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Integral Ethics and Animals

Posted September 28th, 2008 by Brian Eddy in Integral Contemplations

 Here's a dilemma worthy of some integral contemplation.  It's been on my mind for more than a week now.  My dog just had a lump removed from her leg last week.  The biopsy revealed it is a form of cancer called hemangiopericytoma.  It's not a malignant form of cancer, but the problem with it is it tends to come back larger and more complicated each time. This is all hypothetical at this stage - 'cause we're not even sure if it will come back.  But it raises an ethical dilemma that has me worried and wondering about a few things.  

Consulting with friends who also have pets, we get different views and perspectives.  At the heart of the issue is partly the cost of treatment versus the benefits of treatment (if at all), and the pain your pet is going through.  I've heard of one couple who spent $7000 on chemo for their dog, only to see it die 6 months later.  Other friends say that if/when their dog gets cancer - for them it's "Well, she had a good life!".

My dog is 9 yrs. old.  A beautiful white german shepherd.  Not so beautiful these days - with her front leg shaved and an ugly scar from the operation.  But she doesn't even seem to know there's anything wrong.  Or, am I anthropomorphizing her feelings or sense of her condition?   That aside, as any dog lover knows, we've had a very intimate relationship for the past nine years, and I'd hate to see her go prematurely (usually shepherds live for 14-16 yrs.).  

I guess these are the 'conventional' ways of looking at our relationship.  From an integral plane - we know that she too is 'spirit manifest'.  She is spirit - has a conscience of some level - or does she have some sense of 'self'?   If/when (and this is hypothetical) it comes the time that I 'might' decide to put her down - I'm wondering what she might think when she looks at me for the last time?  Wondering what Spirit in her is doing looking at Spirit in me at such a crucial time?  

Its a different situation than with humans - because at least with humans - the patient has some say or desire in the choice of termination.  But she won't - it'll be MY decision.  But who am "I"?  Who am "I" in relation to "Her"?  Who's really making the decision?  Or, should I let the disease take its natural course, and let her live in pain and discomfort and cost me thousands to keep her going in pain?  

Truth is - I really don't know at this point.  

Keisha

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Animals and the platinum rule

Posted September 28th, 2008 by Helen Davis

I wrote a long reply to this post, and then accidentally lost the lot before posting. The essence of it was about using the platinum rule with animals - if you can't ask them what they'd like, as you say, I suppose you just have to use all your powers of observation, empathy and imagination, and intuit what would be preferred. Every animal is different, but you've spent a lot of time with her, and you know her. We know what would happen to her in the wild, but nature is not kind, and humans apsire to be so.

For what it's worth, if my own cat gets ill I will pay out whatever it takes to keep her out of pain and with a decent quality of life. When she can no longer be provided with both, I will look for a way to kill her that will be calm, painless and dignified. She is a nervous animal, bewildered by pain, and wary of strangers, but my personal and very loving shadow, so it will NOT be an injection on a vet's table administered by a stranger in my absence.

Not to be irrational - I would prefer to think transrational, I'm pretty sure your beautiful german shepherd will know the love and thought you'd have put into making any decision.

Thank you for raising this.

Love, Helen

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cancer can be cured

Posted September 28th, 2008 by janine rickard

 My mother's just been diagnosed with spreading colon cancer, so for the last 3 weeks I've been highly motivated to read up on cancer. Very truncated version of my findings so far:

In humans, chemo only works (ie shrinks tumor, unknown if it extends life) on about 7 of the 300 cancers typically treated with chemo (shocking, isn't it)

from the holoistc perspective, see cancer as a symptom of imbalance, cause by lack of exercise, inapproprite diet, stress, environmental toxins and weak immune system

address it with proper diet, which for your dog would be mostly raw meat, and veg for antioxidants

and for humans, nutraceuticals, meditation etc

 

email me if you want more health info

janinerickard@earthlink.net

 

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Taking responsibilty

Posted September 29th, 2008 by Helen Davis

Sorry Brian. I understand that this goes beyond the death of a beloved pet. I agree with Janine, particularly about responsibiity, finding ourselves (as humans) in the position of power that we have. That is why I first tried to apply the platinum rule - do unto others as they'd like to be done unto. And then the golden rule - be kind.

I used the word 'kill' on purpose, because that is what it is. It obviously doesn't have the same connotations for me as for you. I am not a vegetarian - I have tried to be, but my health suffered. I don't eat meat very often, and only meat from animals who I know have been kept humanely, for a decent life cycle, and have died, or been killed, quickly and as painlessly as possible. Most of them have had a beter death than nature would have administered.

Do the personalities of our pets, or any animals, survive death? Personally I think yes, to the same degree and for the same time as humans' personalities survive death. Hopefully in my case, not very long! I wouldn't want myself, or any of my pets come to that, to be so constrained. I'm hoping that, sooner or later, at one of my deaths or in life or in between (I believe in reincarnation) I will wake up to discover my true nature. As, I hope, will any animal.

Love,

Helen