A veterinarian had been called to examine a ten-year-old dog named Belker. The dog’s owners and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker and were hoping for a miracle. The vet examined the dog and found he was dying. He told the family he couldn’t do anything for him and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. 

As they made arrangements, the parents of six-year-old Shane thought it would be good for him to observe the procedure. They felt as though he might learn something from the experience. 

The next day, the veterinarian felt the familiar catch in his throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time. He wondered if Shane understood what was happening. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped away peacefully. The little boy seemed to accept his pet’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. Afterwards, they all sat together for a while wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. 

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, “I know why.” Startled, they all turned to him. They were stunned as they heard the most comforting of explanations. “People are born so they can learn how to live a good life ...like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The six-year-old continued, “Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”