When I volunteered to walk dogs for a shelter I learned they offered training and support to deal with compassion fatigue. I appreciated that. My spouse and I

When I volunteered to walk dogs for a shelter I learned they offered training and support to deal with compassion fatigue. I appreciated that. My spouse and I had our dog euthanized last year because we did the calculations/justifications and the costs and risks of surgery (likely cancer and organ failure, per the ultrasound) didn't justify keeping our family member alive for perhaps a few more months. The experience changed my perspective about pet ownership/stewardship in general: unless I really need an animal companion or a working animal (e.g. herding), I will never own another pet. I find it a luxury I can do without. I've had three dogs die in my lap now, and that's enough. Visiting his grave in the back pasture on walks with my young daughter has opened up regular conversations about death, though, which I see as an upside. She was there wfor the funeral and touched his cold ear before we buried him. She asks a lot of questions and often wants the story of our dead dog's later life and eventual death, and after some consideration and kind words to the memory of our dog (I add no religious spin, just that his "spark of life" is gone and his body is being digested by other living beings underground, a fate for myself which I am absolutely fine with), because it feels good to say these kind words even though I am not under the illusion he's listening, we carry on walking.