#and i have to think of the possibility of cremation and euthanasia

[angelicstalker]

I've been crying all morning. She has a blank stare. She reacts to nothing. She fell in her own pee trying to go to the bathroom earlier. I'm happy she ate some treats.

[codapet]

In-Home Pet Euthanasia in Des Moines, IA

Making the decision to euthanize a pet is never easy. But when the time comes, it's important to do it in a way that is both peaceful and compassionate for your pet. That's why CodaPet offers in-home pet euthanasia services in Des Moines, IA.

Our experienced veterinarians will come to your home to perform the euthanasia, so your pet can be surrounded by their loved ones in their own familiar environment. We understand how difficult this time is for you, and we want to make it as easy as possible.

Our in-home pet euthanasia services include:

A consultation with one of our veterinarians to discuss your pet's condition and make sure that euthanasia is the right decision for them.

A gentle and painless injection that will put your pet to sleep peacefully.

Aftercare services, such as cremation or burial.

We understand that your pet is a member of your family, and we want to provide them with the best possible care, both in life and in death. If you are considering euthanizing your pet, or if you need any other in-home veterinary services, please contact CodaPet today.

We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you through this difficult time.

Why Choose In-Home Pet Euthanasia?

There are many reasons why you might choose in-home pet euthanasia over traditional euthanasia at a veterinary clinic. Here are a few of the most common reasons:

Peace of mind: Your pet can be surrounded by their loved ones in their own familiar environment. This can help to make the transition less stressful for them.

Convenience: You don't have to worry about transporting your pet to and from the veterinary clinic.

Privacy: You can say goodbye to your pet in private, without other people around.

Cost: In-home pet euthanasia can often be less expensive than traditional euthanasia at a veterinary clinic.

If you are considering euthanizing your pet, I encourage you to talk to your veterinarian about in-home pet euthanasia. It may be the best option for your pet and your family.

How to Tell Your Vet You Want to Euthanize

Talking to your vet about euthanizing your pet can be a difficult conversation. But it's important to be honest with your vet about your pet's condition and your wishes. Here are a few tips on how to tell your vet you want to euthanize:

Be prepared: Before you talk to your vet, take some time to think about why you are considering euthanasia. What is your pet's quality of life like? Are they in pain? Are they suffering? Once you have a good understanding of your reasons for wanting to euthanize, you will be better able to talk to your vet about it.

Be honest: Don't be afraid to tell your vet how you are feeling. They are there to help you, and they will understand.

Ask questions: If you have any questions about euthanasia, be sure to ask your vet. They will be happy to answer them for you.

Trust your vet: Your vet is a professional who has experience with euthanasia. They will help you make the best decision for your pet.

Making the decision to euthanize a pet is never easy. But if you are considering it, I encourage you to talk to your vet. They can help you make the best decision for your pet and your family.

[wandaluvstacos]

to anyone who cares about horses... Horse Plus Humane Society on youtube is a GRIFT. Essentially they're killing horses that might not necessarily need to be killed because it costs more to feed and treat a sick horse than it does to kill and cremate it. Most of these horses aren't even in the slaughter pipeline, they're dealing directly with traders and picking up their rejects that were never even possible to ship anyway due to lameness, injury, weight, etc. So they're purchasing sick horses that traders need to get rid of, hiding the people responsible for the horse's condition, and then just killing it once they get it home.

Obviously horse rescues will have a higher euthanasia rate than an average horse barn, but almost half of the horses they bring in each month vanish with no updates. There cannot be THAT many cases requiring euthanasia.

Links from the Twitter thread:

Shedrow Confessions (which helped take down HiCaliber): https://shedrowconfessions.wordpress.com/

Facebook Community Exposing them: https://www.facebook.com/Horse-Plus-Humane-Society-Exposed-100331388444137/

Them putting down a healthy horse surrendered to them because of "breathing issues" it never had: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=637371121026006&id=100563128040144

A video of their "training": https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=233739872245893

They use "behavioral problems" as a reason to euthanize and I gotta say, it is very rare that a horse will need euthanized for behavioral problems if you've got a good trainer and knowledgeable staff. There are some instances where it may be necessary (I think Buck made the right call on this one), but usually, no. If you're euthanizing a bunch of horses for behavioral issues, that's a YOU problem, not the horse's problem.

[twodogsoneguy]

I went to bed around one am today. Athena woke me up again around two, vomiting. I called the vet hospital to ask them about it, and about when she’d had her last antiemetic. They said that her last shot had been Saturday (lol) after admission and that it was very normal for her to have vomited bc of how long it had been. She should’ve had another pill at three yesterday afternoon so twelve hours later it makes sense that she’d puke. Puking is a part of renal failure; I don’t know exactly why but it’s one of the things taken into consideration about when euthanasia will be the correct course of action. If the dog is vomiting frequently and cannot keep down fluids and food, quality of life has decreased enough that euthanasia is probably the correct choice, however if controlled with medications you can kinda wait.

