IDA e-news: 1/25/06

ACTION ALERTS
1. National Zoo Euthanizes Ailing Elephant
2. City Officials Threaten to Evict Dalhart's No-Kill Animal
Shelter
3. Help Ban Horse Drawn Carriages in New York City
CAMPAIGN NEWS & UPDATES
1. IDA-Africa's Year In Review
2. IDA Sponsors New Jersey Black Bear Contraception Project
3. Louisiana District Attorney Prosecutes Dog Fighting Kingpin

ACTION ALERTS

1. National Zoo Euthanizes Ailing Elephant
IDA Elephant Experts Visited Zoo and Predicted Toni's Untimely
Death

IDA is saddened to report that Toni, a long-suffering Asian
elephant at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., was euthanized
on the morning of Wednesday, January 25th after a prolonged
battle with captivity-induced arthritis. Zoo officials had
stated in late November 2005 that Toni may need to be euthanized
if her condition continued to deteriorate, but claimed that such
a drastic measure wouldn't be taken anytime soon. Nevertheless,
a mere two months later, yet another elephant has been cut down
in the prime of life after spending decades imprisoned in a
series of cramped zoo enclosures. It was these artificial
conditions that led to her painfully crippling arthritis, the
number one killer of captive elephants.

Toni was just 40 years old, which is young for an animal who can
live to be 60 or 70 years old in the wild. She was abducted from
her natural home and separated from her family in Thailand when
she was only seven months old, and spent the rest of her 39
years on display before the public. In recent years, visitors to
the National Zoo were disturbed by the sight of Toni hobbling
around in obvious pain, barely able to stand under her own
power. She could often be seen leaning against a wall or another
elephant or even using her own trunk for support.

Earlier this month, Joyce Poole, one of the world's foremost
elephant care experts, visited Toni at the National Zoo on IDA's
behalf to evaluate her condition. As the research director of
the Amboseli Elephant Research Project in Kenya, Poole has
studied wild elephant behavior and communication for 30 years,
and is an internationally renowned authority on elephants. "In
all my 30 years of observing wild elephants, I have never seen
an elephant as crippled as Toni," Poole stated. "She symbolizes
the dismal consequences of long-term lack of space and
movement." Dr. Mel Richardson, a former zoo veterinarian who
accompanied Poole, said he was "appalled" by Toni's "debilitated
condition."

IDA had long urged the National Zoo to send Toni to the Elephant
Sanctuary so that she could live out the remainder of her life
in the wide-open naturalistic spaces of rural Tennessee and have
a chance to heal. Poole and Richardson confirmed that sending
Toni to a sanctuary would be in her best interest - if she was
well enough to make the trip - and that her condition would
continue to worsen at the National Zoo no matter how good their
veterinary care was, but officials dismissed their warnings.
Given that the National Zoo had many chances to help Toni, it is
shameful that they allowed her health to decline to the point
where she needed to be put out of her misery at an age when
elephants in the wild are still birthing calves.

Toni is the second elephant to die prematurely from
captivity-induced health problems at the National Zoo in recent
years, and she should be the last. We sincerely hope that her
death will prompt serious re-evaluation of the National Zoo's
ability to care for elephants, because they simply do not have
the space to meet the vast needs of Earth's largest land mammal.
Even though the Zoo is planning an expensive expansion of their
elephant exhibit (at the taxpayer's expense, of course), the
enclosure will still fail to meet the needs of the three
elephants remaining at the Zoo. They will likely meet the same
fate as Toni if they spend the rest of their lives unable to get
enough exercise in the barren, restricted space of their prison
cell.

What You Can Do:

Click http://ga0.org/campaign/NationalZooElephants to urge the
following officials to re-examine the National Zoo's elephant
exhibit expansion plan and close the exhibit if it can't locate
the space (thousands of acres) to meet the needs of this
intelligent and complex species. To have an even greater impact,
also contact them by fax, e-mail and postal mail.

