Sunday, December 10, 2006

Goodbye, Ruby



Oh, this just breaks my heart.


Ruby, the 19-year-old Siberian Tiger at our local zoo, was euthanized today. Apparently, she'd been in poor health for some time and was showing signs of suffering. She had arthritis, hearing loss, and kidney problems, among other ailments associated with aging.

They say her appetite had waned, she'd lost weight, and was beginning to lose mobility.

I'd seen her a number of times over the years, though it's probably been five years since I last saw her. She was a beautiful animal, truly magnificent. There's nothing more graceful than a big cat, and Ruby was full of grace and beauty. She will be sorely missed.

6 comments:

Rex Zeitgeist said...

That is a shame...I hope they don't do that to me any time soon!

rkfinnell said...

It is a great loss.
I imagine that PETA will be rearing their ugly heads over the euthanasia.
Rex, if only we were as lucky as animals not to have to suffer in our final days. It is getting better for the terminally ill though but at a very slow pace. When my mother was in hospice she was allowed as much morphine as she wanted. It hasn't always been that way.

Serena said...

PETA can flip off. They started out with good intentions, but they've become so out there that I've lost respect for them.

It saddens me that Ruby is gone, but I know that if I were so ill I couldn't eat, get up, etc., I'd want to be helped out of this world with a little dignity. Don't worry, Rex -- you're not that far gone.:)

Rex Zeitgeist said...

I understand Roxan, my father spent a month 'living' in a state that wasn't much of a life...it made me reconsider the concept of letting one go....

He actually had the choice to be removed from life support and he said no......It was an awful time....

Unknown said...

Sounds like Ruby's enjoyment of life ended long ago. There was more pain than joy and, while we can never know if Ruby wanted peace over pain, it was done with the best of intents and with love I am sure.

Old age shows no mercy.

Serena said...

It was done out of love and respect for her. Her quality of life was apparently so diminished that, if cats are cognizant, I'm sure she saw her release as a gesture of love.