I’m trying to wait until this weekend for her euthanasia, though I don’t know if I’ll be that lucky. My mother is having surgery tomorrow, and will be in the hospital until Friday. Athena has been such a blessing to her as well, and I would love for her to be able to share in her euthanasia, however both of us have agreed that Athena’s comfort and quality of life comes first and if she declines majorly before my mom can come home we will go ahead with the euth at the best possible time.

I guess I wanna take the time on this post and talk about at home euthanasia. There’s not always a service for this, though sometimes vets will travel to your home regardless of whether they participate in a service or not. At home euthanasia is more difficult during the pandemic, though my local service is still providing this option.

There are several benefits to at home euths. First, your pet will be in a place that they are already comfortable with, and you can usually pick a spot where they will be the most at peace while they pass. It saves you the trouble and heartache of traveling to a clinic and the logistics of getting your pet transported because there are no ambulances for animals. Performing it in your own home is often easier on you as well. Another benefit not often talked about is that if you have other pets in your home, they can either witness the passing or be allowed after your pet has passed to investigate the body and understand what happened. There is also often more dignity and compassion in home euthanasia, your pet will pass without having to go through an intake at a clinic or veterinary hospital and you can have them when it’s best for you, rather than on a clinics schedule or as a last minute emergency. The service that will be taking care of Athena also provides resources for grief and mourning your pet, as well as suggestions of local resources should you need them. In addition to all of these things, like with any euthanasia there are many options for your pets aftercare, from home burial to cremation and urns and mementos that memorializes your pet.

I have personal experience with at home euthanasia already; it was how we helped my parents dog over the rainbow bridge last year. She was very old, around seventeen if the estimate of the shelter was correct, and her mobility had decreased to the point where she had very low quality of life. She had a very peaceful passing in our living room, surrounded by her family and after having lots of yummy treats. Afterwards, we were able to allow both Athena and Harley time to see her and understand what had happened to the matriarch of their little pack. It was so beneficial to both of them, while we did see grief symptoms in them, they seemed to fair better in terms of anxiety and confusion and moved on in a more relaxed way. We opted for her to be cremated alone so that only her ashes would be in the container we received. We also had them do clay imprints of her paws, which are a sweet keepsake to remember her by. We opted to not get a fancy urn for her, given that at some point I hope to bury her on my own land. There’s is something to be said for being able to watch your loved one die in the comfort of your home; I’ve also done euthanasia at a hospital and while they did everything they could to make the dog comfortable and the process as easy as possible, it hurt a lot more because it was a strange environment and you could tell she was stressed because of that in addition to her condition.

With Athena I plan to do similar things as we did with my parents dog, I will have her cremated alone and get paw prints done. I also am going to try and get an ink imprint of her paw so that I can have a memorial tattoo done when time and conditions permit. Her euth will be slightly different due to covid, we will have to practice social distancing and rather than being in our living room we will have the procedure done in the backyard per health standards in our state. I think it’s fitting though, to have her pass in her favorite portion of the “house”. She has spent countless hours in the backyard, watching the birds and the squirrels and bunnies, soaking up the sun in the summer and rolling in the snow in the winter time. I’m going to try and plan for an evening time, because the light is perfect around that time this time of the year and I want it to be as nice as possible. It’s hard to talk about these things, but I think it’s important that we start to destigmatize the conversations we have around death, dying, and euthanasia in our pets because so many people don’t know about their options and how they can help their companion pass with dignity and grace.

I will try to post more updates as we go along, though I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep up or if I’ll be in a place where I can put my emotions into words. I’ve come to terms with the fact that Athena is dying and that there really is nothing we can do except keep her comfortable until it’s her time. Renal dysplasia is a killing disease because the kidneys are malformed from birth, though you can’t always tell. These dogs never have good values in their lives, though they often tolerate the condition for a year or two before becoming very symptomatic. The fact that Athena is 2yr 7mo is a miracle, most renal dysplasia dogs have onset of symptoms much earlier and pass at around 18mo. I am so grateful for the time we have had together, and that I will be able to keep her comfortable up until the time becomes right to help her pass on. I going to miss her so much though.

[azaliegang]

God I fucking hate having to make calls and important decisions when I'm grieving. I just want to take my time to grieve but I still have responsibilities.

And with covid fucking 19 I can't go inside the fucking hospital.

Anyways I've made my decision. I found a place that can euthanize my dog at home. I didn't think I'd do an at-home euthanasia but it's the weekend so I didn't have many options, and it's actually more affordable than I thought. Then again maybe everything seems more affordable after spending thousands of dollars. I mean what's another $265 right? Plus $105 for private cremation which I wasn't going to do but you know what I'm going to do that too because.. God I'm going to miss her. I love her so much. I've had her since I was 10. I'm 21. She is so good. So good. I love her so much. She and I know each other so well. I don't know how I can say goodbye.