John Berry, Director
National Zoo
3001 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Fax: (202) 673-4607
BerryJM [at] si.edu

The Honorable Bob Ney, Chair
Committee on House Administration
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Fax: (202) 225-3394
bobney [at] mail.house.gov

The Honorable Juanita Millender-McDonald, Ranking Member
Committee on House Administration
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Fax: (202) 225-7926
millender.mcdonald [at] mail.house.gov

2. City Officials Threaten to Evict Dalhart's No-Kill Animal
Shelter
Sanctuary Run by Schoolchildren Needs Help Finding Homes for
Dogs at No-Kill Shelters

At our first annual Guardian Awards in 2003, IDA presented a
special Distinguished Youth Guardian Award to a group of
schoolchildren who, along with their teacher and her husband,
had started a no-kill animal shelter in their hometown of
Dalhart, Texas. Since opening the Dalhart Animal Welfare Group
and Sanctuary (DAWGS) (http://www.dawgsntexas.com/index.htm) less than
three years ago, these exemplary guardians have taken in over
3,000 dogs and other animals, and have found homes for about
2,500 of them. Before DAWGS opened, the city used to euthanize
between 600 and 700 dogs a year, but that number is down to
about 70 now. Saving the lives of so many animals in such a
short time would be a remarkable achievement for any small town
shelter, but what makes it even more astounding is that most of
the volunteers who keep this particular sanctuary running aren't
even in their teens yet. Clearly, DAWGS has done wonders for
homeless animals in northwestern Texas and brought national
attention to Dalhart, but for all their success, city officials
are now threatening to shut down the shelter and evict the
animals by March 31st.

The problem is noise. DAWGS currently cares for well over 500
dogs, and their collective barking can get pretty loud. It can
be heard at the nearby cemetery, sometimes drowning out funeral
services, and residents of neighborhoods around the shelter have
complained about the racket. "A lot of dogs do make noise,"
acknowledges DAWGS co-director Diane Trull, who suspects that
officials want to push the shelter off the city-owned parcel of
land where it is currently located to build a railroad spur
there. Diane and her husband Mark, who has handled many of the
shelter's construction projects, have suggested moving the
sanctuary to a spot near the airport that is also owned by the
city to resolve the noise issues. However, officials have denied
their request, claiming that dogs could escape and get onto the
runway. Mark says he could build a system of fences that would
make this virtually impossible, but the city has not yet
reconsidered this prospect. "We're teaching children that they
can make a difference," said Diane in a recent People magazine
article about the shelter's impending expulsion, "and the city
is saying what we're doing doesn't matter."

The Trulls and their young volunteers have worked hard to
establish a no-kill sanctuary that provides homes for hundreds
of animals until they can be adopted out to guardians who come
from all over the region to visit DAWGS. Not only have their
dedicated efforts already saved the lives of hundreds of
animals, but the children have also gained an invaluable
experience from helping the animals. "It's rewarding to see all
the dogs wagging their tails at you," exclaims 11-year old
volunteer Brittney. "I'd like to keep doing this way past high
school." Please help IDA preserve this important service
opportunity for young people who are able to learn the power of
guardianship by working directly and lovingly with needy
animals.

What You Can Do:

- With eviction from their current site impending, DAWGS needs
to reduce the number of dogs under their care, at least until a
new location for their shelter can be found. If there is a
no-kill shelter in your area (especially if you live in Texas
and the surrounding areas), please ask them if they can take
animals from DAWGS. Contact ida [at] idausa.org or (415) 388-9641,
xt. 222 for more information.

- DAWGS is situated on a mere two and a half acres, and needs
more room given the number of animals they care for. The
sanctuary started out with about 20 dogs, but no one expected
that number to grow to hundreds. While the large residency at
the shelter is in many ways a measure of their success, the fact
remains that they have outgrown their small space. DAWGS is
looking for someone to donate use of 20 to 50 acres somewhere
near Dalhart so that the schoolchildren could continue caring
for the animals. Indoor buildings with outside runs could be
constructed on a lot of this size, which would also provide
enough of a buffer zone between the shelter and its neighbors to
avoid any noise issues.

