinking. Frankly she did what was convenient, to get what she wants, regardless of the cost to other creatures, and tried to justify it in her mind by trying to convince herself it was the best thing for all. Her regrets are merely an indicator that she did not lie to herself as successfully as she had first thought.
"In the meantime, I have a cat and she's just fine being a cat and not a furry little human. She's indoor, well fed and I'll probably have to put her down some day.
As I've said repeatedly, euthanising an animal with no hope or no ability to envision a future is ultimately an act of selflessness. People who prolong the lives of an animal in terminal pain are very selfish and continue the animal's suffering merely to satisfy their own desire to not have to deal with the animal's death. So many times we hear someone say of another person, "I wish I could take their pain away...if only I could feel that pain for them, I would." In a sense, animals provide us that unique opportunity when terminally sick...we can assume a degree of suffering and anguish by putting them out of their misery, and bearing that pain is a burden we assume on behalf of the animal. In the matter in question, the writer was thinking purely of her own pleasure, convenience, and satisfaction, and despite her protestations to the contrary, it was not, "what was best," for any of the parties involved but her. Defend her all you like, but hope and pray to keep such personalities out of your life as much as possible.