And last time I saw her she wouldn't eat. Wouldn't give me kisses. I always pushed her away when she licked me but I never thought she wouldn't want to.

With the at-home euthanasia, at least I can hold her. She will be surrounded by her family. She is smart. She knows we love her, even if she doesn't understand what love is.

I didn't think I would be willing to spend this much on her. I've never loved anyone more than I love her, but I thought I would back out. She's old and I thought that since she was going to die soon in any case, that a few thousand dollars wouldn't be worth it. I felt guilty about that, of course. But it turns out I was absolutely willing to spend thousands of dollars. Part of it was guilt, knowing that I would never forgive myself if I didn't. But today I realized that it was absolutely worth it to give her the best care possible. Honestly I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't taken her to the internist. Who knows how much longer we would have waited to put her down, if we hadn't known she had cancer? Would she have crashed on her own, in terrible pain? Would I have even had a chance to say goodbye? She deserves a peaceful death as much as she deserved a happy life. That money is worth it, even if it takes me a long time to build my savings again. She deserves the world.

[midcarder]

reflections

These are some of the things that I’m trying to come to terms with (aside not being employed) post resignation.

I’m going to miss so many of my favorite patients, and I’m going to miss some clients. I don’t get to say goodbye to Ms. B and her two yappy toy poodles that board with us every damn holiday imaginable (she works at a college). Realistically, Ms. B is super old and I’ll probably never see her again. 

I have a few co-workers that I’m gonna feel really empty without seeing them on a regular basis. 

To me, the most important duty in my job involved the end of life pet care. I was the one that’d take the body, make the paw prints/do fur clippings if requested, and prep the body for cremation. To an outsider, it’s super morbid and difficult, but for me it’s like-

This is the last thing of your pet that’s tangible that you’ll have. And I’ve thought about it like...how do I want to be treated after Ricky or Becca have passed?

There’s still times that it was really difficult. Not often, because I kind of just would put it as FAR out of my mind as possible while I’d be processing a body, but like...sometimes we’d get a Ricky-esque dog after like 5 other euthanasias in a row, and I’d have to tag out on doing that one.

And not to brag because that’d be a WEIRD brag, but I was really good at it? I had a method that the doctors’ on staff really liked. I had to fix several of my co-workers fuckups because they misspelled a name or the paw prints came out kind of messy. And I’m ADHD as fuck, I make more mistakes than p much anyone, but I made goddamn sure to cross every t and dot every I because it was so important.

I don’t think my co-workers ever took it as seriously. They’d laugh and say, “Oh, I’m not that good at it!” and it’s like...ok, cool, GET BETTER AT IT? And that worries me.

I loved my job so much, but my job didn’t love me back. But maybe I made some people happy? I hope so. Dunno. It’s just. Frustrating. 

[drferox]

Vet Story Time: Colleagues & Fear

Sometimes a veterinarian has a client who is suicidal.

They don’t really ever tell you this directly, but it happens. While our main duty of care is to our animal patients, we can’t discount the need to be there for our clients in a professional setting. You have to look out for them when you can, and in light of those atrocious, guilt-tripping posts going viral about being in the room for euthanasia, I wanted to share this story with you.

No cute pictures or gifs on this one. I’m serious.

As a veterinarian you don’t remember every euthanasia you perform. You hold the recent ones in your heart and mind for a while, but you certainly lose count as the years go by. These moments were intense for the pet owners, but you have to let them wash over you or you end up going mad with the grief and pain. But some you always remember.

My very second euthanasia was a little terrier called Roxie. And Roxie had congestive heart failure.

You can manage congestive heart failure for a while, and we’d been doing so, bu tit’s only managed, not cured. There’s no new heart transplant waiting for that dog, only a controlled death when the time comes.

Roxie’s owner was never... well, there was always something odd about him in those months of her treatment. Something intense that I couldn’t quite explain. A little odd for sure, but I was working in a new town far from home, where everybody seemed a little odd, in their own way. I was a newly graduated veterinarian and pretty green, everything was on the brink of overwhelming all the time and I probably missed warning signs.

But the day finally came when Roxie needed to be put to sleep. She was suffering, and not breathing all that well. And honestly, even with the best medicine available at the time, we’d run out of ways to make her comfortable. She couldn’t have a new heart, all we could offer was a smooth, peaceful death.

We always gave people the option: they could chose to stay for the euthanasia if they wanted to, for as much as they wanted to, or we could take the pet out the back.

He’d already made up his mind.

He chose not to stay with her, to let us take her out the back.

But he sobbed and wailed and assured the little dog, earnestly, that he would “See her soon. I’ll see you soon.”

And it wasn’t until I had already carried her, gasping, out to the back when those words dawned on me.

He wasn’t burying her at home. She wasn’t to be cremated. He hadn’t wanted to see her peaceful body after she passed.