- A group of Internet marketers has also joined with DAWGS to
raise money for their cause. They call themselves the UnderDogs,
and they have started an online fundraiser that capitalizes on
the advent of pixel advertising. To find out how you can help
while getting affordable web-based publicity for your business
or organization, visit http://www.dogsafety.net .

3. Help Ban Horse Drawn Carriages in New York City
Sign Petition Urging NYC's Mayor to Put Cruel Tourist-Driven
Industry Out to Pasture

Earlier this month, a horse named Spotty was pulling a hansom
cab down a busy New York City street when he became panicked and
bolted down the avenue. He galloped for several blocks before he
smashed headlong into a station wagon. Spotty was so badly
injured in the crash - his rear legs were splayed across the top
of the car and his head lay pressed against the blacktop - that
he had to be euthanized. He was a mere five years old and had
only been put to work as a carriage horse in the city for a few
months. The carriage driver was also critically injured and the
station wagon's two passengers were taken to the hospital.

Horse-drawn carriages in crowded cities like New York are a
serious danger both to people and animals. In an age when busy
urban streets are filled with speeding cars, motorcycles, buses,
fire trucks, ambulances and other motorized vehicles, the horse
drawn carriage is outmoded and inhumane. It continues only
because tourists think it is romantic to be pulled around by a
horse when they visit the metropolis, but the only thing the
horses get out of it is a life of strain and daily discomfort.
When they get too old or weak to haul passengers or they suffer
a work-related injury, carriage horses are often sold for
slaughter. This is the "thanks" they get for a lifetime of
service.

Like other cruel "traditions" that continue even though they
cause suffering, this one should be put out to pasture for good.
Other major cities around the world - including London, Paris
and Toronto - have already banned the use of carriage horses
based on ethical and safety concerns. It is time for New York
City to join them by taking responsibility for the welfare of
these intelligent, sentient animals who lead a nose-to-tailpipe
existence on the crowded, noisy city streets.

What You Can Do:

Tourists from all parts of the world are the mainstay of the
carriage horse industry, so no matter where you are from, your
voice can make a difference on this issue. Please sign a
petition (http://www.PetitionOnline.com/ch4ny123) urging New
York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City Council to ban
horse drawn carriages from the City of New York to ensure the
safety of both people and animals. To have more of an impact,
contact Mayor Bloomberg by phone, fax, postal mail or e-mail and
politely urge him to follow the compassionate example of other
progressive cities that have banned horse drawn carriages.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
Tel: 212-NEW-YORK (or simply 311 if you are in New York City)
Fax: (212) 788-2460
E-mail: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html

You can also contact members of the New York City Council. Click
http://www.nyccouncil.info/constituent/contact_member.cfm for their
contact information.

CAMPAIGN NEWS & UPDATES

1. IDA-Africa's Year In Review
New Residents and Old Friends Make the Sanctuary a True
Community

The staff and volunteers at IDA-Africa's Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee
Rescue Center continued to work tirelessly throughout 2005 to
provide a safe and comfortable home for 50 chimpanzees while
educating Cameroonians about Great Ape conservation. Thanks to
the ongoing support of IDA members who have adopted chimpanzees
and supported the sanctuary through donations, IDA-Africa was
able to accomplish great things. Here are some of the highlights
of a year filled with promise and hope for orphans of the
bushmeat trade.

NEW RESIDENTS
IDA-Africa welcomed six new orphans to the sanctuary in 2005.
Mintak, Tic, Johnny, Jimmie, Avery, Zach and two new babies (who
arrived only recently) were in terrible condition physically and
emotionally upon their rescue, but they gradually felt safe
enough to accept love and affection from their chimpanzee
companions and human caregivers. These young chimpanzees will
receive ongoing medical attention and gentle care as they
continue to transition from the horror of their former lives and
emotional losses to being valued members of the sanctuary
community.

