None of the euthanasia options I had available were humane. I was forced over and over to choose between allowing them to linger in suffering, taking them someplace terrifying to subject them to an agonizing death, or attempt to do the best I can by myself. I have killed people I love.

One thing became very clear to me, though it took a long time to see through all the self-delusion. It is not okay for a person to place another creature in a situation where the first person has to make every life and death decision on the other’s behalf. It is morally wrong. But more than that, it is not good for us. What’s more, we only do it so the creature can be a source of companionship and meet other emotional needs.

Today I’m a hard core vegan who advocates against pet ownership at all.