So when exactly was he going to see her again, ‘soon’?

I didn’t know what to do. I was a new vet, still green and wet behind the ears, and vet school hadn’t prepared me very well for what to do if you think your client is going to kill themselves.

So I told the practice manager, because that’s what a new vet does when they’re stuck. I was scared. This little dog needed death, but she was quite possibly the only thing keeping this human alive, and he was not prepared for her death. Or rather, he was potentially prepared in a very wrong way.

I am eternally grateful that the practice manager went and talked to him. Talked about the dog’s life, talked him into cremation instead so he had to wait at least two weeks for her ashes to be returned, talked about making a space for them at home. Talked him into having someone else pick him up from the clinic.

Quite probably talked him into living.

I often regret that I can’t do more for people’s pain. But on my mind right now is the thought, what if he saw those guilt tripping posts. Those awful, mean-spirited, judgemental, cruel digs at someone’s personal grief.

Would he be able to stand it now, all those years removed?

What if someone else in a similar mindset reads them, with the grief still fresh?

I hope with all my heart that those posts don’t cause someone to come to harm, but I am afraid.

[spaacejunk]

Help me help my friend!!

Hey, I need a hand. My friend recently lost her cat, and needs money to cover the costs of everything. Here’s a link to her GoFundMe and the description. “My kitty, Lilli, passed away yesterday. She had a life-long illness and her body began to slowly shut down, liver swelling along with her kidneys failing. Her red blood cell count was nearly nothing. My father picked me up from high school and I laid with her on my bathroom floor watched her pawpads split and her clean, white fur go yellow. We ended up in the vets office, and I was terrified, I held her the whole time, she was wrapped in a blanket as they placed the shot in her arm and Lilli quickly slipped away in my hands. She was only 13 months old, and the doctors could've done nothing to save her. I decided I wanted her cremated, I'm broken not having her around and I can barely think straight, but my baby's ashes along with the blood work and euthanasia will cost 339$ after my parents paid off around 80$ for them to even take her in, and with bills and family expenses, we don't know if we'll be able to. My family usually lives paycheck to paycheck, and I just want my baby to come home. I loved her more than anything and I just want to bring her back. I really appreciate if you donate, it really helps more than you could ever imagine.Thank you.“ She, my other online friends and I would all greatly appreciate it if you’d help her out any way you can! Thank you so much! Please reblog so we can reach as many people as possible!

[batmanmonstarr]

Honestly, I feel like writing but I don’t know what to write about.

This month has been fucking trash and I really felt myself about to explode a good 90% of the time. Even with my medication, the pain of losing Arlinn has been overtaking at times. I’ll just get angry. Like, I know not everyone will/does care that she’s gone. That was made clear today. But to have the respect for me, as her mother, and allow to me feel sad and be upset, would be fucking nice.

I know a great deal of people don’t see animals as children. These are my kids, my babies. They’re everything to me. Though my mother didn’t see Arlinn as a granddaughter, and clearly doesn’t give a fuck that she’s gone, she could AT LEAST realize that when I’m asking to be left alone it doesn’t mean to MOCK ME LIKE A CHILD. How do you even communicate with someone like that?

“You can’t change anything overnight. You just need to find a better job so you can move out”

Right, I know. I just want to be left alone for now.

*in a childish mocking tone* “i just want to be left alone”

See? I’m sitting here communicating with you and then you mock me like a fucking child. That’s some shit.

I don’t understand people like that. Were we not just communicating? What’s with the sudden change? I really wish I could switch brains with my parents for just an hour so I can know why they think the way they do. Then maybe they can see why I act the way I do - but they’d experience it without my medication. So that’s wonderful lmfao.

Also had a serious talk with dad today about Kona. She has an appointment on Monday so we can finally find out what is in her abdomen. If it’s removable or not. If it’s cancer or not. Fuck I hope we can just do surgery and in one swoop she’ll be okay, but it’s never the case. Well, not never but it’s very fucking rare. Especially in this family. 

We talked about the worst case scenario. If eventually she can’t keep any food down and ends up slowly starving. He said he’d rather have her die at home, naturally. There’s nothing natural about not being able to feed yourself. (was that fucked up? it sounds fucked up. I didn’t mean for it to sound fucked up) I mean, from an illness. Like not being able to keep the food down. (jfc i hope that made sense) it’s 12:48am right now and I’m nowhere near tired. Curtis is sick and asleep and my three pups are in the bed as well.

Anyway, off topic, sorry.

I did mention at home euthanasia. Which I think we would definitely prefer. I also want to take her to Lasting Paws - which is where our exotic vet sent Arlinn to be cremated. That took wonderful care of her, as well as sent us the most beautiful prints. (it had her face in it as well - we cried so much in the parking lot after picking her up) (I still need to send them a thank you card) I know they would take care of Kona. Maybe I should start looking into it, just in case? What if the surgery goes bad? I know dad would want them to do CPR if need be. Try to save her. 