OLD FRIENDS
- CHOUKI came to Sanaga-Yong after enduring extremely difficult
conditions at another sanctuary that has left him virtually
blind. Caretakers tried to integrate him with a chimpanzee unit,
but attacks from more aggressive chimpanzees left his eyelids
damaged. Upon his arrival at Sanaga-Yong, Dr. Speede evaluated
Chouki and consulted several ophthalmologists regarding his loss
of vision, but was told that surgery could not save his
remaining vision because of the intensive post-operative care
that would be required for months after the surgery. After much
deliberation and with Chouki's best interest in mind, the
IDA-Africa staff decided to provide Chouki with as much support
as possible as his vision loss progresses. Chouki's best friend,
Kiki Jackson, watches out for him and they are inseparable.
Early last fall, Kiki and Chouki were integrated with six
juveniles (Berchi, Foe, Mica, Massamba, Jack and Rob) to become
a beautiful family unit. Thanks to generous donations from
supporters, a new enclosure was built for Kiki and Chouki's
group that has special accommodations designed to help Chouki
with orientation and mobility. Though he is now virtually blind,
Chouki is doing very well adapting to his vision loss and his
new family.

- KIKI JACKSON is like a father to the six juveniles in his and
Chouki's group. They all respect him and follow him wherever he
goes. Although he doesn't allow babies to climb on his back, he
often initiates play and especially loves having fun with Rob.
Kiki has always been protective of Chouki, but now if Chouki is
too rough with a juvenile, Kiki protects the juvenile by chasing
Chouki away. He still spends a lot of time with Chouki, and they
can often be seen walking together through the forest.

- BIKOL is now an adolescent and as such has shown interest in
adult females, but he has to be careful not to annoy Jacky, the
alpha male. Bikol spends a lot of time around adult female
Dorothy, grooming her and socializing. When not with Dorothy, he
travels with the younger juveniles and is close to Mowgli,
Cecile and Stanley. This foursome has wonderful adventures in
the forest and can often be seen tromping through the bush with
one another or simply lounging in the forest together. Bikol
seems to be a natural in regards to developing good relations
with others and is well liked by all of his family members.

- MOABI spends his time traveling with younger juveniles and
plays energetically but gently with them. He is peaceful: no one
in the group challenges him, nor does he challenge anyone else.
He will sometimes carry a young friend on his back, and is very
patient and tolerant of his group members. At the end of the
day, once back in the satellite enclosure, he likes to slide the
door closed himself. Despite the trauma of losing his mother and
being terribly injured by a machete, Moabi has become a
well-balanced, kind-hearted juvenile.

IDA-AFRICA EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
IDA-Africa raised funds to improve education standards at the
local village school, which has increased enrollment from 25 to
65 students in the past year. The funds raised were used to
purchase French and English books, school supplies and maps, and
to pay part of a teacher's salary. Chimpanzee and gorilla
conservation has become a regular part of the curriculum, and
the students have embraced their role as guardians of their
country's Great Apes. The children of Cameroon are the country's
future: they will someday make critical decisions regarding
conservation of their country's heritage. Today, we are working
hard to teach the children to love and respect nature so that
future generations of Cameroonians can live together in harmony
with chimpanzees and gorillas.

RADIO MEDIA CAMPAIGN
IDA-Africa launched another round of radio ads during the
holiday season to raise awareness of the plight of chimpanzees
and gorillas endangered by the illegal bushmeat trade and
habitat destruction from logging. These radio ads, which reach
out to the people of Cameroon in their own language, are an
integral part of IDA-Africa's mission to educate, enlighten and
empower the Cameroonian people. IDA-Africa would like to extend
a special thank you to the Arcus Foundation for their generous
contribution to this particular campaign.

Thanks to the generous support of IDA-Africa members around the
world, IDA-Africa was able to continue fighting for the Great
Apes of Cameroon and provide sanctuary to orphans who are
victims of the very destruction we are working so hard to end.
IDA-Africa is making a critical difference in the lives of these
beautiful chimpanzees every day. We look forward to another year
of great accomplishments on behalf of the chimpanzees and
gorillas of Cameroon. For more information, please visit
http://www.ida-africa.org .

