Rita Jean are we now equating dogs with people? While I do not believe in cruelty and certainly love animals I do make that separation. If something happens to me, I have other members of my family that will take care of me or see to it I will be taken care of.
Not to make light of anything but people do commit suicide every day, so there are some that make that choice. We have a doctor in the US that has assisted people who are chronic pain or have a life ending disease assist others in taking their lives. It does not make it right or legal but people make the decision to do it.
I have yet to see a dog that is intent on committing suicide or that has actively sought assistance to do so.
Dogs are just not in the same situation. Take the humans out of the picture and take a look at what would normally happen in the wild in a pack. It may not be pretty and in many eyes it may not be fair, but it is reality. The other animals do not rally around to to take care of a sick or injured animal, and it most cases they will drive it off or kill it.
It is only humans who have tried to change the natural course of mother nature. Humans are the ones that have affected the balance in the eco system and food chain. Many times, Humans create more problems in nature than good. Do you really believe in the Basenji's were left to their own devices in the wild, that Fanconi dogs would survive? What would happen to the breed and Fanconi if it had just been left alone?
As a human I do have some choices. I can make the decision to either accept or refuse treatment. Dogs, do not have that same option. As a human, I can leave a living will with orders not to resuscitate me under certain conditions. Again Dogs do not have that option. With my consent, I can choose to donate a kidney to another human being to possibly extend or save their life. Dogs do not have that option.
I can understand people that would like to humanize dogs, but again the harsh reality is that Dogs are not human. It does not mean that we should not have empathy for them or treat them with proper care. As humans we do need to exercise good judgment on what constitutes proper care and what is best for the animal involved in the long run.
Jason