It sucks to see him sad, but he can’t be selfish with her if we end up being cheated from her like we were with Cindy.

I’m sorry for rambling. I just don’t know what else to do and the typing is helping me from being anxious. 

I did - kinda - apply for a job. Riley works at this pet place and I sent my resume in to the head honcho to see if there’s a possibility for me to get hired. They pay by experience, which I have PLENTY, and obviously want to learn more, so I’m hoping for $16/hr. *fingers crossed*

I guess I’ll write that thank you note now. Maybe print out a photo of Arlinn in the morning and mail it out. I need to go to the post office anyway and mail out a parcel for my Etsy.

Oh yeah, I started an Etsy. So if you read this far here’s my link: etsy.com/shop/aestheticallysoso

i love you

[doctorjwatson]

MORMONISM

1) What/Who are the Mormons?

Established in 1830, Mormonism defines the religious beliefs and practices of the Mormons, the members of The Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints. The doctrines of Mormonism are believed to be restored by the Prophet, Joseph Smith, who received a revelation from God through a visitation from an angel, as well, inscribed golden plates. The inscription on these plates would later be known as the “Book of Mormons”, which tells the story of the ancient people of America and too, serves as the basis of the Mormon faith and belief.

With over 13.5 million members worldwide, Mormons can be found at every level of society from occupations of education to politics. Followers involve themselves in the act of ministry, believing that empowerment comes from doing good unto others as Jesus had done in His lifetime. Mormons are known for their evangelistic ministry both within and outside the United States.

2) Who is Joseph Smith and why is he important to the Mormons?

Born on December 23, 1805, Joseph Smith was the founder of The Church of the Latter-day Saints or more commonly known as the Mormon Church. As a teenager, it is believed that whilst praying in the woods, he’d been granted a revelation from God in the form of an angel’s visitation and inscribed golden plates. These inscriptions would later be the basis of the Mormon faith and their version of the Bible. With this, Smith published the “Book of Mormons” and began to attract members into his newly founded faith. He then began to perform missionaries across the United States in an effort to gather followers. It was not a smooth transition, however. Joseph Smith and his followers were often persecuted for their faith. In 1944, the founder, himself, and his brother were shot and killed by an armed mob in Nauvoo, Illinois.

3) Who is Brigham Young and why is he important to the Mormons?

With the death of Joseph Smith, the safety of the Mormons would not be guaranteed if they were to remain in the heartland of the United States. Brigham Young, the successor to Joseph Smith, led the Mormons from New York to Utah, settling in the Great Salt Lake Basin. There, the Church of the Latter-day Saints began to establish the city, later known as Salt Lake City or as Young called the “Kingdom of Heaven on Earth”. Under Young’s leadership, the city flourished, having established nearly 325 other towns surrounding it by the time of his death.

4) What are Some of the Rules of the Mormon Community?

Book of Mormon Rewriting the Book of Mormon into modern English is discouraged within the Church. 

As stated on their official website:

The First Presidency has said: “When a sacred text is translated into another language or rewritten into more familiar language, there are substantial risks that this process may introduce doctrinal errors or obscure evidence of its ancient origin. To guard against these risks, the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve give close personal supervision to the translation of scriptures from English into other languages and have not authorized efforts to express the doctrinal content of the Book of Mormon in familiar or modern English. (These concerns do not pertain to publications by the Church for children.)” (Ensign, Apr. 1993, 74).

Gambling and Lotteries All forms of gambling, including government-sponsored lotteries, are opposed by the Church.

Cremation Cremation is not normally encouraged within the Church. However, it is the family of the deceased that make the decision on whether or not the body should be cremated. They must take into account any laws governing burial or cremation as some countries are required by law to cremate their deceased. It is recommended, if possible, that the body of a deceased member be dressed in temple clothing when cremated.

Euthanasia Participating in the act of euthanasia is deemed a violation of God’s commandments within the Mormon Church. 

Tobacco/Alcohol Advised to abstain from addictive substances, such as tobacco or alcohol, since being physically healthy improves one’s mental and spiritual capacities. It is the Mormon belief that they hold the responsibility of maintaining the physical bodies that God has granted them. 

5) What is a plural marriage? Are they legal in Canada?

Plural (polygamous) marriage refers to the practice or custom of having more than one spouse at a given time. In the 19th century, the act of polygamy was a practice within the Church of the Latter-day Saints in which men possessed several wives. Brigham Young, the leader of the Church from 1847 to 1877, was a polygamist, marrying a total of 55 women. In 1890, however, Wilford Woodruff, the fourth president of the Mormon Church, issued a manifesto that officially terminated this practice. Yet, it was not until 1904 that Joseph F. Smith, the fifth president of the Mormon Church, issued a second manifesto, which ceased polygamy and excommunicated those who disobeyed.

