In 1996, I read a newspaper story describing the desperate situation at the city pound, Animal Care and Control. So many dogs and cats were coming into the shelter, and so few people were adopting them that hundreds of pets were killed every month.
I already had one dog, but the story motivated me to adopt a second: a 65-pound, 2-year-old, black pit bull named Sam, who quickly became one of the great loves of my life. I met him just in time, too. He was scheduled for euthanasia the next morning.
If you follow this column, you already know a bit about Sam: his long, valiant fight against cancer; how stem-cell regeneration therapy gave new life to his arthritic joints; my extravagant splurge on a life-size bronze bust sculpted in his handsome image; how he inspired me to return to AC&C to adopt several more dogs until my place became a bona fide animal house.
Sam died on March 25 at age 16. He went peacefully by lethal injection at the Humane Society of New York. I made this tough decision because he clearly was experiencing unendurable pain. He’d lived a long and, I hope, fulfilling life, but by the end he couldn’t walk more than a few steps. Saddest of all, his head hung low and his tail was permanently at half-mast, wedged between his nearly useless hind legs.
This was not the first time I had to put an old dog out of misery, but it’s harder every time. It felt strange to make such an important decision for such a strong-willed dog. But this was the last act of love I could show him. (That is, aside from feeding him a last supper consisting of his preferred special-occasion snack: two J.G. Melon cheeseburgers served medium rare, hold the onion and pickle.) So I gathered my courage and bit the bullet.
As I try to process this loss, memories come flooding back — like the time I couldn’t fall asleep, so I invited Sam up to the bed and told him I was cold. He gently nibbled at my ear to warm me up! Later, I learned that ears have acupressure points that do, indeed, help warm us up — how did Sam know?
Other pets are not as lucky to have found a home and a devoted owner. Brilliant, beautiful dogs just like Sam are still being put to sleep every day because there aren’t enough homes for them all. It’s a tragic waste — but compassionate New Yorkers can help by adopting their next pet from AC&C. If you haven’t got a four-footed friend, or there’s room in your home for another, visit the AC&C. Sam thanks you.
js@pet-reporter.com