I've talked about death being a personal thing, and meanwhile others carry on about the "Culture of Death."

As it happens, I'm dealing with a culture of death right now, as I agonize over what to do about Puff. In addition to being unable to walk, he's now incontinent, and the canine Alzheimers has worsened -- to the point where his nighttime barking (for no reason) is making it increasingly impossible to sleep.

I can't expect much sympathy from anyone, because the solution is simple: put the poor dog to sleep. I wrote about this not long ago, and at the time I said that Puff would let me know "when it's time."

The time draws nearer and nearer. Yet Puff is still Puff, he still has some quality of life -- and above all he is still "there."

Yet this canine culture of death lurks constantly in the background, always reminding me of my "responsibility" to "end the animal's suffering."

I realize how absurd it must sound, referring to this as a culture of death. It's between me and my vet and my dog. Besides, as the cultural scolds would remind me, animals are not human, and should not be treated that way. Humans must be allowed, forced even, to experience endless suffering as part of the experience we call "human" -- even though we freely recognize that to allow an animal to experience the full, slow agony of a protracted death would be "cruel."

We know this, of course, because we just know it. So we are told.

Double standards abound. I've never fully understood the "need" to cut off the balls of "man's best friend" any more than I'd understand the need to do the same to a human best friend. People [usually this type] tell me that my dog isn't "fixed" (as if I didn't know he had balls) -- with a sanctimonious look which suggests I'm insufficiently respectful of authority or something. Hey my dog isn't broken in that sense. I don't let him wander, and he won't tie up with any of the nonexistent bitches in heat that aren't running around, so spare me the pompous moral lectures.

The last thing I need is a moral lecture on the culture of death. I'm in the middle of it, and it hurts to be reminded.

AFTERTHOUGHT: I could go on about the need moral assholes seem to have to hassle people when they're at their wits' end dealing with life and death issues, (or when they're depressed, lost or under pressure -- the way cultists proselytize college students during exams) but I don't wish to appear provocative. For what it's worth, I can remember a time when this country largely consisted of people who minded their own business. The Republican Party used to be full of them. Even the Democrats used to not mess with personal issues. (Nice memories, at least....)

UPDATE: Link fixed above.

UPDATE (04/12/05): Glenn Reynolds is on record as having no desire to be "fixed."