2. IDA Sponsors New Jersey Black Bear Contraception Project
Sterilization Program Could Make Hunting to Control Bear
Population Obsolete

In last month's e-newsletter, we reported on the State of New
Jersey's bloody black bear hunt, which was officially sanctioned
under the specious guise of wildlife management and public
safety. Claiming the need to reduce the number of bears in the
state to ensure they don't starve and to protect the public from
attacks, thousands of heavily armed hunters entered the forest
in 2003 and 2005, murdering a grand total of 625 bears during
the two state-sponsored hunts. Most of the bears killed were
females and cubs, some less than a year old, and many uncounted
cubs died alone in the forest after being orphaned.

Many IDA supporters have contacted us to ask what we are doing
to stop this unjustifiable slaughter. IDA is now proud to
announce that we are the first (and currently only) organization
to support the Black Bear Neutersol Project, a pilot program
that, if successful, could effectively manage wild bear
populations humanely. IDA has provided a grant to fund the
efforts of a team of four New Jersey veterinarians, led by Dr.
Gordon Stull, who hope to prove that the number of bears in the
State of New Jersey can be stabilized without doing them harm.

Dr. Stull's team will begin by identifying the dominant males in
specific geographic areas. After anaesthetizing and collaring
the bears to track their movements, the researchers will inject
them with Neutersol, a chemical that will suppress their sperm
production, rendering the bears temporarily sterile. However,
Neutersol will not affect their testosterone levels, so
theoretically, the bears should still perform their normal
mating functions. Only the dominant male bears of a particular
territory take part in mating, so a relatively small number of
animals will need to be treated for the experiment. The
researchers believe that after mating, the female bears will
ovulate and experience a pseudo-pregnancy. As long as they
believe they are carrying a cub, the females will reject other
suitors. The researchers will determine whether the females are
pregnant by examining their feces for the presence of hormones.

If the program proves successful, it could be implemented across
the State of New Jersey and around the country wherever a need
to manage bear populations is identified. Of course, the reasons
that black bears are hunted in New Jersey have a lot more to do
with politics than actual wildlife conservation. For example,
salaries for the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (F&W)
are paid for by the sale of hunting licenses, so they give
hunters permission to kill over a million animals a year in the
state just to cover their own salaries and benefits. F&W's Black
Bear Management Plan (BBMP) even recommends "Reestablish(ing) a
hunting season for black bear to provide recreational
opportunity for the sporting public..." even though the vast
majority of New Jersey's citizens are not hunters. If the pilot
proves contraception to be a viable option for managing bear
populations, we will offer it as a humane alternative to next
year's hunt while challenging the official hypocrisy of putting
profits before the interests of wildlife.

To learn more about local efforts to save New Jersey's black
bears, visit http://www.savenjbears.com .

3. Louisiana District Attorney Prosecutes Dog Fighting Kingpin
Animal Advocates' Letters and Phone Calls Trigger Legal Action
Over 10 Months After Raid

In last week's e-newsletter, we reported that 70-year-old Floyd
Boudreaux - the most infamous breeder of pit bulls for the
illegal dog fighting underground - had been arrested on felony
charges along with his son, Guy. However, at that time, the
Lafayette, Louisiana District Attorney's office had not yet
prosecuted the case (even though authorities raided the
Boudreaux compound in March 2005), and it looked like the two
could walk without facing justice. We are pleased to report that
after receiving many phone calls and letters from animal
advocates, the D.A.'s office has announced they are filing 48
counts of dog fighting and two counts of illegal possession of
steroids against Floyd Boudreaux. Thank you to all of our
members who contacted the D.A.'s office in response to our
alert. IDA is proud to be a part of the valiant effort to put
Boudreaux behind bars, and joins the LASPCA and other animal
protection groups in celebrating this victory, which shows what
we can achieve when we work together towards a common goal.

