The Last Walk

June 11, 2012
Bioethicist Pierce (coauthor of Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals) is well-positioned, both professionally and personally, to examine the way the lives of American pets end. While conceding the limits to our understanding of what animals actually experience as the end nears, Pierce makes a compelling case that the negative phrase, “to die like an animal,” needs to be turned around, to mean, instead, “a peaceful, respectful, and meaningful death.” The prism through which Pierce makes her observations is her own family’s experience with the end stages of the life of their beloved dog, Ody. Pierce alternates between entries from her journal and broader discussions of issues familiar to those caring for elderly or ill humans, such as hospice and euthanasia; shockingly, the latter is the main cause of death for cats and dogs in the U.S. The author is unflinchingly self-critical, continuing, even after having Ody put to sleep, to struggle with whether fighting harder for him toward the end would have been more for her than for him. This sensitive exploration of a topic that even many pet lovers have likely not thought enough about is likely to generate discussions about what kind of death is owed to beloved animal companions.

August 1, 2012

Pierce (coauthor, with Mark Bekoff, Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals) has made an important contribution to the small body of literature dealing with aging and death in companion animals. The aging of our society has become a popular topic in recent years, with numerous books and articles on eldercare, geriatric medicine, and palliative care. Until now, little attention has been given to these same issues in the companion animal population. Pierce, a bioethicist, draws on her personal experience with a family pet and her professional experience working with animal behavior scientists and philosophers to provide a thorough discussion of what is known about animal aging and the best way to deal with ill and elderly companion animals. The book is in part a journal in which Pierce records the declining health of her beloved dog, Ody, and her reactions to his increasing helplessness, and in part a discussion of current and emerging options for the care of aging pets. Thoroughly researched and well documented, it also offers an extensive bibliography. VERDICT While this will appeal to a fairly narrow audience, it should be required reading for every pet owner. Readers will identify with Pierce's feelings of ambivalence, and see something of their own pets as they read about Ody's antics and challenges. Recommended.--Deborah Emerson, Central NY Lib. Resources Council, Syracuse

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