Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/570022
Forthoseofuswhobe- lieve our pets are part of our family, deciding when to eutha- nize a pet is the hard- est decision a guard- ian will ever have make. It is, without a doubt, the ultimate an- guish we must endure for our adored companions. How, then, do we help our furry friends with- out letting our own long- ings and attachments pre- vent us from doing what is best? We do it by fully evaluating the pets' qual- ity of life and then deter- mining whether our de- cision is based on our own wants and needs, or theirs. Unless a pet is seriously injured and the decision must be an immediate one, take the time to ask yourself these following questions: Are most of my pet's days good? Does my friend lose balance easily and fall frequently? Does he recognize me, and the rest of our family? Does he still have energy and enjoy his favorite activi- ties? Can he still hear and see? Is he in chronic severe pain that I cannot control with medication? Has he stopped eating and do I have to force feed? Has my pet's personality changed? Is he constantly vomiting or having diarrhea? Hon- est answers to these ques- tions will help determine how good the pet's quality of life is. Remember, no one knows your pet better than you do. You have learned to communicate with him or her. Listen to what your pet is say- ing through actions, vo- calization and body lan- guage, and then trust in what your heart is telling you. In addition, do not hesitate to seek guidance from your veterinarian. Then, lastly, ask yourself one more question. Would I want to be here today, to experience this day the way my cherished com- panion is? While trying to de- cide whether to eutha- nize or not, you may face a wide gamut of emotions. In addition to your in- tense love for the animal, you may fear the unimag- inable loss of him or her. Prior experiences with ill- ness and death, whether it was a pet, family member or another may have a pro- found impact on your deci- sion. Religious beliefs will also influence the outcome of when or if you will eu- thanize. In addition, it is not unusual, when deal- ing with the terminally ill, to deny what is occurring. It helps us avoid the pain and agony of difficult de- cisions. To stay or not stay with a pet during its fi- nal moments is a very per- sonal one. Everyone deals with death in different ways. For some pet guard- ians, the emotion of being present may be too over- whelming. For others, it is a great comfort to be with their companion animal when he or she is cross- ing the "Rainbow Bridge." Neither choice is right or wrong. What is best for the guardian is the cor- rect decision and most vet- erinarians will honor the choice. Grief is also a normal response and very per- sonal. Sometimes our fam- ily and friends do not re- alize how deep it may res- onate within us. There are programs and orga- nizations that provide as- sistance and resources to help with the loss of a pet. One is The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (http://www.aplb.org/in- dex.php). Saying goodbye takes courage, but it is the ul- timate expression of our love and devotion we can show to our treasured companion. I believe it is best exemplified by the poem "The Last Battle," author unknown, easily found on the Internet. RonnieCaseyisvice president of PETS — Providing Essentials for Tehama Shelter. She can be reached at rmcredbluff@ gmail.com. For more information about PETS, visit petstehama.org. PETS Knowingwhentosaygoodbye John Hemple, an aged man who has spent several years in Red Bluff and vi- cinity, suffered an epileptic stroke yesterday morning while seated in front of the Cone & Kimball building on Main street. The stroke is believed to have been caused by the drinking of horse liniment which the old man says he took for his rheumatism. His condition was very serious for a time and he was removed to the county hospital for treatment. He was finally brought back to consciousness and was re- ported as recovering rap- idly from the stroke. — Sept. 12, 1915 100 YEARS AGO... Agedmandrinks horse liniment, has epileptic fit Come join good friends for lunch in the Garden- side Café, in the Red Bluff Community and Senior Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. A freshly prepared, nutri- tionally balanced meal is served Monday through Friday at noon. Lunch also is served at the Corn- ing Senior Center, 1014 4th Ave., at 11:30 a.m. Call 527- 2414 a day ahead to re- serve a space for lunch. A minimum suggested do- nation of $3.50 for those 60 and older is requested, although a donation is not a requirement to receive a meal. There is a charge of $8 for guests younger than 60. Come enjoy lunch and various activities dur- ing the week, all are wel- come. The menu for the com- ing week: Sept. 14-18 Monday Beef Stroganoff, Peas & Carrots, Mixed Berries, Biscuit Tuesday ETHNIC Pork Chow Mein, Steamed Brown Rice, Stir Fry Vegetables, Apple Juice Wednesday Stuffed Bell Pepper, Spinach Salad w/Manda- rins, Watermelon, Whole Wheat Roll Thursday Chicken Tortilla Soup, Black Bean Salad, Manda- rin Oranges, Whole Wheat Tortilla Friday Turkey Sandwich, Car- rot Raisin Salad, Straw- berries SENIOR MENU Gleaners will distribute food as follows in Septem- ber: Corning, 8 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Sept. 16, Corn- ing Senior Center, 1015 Fourth Ave. Red Bluff, 8 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Sept. 16, Food Bank, 20699 Wal- nut St. Rancho Tehama, noon to 2 p.m., Monday, Sept. 14, Recreation Center. Los Molinos, 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, Sept. 15, Masonic Hall, 25020 Te- hama Vina Road. All other sites in the county will be at the usual times and places. Applications for food bank cards may be on the day of giveaway. Bring large paper or plastic bags and egg cartons if possible. New applicants please bring Rent Re- ceipt, PG&E bill or some- thing with a physical ad- dress. All income must be re- ported. Income is gross monthly per household not net. Only one card will be issued per household. COMMUNITY Gleaners food distribution schedule COURTESYPHOTO AntelopeSERRFreachesforthestarsinagalaxyfar,faraway,withchalkartfromtheStarWars6-weeklesson plan. Students start with finding their galactic address, and end the lesson by showing students how small the solar system is within our galaxy. SERRF REACHING FOR THE STARS Ronnie Casey PLEASERECYCLETHISNEWSPAPER. 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Baked Fresh Daily Happy"DONUT"Hour $4.99 8pm to 10pm SeniorDiscount Round Up Saloon Round Up Saloon 610WashingtonSt. (530) 527-9901 Joinusfor Live Music Wednesday and Saturday Nights Peking Chinese Restaurant DineIn,CarryOut&Lounge 860MainStreet 530-527-0523 10%Off yourticketwiththisad. Limit 1 coupon per ticket/table. No other discounts apply. Alcohol, taxes or gratuity are not included. Offer expires 10/31/15 736-1389 632 Main Street, Red Bluff RagzToRiches New-Used-Consignment Antiques-Collectibles Upcycled-Shabby Chic Artists, Crafters, Designers NEW ARRIVALS ~ 100% SILK SHAWLS, DRESS ~ DESERT SAGE & MIXED ~ WHITE CALIFORNIA SAGE ~ BOOK - THE SACRED SAGE ~ BATH & BODY, ESSENTIAL OIL ~ ROCKS AND MINERALS 744 Main St., Red Bluff COMMUNITY » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, September 12, 2015 » MORE ATFACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A3