A PET’S PURPOSE

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a fifteen-year-old cat named Baskin. The cat's owners, and their little boy, were all very attached to Baskin, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Baskin and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Baskin and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old cat in their home.

As we made arrangements, the parents told me they thought it would be good for their six-year-old son to observe the procedure. They felt as though he might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Baskin's family surrounded him. The little boy seemed so calm, petting the old cat for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Baskin slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Baskin's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Baskin's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. The six-year-old, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.'

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' And the Six-year-old continued, 'Well, cats already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'