Under Section 293 of the Criminal Code of Canada, the act of polygamy is deemed an offense that is punishable by law. Violators can face a maximum prison sentence of five years. This, too, extends to those who assists in the celebration, union or participation of polygamy.

6) John Ferrier agreed to follow the Mormon rules when he was saved and he did, but in the chapter “John Ferrier talks with the Prophet”, now disagrees with their wishes for Lucy. What are your thoughts about his reversal? Is he justified? Is a sacred promise exactly that?

Both John and Lucy Ferrier were on the verge of dying in the desert. They were with little to no water and food. When the Mormons found them, it was almost a decision of life or death. Perhaps, John would’ve survived on his own, but for the sake of Lucy, who was only a child at the time, he chose to accept the Mormons’ offering of redemption. It’s true that he swore to live accordingly to their rules, but what other choice did he have? Even if a man chooses to be part of a religion, he doesn’t have to wholeheartedly believe in its every word. 

John is not a man who chose to follow the Mormons by his beliefs. Sacred belief or not, the idea of placing one’s child in a polygamist marriage...  Of course, he’d be furious. Who’d want for their child to be part of a loveless harem? As a parent, he would want nothing more than Lucy to be happy. 

Considering the context of the situation, it is justifiable for John to react in such a way to the Mormons’ wishes. In accordance to the novel’s portrayal of Mormons, the fact that they are so willing to persecute and kill anyone who stands in the way of their beliefs is absolutely horrifying. The only reasoning that John needs to break his sacred vows is to ensure his own safety and that of Lucy’s. He did not agree to compromise his life for the sake of the Mormons, so he has every right to do what he believes will protect himself and his daughter. 

7) Lucy is nicknamed the “Flower of Utah”; however that nickname leads to trouble for her. Explain. What is Lucy’s dilemma? How do you feel about her situation?

Lucy has grown to be an incredibly beautiful woman, who is known throughout as the “Flower of Utah”. In the eyes of most men, she is no more than an object that one covets. Not to mention, her value exceeds that of her beauty as her father is one of the wealthiest men in the city. The young woman is desired by the members of the Mormon community for the sheer wealth and reputation that they will gain if they were to wed her. Lucy, however, falls in love with a man named Jefferson Hope, who is not of Mormon faith, but a Catholic. This news arises, reaching the ears of the elders, who demand Lucy be wedded to one of their sons. She is then given the decision between Joseph Stangerson and Enoch Drebber, who both possess multiple wives. Her father, John, refuses his daughter be part of a harem and thus, angers the Mormon community. Their home becomes plagued with threats and soon enough, they flee with the help of Hope. Unfortunately, they are both caught, resulting in John’s death. Lucy is then forcefully brought back to wed Drebber. A month later, she dies, presumably of a broken heart. 

Lucy died tragically. As a young woman, she lived with such a little taste of the world around her. It is absolutely saddening to read of those who die so young, especially since they have so much left to live for. She didn’t deserve to be wedded to a man she did not love nor witness her father’s death. If I were her, I don’t think I would’ve survived all of those traumatic experiences. I would’ve broken down, but she remained strong until the end, even if that meant death. 

8) There are no women in this story, other than Lucy. How does her fate suggest how women are probably treated in the community (in the story)? Doyle alludes to possible kidnappings of other women outside of the community in order to make them Mormon wives. How does Doyle portray the Mormon community? (Use support from the book)

Doyle’s depiction of Mormonism portrays the religion in an adverse light. Both Lucy and John Ferrier are coerced to comply with the sacred laws of the faith or face persecution. Rather than giving Lucy the freedom to marry as she chooses, the elders of the Mormon community force her to choose from two of their sons, who are of polygamist marriages. She is treated as property to be dealt with. Any word of opposition against such practices results in disappearances or in other words, death by the hands of the Avenging Angels. They are a group of Mormon men who terrorize those who threaten their way of life within the city. In fact, it is by these men that John’s life is taken. 

Doyle’s depiction of the Mormons suggests that the faith itself was not been seen in a friendly manner during the Victorian period. With time, however, the Mormons have changed and now, are clearly misrepresented. To the modern-day Church of the Latter-day Saints, this novel is not one that truly reflects their values and insight.

Sources:

Heyward, Jonathan. "Canada's polygamy legislation." CBCnews. CBC/Radio-Canada, 23 Nov. 2011. Web. May 2017.<http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canada-s-polygamy-legislation-1.856477>.

Garraty, John A., and Eric Foner. "Brigham Young." History. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. May 2017. <http://www.history.com/topics/brigham-young>.

"What is the Mormon Church and Religion?" Mormon. N.p., n.d. Web. May 2017. <https://www.mormon.org/>.

[drferox]

20 Questions with Dr Ferox #17

Time for another post of 20 questions and comments I’ve been asked recently. I’m not sure how well the tagging system is working at the moment, so if you’re waiting for a question to be answered I’d recommend checking manually.

