Going Above and Beyond

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

15 Sep 2007 02:18 PM

What have you done for your pets that pushes your boundaries? What have you done that you consider above and beyond the call of pet parenting? We all have our limits for things that are okay and not okay... what pushes your limits?

I ask because my friend J. (who is an amazing jewelry artist) recently found out that her dog is on limited time. Cana suddenly became very lethargic and stopped eating. The veterinarian ran some tests and found that the dog was extremely anemic thanks to advanced cancer. The prognosis isn't good -- Cana may be around for a few months or a few days. She's had a blood transfusion to help with the anemia, and the veterinarian suggested adding raw liver to her meals.

J. is a strict vegetarian. She doesn't even want "anything that had a face" in her house. But for Cana, she's broken the rule. As much as it grosses her out, J. dices up raw liver for every meal.

The things we do for love!

That's what it comes down to, really. Love. We do things for love that we wouldn't necessarily do for a stranger -- or even for ourselves! Because I love Moose and Lally, I've put up with piddle in my bed, poop on the floor, and vomit just about everywhere you can imagine. I've stepped in "land mines" and just this morning ended up with doggy doo on my hand because there was a hole in the bag.

I totally understand why J. is doing what she's doing for her dog. If I knew that I only had a few days left with Moose or Lally, I would do everything I could to make them feel loved and cherished and happy. Not that they aren't loved and cherished now! But I would do anything to make their last days comfortable and full of love. If that means touching raw liver or finding puddles of barf... so be it.

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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