The Boudreaux bust represents one of the biggest battles yet in
the war against dog fighting not only in Louisiana, but also
around the world. In the last year, State Police have taken a
more active role than ever in cracking down on the bloody
brawls, raiding compounds where fighting dogs are bred and even
storming dog fighting events. Following the arrest of Floyd
Boudreaux, the authorities definitely had dog-fighting criminals
on the run, as evidenced by the many pit bulls who were found
abandoned in Louisiana by dog fighters who were afraid of being
jailed themselves. However, because Boudreaux is such a major
figure in the dog-fighting underworld, the reverberations of his
arrest were felt around the globe. Dog fighting supporters from
as far away as England and the Czech Republic contributed funds
to the "Help Floyd Foundation" as news of the police raid on the
Boudreaux compound spread through the Internet.

Despite the charges filed by the D.A.'s office, the work of
animal advocates in this case is far from over. The Boudreaux's
attorneys claim that Floyd and Guy never bred or trained pit
bulls for fighting, despite the incriminating evidence recovered
by police during the raid, including anabolic steroids,
treadmills (commonly used to increase strength and endurance for
fighting), computer records and dog fighting videos. In
addition, the D.A.'s office has not taken any action to prevent
Floyd or Guy Boudreaux from "owning" or breeding animals in the
future, and their business is still fully operational. It is
likely that a conviction will be necessary to put them out of
commission, so the continued efforts of animal advocates will be
needed to ensure that Boudreaux goes to trial. We will keep you
updated on this case as it develops.

What You Can Do:

Dunkel Kennels is actively campaigning to save Floyd Boudreaux
from serving prison time. While Dunkel's website includes a
disclaimer stating that "...all references to competition and
winning in this communication (web pages), as well as from us in
general are regarding conformation, weight pulling, and legal
hunting activities," the discussions on their site are clearly
about illegal dog fighting activities. For example, if you visit
http://www.dunkelkennels.com/index2.php and click "Keeps" on the menu
on the left, you will find numerous references to dog fighting
such as:
- "I try to condition my dog to his style of fighting."
- "Encourage your dog in an excited manner only if he has a deep
(not a skin hold) hold on his opponent."
- "If your dog can not win, don't leave him down to take a
killing; pick him up, because your wager is already lost.
There's no sense in loosing [sic] a valuable dog as well."
- "If your opponent releases his dog before the referee's
signal, wait until the last second and lift your dog straight up
in the air. The opponent's dog will slam into the corner
possibly breaking his teeth."

In the "Letters to Floyd" section of Dunkel's Help Floyd
Foundation website (http://www.helpfloyd.org), which intends to raise
funds for Boudreaux's legal defense, an anonymous Boudreaux
admirer says of his recently deceased dog, "...he was a rough as
hell hard biting chest dog, and he knew how to get the job done.
He was fight crazy. You couldnt [sic] breed him, he would grab a
bitch in heat without thinking twice (and he did this every
chance he got). He would kill anything that wasn't human."

Please click http://ga0.org/campaign/GoDaddy to urge Dunkel's
web-hosting company, GoDaddy.com, to shut down both of Dunkel's
websites to ensure the integrity of GoDaddy.com's reputation as
an organization that does not condone illegal animal abuse. You
can also e-mail the company directly at abuse [at] godaddy.com.

Loving Tributes

Do you have a friend or family member whose concern and care for
animals you've always wanted to express appreciation for? Are
you struggling to find the perfect gift for someone special on
that special occasion? Perhaps you want to congratulate a new
graduate, or send a unique birthday tribute or wedding present?
Or maybe you or someone you know has recently lost a beloved
person or animal in their life and you'd like to express your
condolences.

IDA's Loving Tributes is a great way to honor your special
friends or memorialize a dearly departed companion. IDA
gratefully accepts and appreciates gifts "in honor" or "in
memory" of a special person or companion animal.

We will notify anyone whom you designate of your thoughtful gift
that helps animals. If you choose, we would be happy to print
your Loving Tribute of $100 or more in a special section of
IDA's Magazine.