@Its-janeway-or-the-highway said: For other useful bits of strine see also: Spitting the biscuit: throwing a tantrum out of sheer frustration, Bitzer: a dog that is of mixed, unknown origin (bits of this, bits of that), blood worth bottling: someone who is such an excellent individual their blood is worth bottling, such as Dr Ferox. I think your Aussie followers could have a field day with this subject.

We probably could, but the lingo also varies from state to state. For example, I didn't know for the longest time that 'Freckle' is also slang for 'anus', which gives a whole new meaning to “wouldn't give a fat rat's freckle” (means I couldn't care less)

Anonymous said: Guinea pigs or Hamsters? Which one is your fav?

I have been asked about hamsters several times, so I say it again. Never seen one. They're not available as pets in Australia.

Anonymous said: Can you tell us more about the issue of cropping and docking dogs ears and tails? Or if you know some good sites to read up on this info, where I might be able to read more about it? Thank you!

We're talked about it before on this blog. There's a handy dandy search function you can use as there's lots of posts that are worth a read, including those tagged with docking and cropping.

Anonymous said: As a Brit, and largely thanks to our celebrity chefs who like to advocate for ethical and sustainable meat-eating practices, I know that our welfare standards for veal calves are better than Europe at large, and also that, thanks to that preconceived notion of milk fed calves locked in a tiny crate, Brits are too horrified to eat veal at all. I wish people knew properly sourced British veal was much more ethical than exporting or simply shooting a male calf at birth :/ I'd support it if I could!

In Australia, a 'veal calf' is just a steer that hasn't been weaned yet, usually 200+kg, so is still being fed by its mother. Then they have one very bad day where they're 'weaned' and slaughtered on the same day, which isn't all that much worse than regular beef, in context.

Anonymous said: My cat passed away from kidney failure earlier this year. He'd been diagnosed very young but last year the vet decided to give him an ultrasound because he was curious and found out that his kidneys were terribly misshapen. He believed they had been like that since birth, and that his kidney function had always been compromised. I decided to cremate his remains, but now I am thinking that over again. Is it weird to tell a vet that they can keep organs as a teaching specimen if they want to?

Yes it's weird, but it's also very welcome if that vet has any connections with a university or teaches students. After death arrangements are a highly personal choice, and I wouldn't judge anyone for the choices they make. Keeping organs as specimens is a difficult conversation for a clinician to have.

Anonymous said: QT: came for mythical animals, stayed for the stories. Question: my dog will sometimes get his ear (not very long, and soft/semi-floppy) flipped/stuck inside out when he rolls around on the sofa cushions (which he loves to do). I flip them back by petting along the ear (it's super easy and there's no resistance, physical or behavioral) but I'm curious: does it hurt? It looks like it should. He doesn't seem to mind, but I don't know if that's just because he knows he can't fix it without help.

It probably causes no pain at all. And I dare say he could flip them back himself by shaking his head, most dogs can.

Anonymous said: What's your opinion on heated cat beds? Worth it if it's an older arthritic cat? Useless? Just curious. Also, Question Tax: Came here for the stories, stayed because I'm an aspiring avian vet.

Cats certainly enjoy them in the colder weather. I don't really like leaving the electrical ones with cords on while they're unsupervised, in case they get chewed or urinated on, and personally prefer the microwavable ones for that purpose. Care should be taken with cats that have mobility concerns to ensure they don't overheat.

Anonymous said: What is your opinion on cats eating bugs? If there is a fly in the house or a silverfish, basically anything non-threatening I can identify, I let my cats get it. However I am increasingly worried about spiders since I can't really identify them beyond daddy long legs and black widows (the only deadly type in my area) and even not so dangerous ones can have pretty painful bites. For the tax: what dinosaur would you have most liked to be a vet for?

Good luck trying to stop them from eating the bugs. I haven't figured out how to stop my boys from eating any bugs they catch.

@bighugmug said: Those capsule backpacks for cats are cute, but they look quite confined! Is there a vet opinion on how comfortable these are for kitty?

I don't know, and it probably depends on the cat. Cat's are not that bothered by being confined in transport, most cats like a box, and they tend to like a good vantage point to survey their surrounds, but it's not a carrier I see a lot of and I imagine would take some getting used to.

Anonymous said: If an animal is overstimulated and/or overly energetic, are they self-aware enough to try and calm themselves down?

Probably not.

Anonymous said: QT: I was actually sent one of your posts on euthanasia by a friend just after I'd had to put my 16yr old cat down & it really helped, so I followed! Anyway: my (~3yr old, 50lb, unknown mix breed) dog is friendly but cries literally continuously at the vet (& ONLY there), to the point that they told us they had to give him a treat to distract him long enough for them to hear his heart beat. How big a problem is something like this? Any stress reduction techniques you'd recommend?

