AS BELKER`S FAMILY SURROUNDED HIM.
SHANE SEEMED SO CALM, PETTING THE OLD DOG FOR THE LAST TIME,
THAT I WONDERED IF HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS GOING ON.
WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, BELKER SLIPPED PEACEFULLY AWAY.
THE LITTLE BOY SEEMED TO ACCEPT BELKER`S TRANSITION
WITHOUT ANY DIFFICULTY OR CONFUSION.
WE SAT TOGETHER FOR A WHILE AFTER BELKER`S DEATH,
WONDERING ALOUD ABOUT THE SAD FACT
THAT ANIMAL LIVES ARE SHORTER THAN HUMAN LIVES.
SHANE, 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,"EVERYBODY IS BORN
SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN HOW TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE
LIKE LOVING EVERYBODY AND BEING NICE, RIGHT?"
THE FOUR YEAR OLD CONTINUED,
"WELL, ANIMALS ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO THAT,
SO THEY DON`T HAVE TO STAY AS LONG."
By Robin Downing, D.V.M.