You can make a Loving Tribute gift with MasterCard or Visa via
our secure online server by clicking
http://www.idausa.org/support.html . If you prefer, you may send a check
to IDA, Attn: Loving Tributes, 131 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA
94941, or call (415) 388-9641 to make a donation with your
credit card.

Death With Dignity
by Jan Allegretti

Just last week, on January 17th, the United States Supreme Court
affirmed the right of the people of Oregon to allow physicians
to assist terminally ill patients in ending their lives. While
technically the issue before the court was whether the federal
government had the right to interfere, the direct impact of the
ruling is that humans are accorded the option to end their own
lives when quality of life is radically diminished, and when
there is a prognosis of death within six months.

Until now, the unequivocal convention in our society and the law
of the land was that human patients live out their lives without
intervention, regardless of the quality of life. The practice is
rooted in our belief in the sanctity of life, and a conviction
that we have neither the right nor the qualifications to
determine when it is time to die. Further, many see the last
days of life as a time of preparation for a transition to a
spiritual level. Particularly when the physical body is not
tormented by pain and suffering, the last weeks or days can be a
deeply transformative time for the one who is passing on, and
for loved ones as well.

The scenario is very different where our animals are concerned,
and a different assumption applies regarding our right to
intervene in their dying process. For many of us, euthanasia has
generally been regarded not only as an option when a beloved
animal nears the end of life, but an expected element of
responsible, compassionate care. As difficult as it is, while we
watch our companion's health decline we begin to prepare
ourselves for the day when we will have to make "the decision."

But it may be, in some cases at least, we're missing a piece of
the puzzle when we assume that euthanasia is the right thing to
do. Perhaps there are times when allowing an animal to die with
dignity, and acting with all possible compassion, means allowing
her to move through the dying process without intervention. If
respect for human life requires that we allow the dying process
to proceed naturally, isn't it possible that the same might hold
true for the lives of other species as well?

If we believe that an animal lives purely in the physical realm,
and his life is governed by only the most basic instincts and
desires for food, comfort, and procreation, then it follows that
there's not much point in allowing him to live in a body that no
longer serves those needs. But if there is more to an animal's
life, if he has emotions or consciousness that have even a
remote resemblance to ours, it's worth considering that he might
experience a transition up to and through the dying process that
we can honor and support, and allow to proceed in its own time,
in its own way.

It's impossible for us to know the exact nature of our animals'
interior lives. For too long there was uncertainty about whether
they experienced emotions. Thank goodness, the evidence that
they do is at last overwhelming for all but the most determined
Cartesians. The question of animal consciousness still stirs
debate in some circles, and the notion of spirituality is too
often not even on the table. But as my own emotional
relationships with animals grow ever deeper, more complex, more
intimate and more expansive, I simply can't discern any limits I
can confidently apply to the nature of their unspoken awareness.
Most of us who live in their presence are simply not convinced
they begin and end between nose and tail, in the few short
weeks, months or years they inhabit the earth. Who are we to say
they're not lost in contemplation when they sit silent,
motionless, eyes half-closed, staring at nothing at all? They
certainly have an awareness of birth and life and death. How
much do we really know about the process they go through
emotionally and spiritually as they approach death?

Both of my parents passed away within three months of each
other, a little more than a year ago. My mother had always been
a strong, independent woman, quick to laugh and almost as quick
to bristle defensively against a perceived difference of
opinion. The last months were difficult emotionally and
physically as her cancer progressed. She was very private about
her spiritual life in those days as always, but met often with a
counselor from her church. On June 21st, I wrote in my journal
that she'd said "Goodnight, sweetheart." She hadn't called me
sweetheart in many years, and it emerged from a sweetness I'd
never seen in her before. That sweetness stayed with her until
she passed away on July 3rd. My father's life and our
relationship had been complicated, as he struggled to find his
place in the world and in his family. Alzheimer's disease
changed all of that, and in time he lived mostly in a decade
long past. But in July, when I visited him after my mother's
funeral, for a few moments the veil of dementia lifted and his
eyes filled with the pure and simple love that had been there
all along, hidden beneath the complications. I visited him often
after that, and though he couldn't always speak, I found the
father I'd always longed for. He finally let go of this life in
October.