Sounds like positive reinforcement with treats is probably the way to go. Short, consistent training sessions of 'happy vet visits' that allow your dog to associate the vet clinic with wonderful treats should make him feel more positive about the experience.

Anonymous said: feel free not to get to this for a while! i know your inbox must be bursting. i'm just wondering how preventable you think a urinary blockage in male cats is? mine doesn't have one but for some reason i am SUPER PARANOID about him getting one and i wanna do everything in my power to prevent it

I'm super paranoid about it too. Spending Friday night trying to catheterize a tiny, slippery cat penis is not my idea of fun, especially if it ends up being my own cat. Keeping them active and at a healthy weight is the single most important thing you can do to reduce their risk.

Anonymous said: I really hate to bother you, but I was wondering if tumors in a dog's anal glands is very serious. I recently took my dog to the vet for an unrelated reason and she told me that when she went to express his glands, she wasn't able to express anything and the glands felt very hard. She believes that it's either due to scaring or a tumor. If it is a tumor, the surgery is too expensive for me to ever afford. Will my dog be in pain without surgery? Could this be life threatening?

Unfortunately anal gland tumors usually are life threatening, and usually diagnosed too late to prevent spreading to the sublumbar lymph nodes. Malignant anal gland tumors will eventually make the dog sick, and as they grow they may prevent the dog from being able to defecate. You should discuss this with your vet.

Anonymous said: What are your thoughts on when to spay a bitch? We had a German Shepherd who passed away last year of hemangiosarcoma. We always wonder if this cancer was accelerated by the fact she was taking oestrogen- due to being incontinent- which we wondered about being caused by her spay. She was spayed at 4/5months old. I just wondered if you could sum up the possible implications of a spay pre and post the first oestrus, particularly for German Shepherds, but really all dogs. Thank you!

She probably did not develop the haemangiosarcoma (HSarc) from taking oestrogen. She probably developed it because she is a German Shepherd and it's one of the things that they very commonly do. Desexing does increase the risk of certain rarer cancers like HSarc and lymphoma, but not desexing drastically increases the risk of mammary cancer and pyometra. If hip dysplasia is not an issue, I'd consider desexing between 9 and 18 months for a female large breed dog. I am still very pro desexing.

Delayed desexing has also been discussed here.

@animaljunkie said: I'm an American vet student who is seriously considering practicing in either Australia or Ireland. Would you have any advice on career choices or practicing outside your home country?

I've never practiced outside Australia, but I would check what the requirements are for your employment with the national or state vet registration board for your country of choice, and it's probably wise to chat to other expats before committing to that idea.

Anonymous said: Hi Dr. Ferox! My roommate keeps buying her cats different types of food, and I was wondering is this could be harmful to them? The brand stays consistent, but she tends to buy whichever type (senior, weight management, indoor, etc.) is on sale. The cats are ~1 year and 5 years. And she doesn't do the 'wean off one food and onto another' thing. (Question tax: I hc that you -all vets really- look at animals with a mix of "you're so adorable" and "so many things could go wrong with you") Thanks!

If it hasn't caused an issue yet, it probably wont. Most issues from sudden food changes are vomiting or diarrhoea, and I'm sure you'd notice if it was an issue. Some animals have tougher stomachs than others, some are exquisitely sensitive and can only stomach one flavour of one food without gastroenteritis.

And yes, there are so, so many things that can go wrong with every singe animal. When you're trained as a hammer it's hard not to see everything as a nail.

@2goldensnitches said: Doc, we've recently acquired a kitten. Sometimes he knows how to use the litterbox, sometimes he wants to eat the sand. Why?

The whole world is a toybox to a kitten. It's most likely just learning and playing, but I can't guarantee it doesn't have some sort of pica and you should check with your vet.

Anonymous said: What kind of information should a vet be expected to know before I consider seeking help elsewhere? I recently had an avian vet do a house call for some birds, and he seemed knowledgeable. He was detailed and came up with a treatment plan that suggested he knew what he was talking about. Then he said, "Nothing's using the lower part of the aviary. You could put some reptiles in here." Is that a huge red flag? It seemed very wrong to me, but maybe that sort of thing isn't in a vet's wheelhouse?

It might not be part of that vet's knowledge base, though it seems a really odd thing to say. I can't imagine what they were thinking. If you're satisfied with the treatment of your birds then don't feel like you have to change vets, unless you want to of course.

@knikna said:Non-vet question for a bit of fun! If you had the Doctor's Tardis and could travel anywhere in space and time in this universe, where would you go first?

I would chose to go see a Thylacine. Past or future, I don't care. That way I'm unlikely to stuff up any kind of time-space continuum, and my own microflora wont cause any sort of massacre.

Anonymous said: Hi I just wanted to let you know I've been laughing at the fact your cat's name is trash bag for about an hour. I hope you and trash bag have a wonderful day

See, I knew it was a funny name.

Trash Bag has recently learned about the whole new world under the blankets, and how wonderfully warm they are for snuggles.