Foster hospice care for animals.

[Aragorn]

I heard about this on the radio, where people are taking in terminal cats and dogs to care for them and make the final months of their lives comfortable and loving.

I understand the caring for animals part and applaud them for it, but I don't know if I could handle one animal dying after another under my watch.

Supposedly a lot of these foster caregivers don't get too attached though, since they know these animals' days are numbered.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

Where are the owners of these animals? You know...the ones whose lives these pets brightened for years?

I mean, I don't think an animal would understand that it was in 'hospice'. All it would know was that it's owner had left them.

Or maybe I am not understanding this correctly?

 

[Miss Chicken]

I was thinking that as well. I know that the real Miss Chicken will be with me until the end.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

They could be taking them in from shelters that are already over-burdoned.

It would be hard not to get attached.

 

[RJDiogenes]

This is certainly a very nice thing for people to do; it must be heartbreaking, though, and I think it would be hard not to get attached. I do wonder about the owners, though. If the animals were in a shelter, would they not just put them to sleep?

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Some shelters around here are "no kill", not sure if that includes terminally ill animals.

I got my #2 cat from one of these places when he was a kitten. Must've been a hundred cats in the cat room. That's heartbreaking in a way, but at least they'll be safe & fed the rest of their lives.