Both Mom and Dad seemed to come to a place of peace, and connect
to their essence as never before, as they approached death.
Hospice workers tell me they see similar transformations all the
time. I can't help but wonder if we sometimes deprive our
animals of the opportunity to go through a similar process when,
with the most loving intentions, we offer euthanasia.

No doubt, there are times when it seems crystal clear that
hastening death is the right thing to do. Brandy, my equine best
friend, had been in the center of my life for more than twenty
years. She was thirty-something, aching with arthritis and
unable to keep weight on, when yet another bout of lymphangitis
swelled her left hind leg to the size of an elephant's, and sent
her fever up over 103 degrees. As I walked past her on my way to
get fresh straw for her bed, a voice in my head said, "Let me
go." It could not have been more clear - she was ready.

But I believe some animals make a different choice. I used to
call Mazie "my power kitty," because of the remarkable strength
of her energy and her will. We lived in a quiet rural area, but
still she was hit by a car when she was one and a half years
old. It took her three days to drag herself home. Her pelvis was
shattered, maggots covered the wounds where her fractured femur
had pierced the skin, and the claws on her front feet were worn
down to nothing. But she cried a mighty cry when she reached the
front door. I was awed by her will to live. Sixteen years later
when it was time for her to die, I couldn't justify prolonging
her life by artificial means - but neither did I feel it served
her well to take it upon myself to end it. She had always been
the master of her own life, and took charge of her death as
well. One night as she lay by my side, she left - on her own
terms. I made a space for her in the yard, lined with fresh hay
and a sprig of sage. When I invited Savannah to come and say
goodbye, she came to my side, then sat down facing away from
Mazie's grave. She made it very clear she did not wish to look
at the lifeless body.

If there's any chance at all that animals have spiritual lives -
and there's certainly no proof they do not - it's incumbent upon
us to consider their dying process in that light. When pain
cannot be controlled, or quality of life is simply gone, it's
fortunate for them and for us that euthanasia is an option. In
no way do I suggest we stand by and watch them suffer. However,
I do suggest we give equal consideration to the possibility of
allowing the life of the physical body to recede naturally. If
they, like humans, experience emotional and spiritual
transformation as they approach death, that may - in some cases
- be our last and greatest opportunity to honor them

When we are deeply committed to compassionate care for the
animals in our lives, the choices are often difficult. There's
so much we don't know - where it hurts, why it hurts, what will
bring them comfort. We must make use of the knowledge that
veterinary medicine can provide, and its resources for good
hospice care. But with that knowledge in hand, we can only turn
to our hearts, the intuition born of love and understanding, and
the guidance they give us when we are able to receive it. Our
animals' happiness is in our hands from the moment we meet, and
their lives are in our hands when our time together draws to an
end. If we are open to all possibilities, they can teach us yet
again what life and death are really all about.

Jan Allegretti is a teacher, consultant and writer in the field
of holistic health care for animals. She is the author of Listen
to the Silence: Lessons From Trees and Other Masters, and
co-author with Katy Sommers of The Complete Holistic Dog Book:
Home Health Care for Our Canine Companions. You can contact Jan
with questions about caring for companion animals at
AskJan [at] idausa.org. Also visit her web site at
http://ListenToTheSilence.com .

The Cat Therapist

Twice a month, Carole Wilbourn, the Cat Therapist, answers
questions and offers advice on how guardians can enrich their
relationships with their beloved feline companions. Click here
(http://www.idausa.org/cat_therapist/index.html) to read the latest
edition of Cats on the Couch.

Men: the deadline to enter Carole's "Men and their Cats" contest
has been extended through January, so there's still time to
enter. Also visit Carole's Cat Store at
http://thecattherapist.com/cat_store.htm to purchase a copy of
her classic book, "Cat Talk: What Your Cat is Trying to Tell
You."

Contact Carole at TheCatTherapist [at] idausa.org with your questions
about cats.