Just recently, we had to say goodbye to our beloved senior dog, Murphy. He'd been a cherished part of our family for 3 years, but his health had declined to a point where we had to make the difficult decision to let him go. As we grieve, we can't help but reflect on the privileges we had in providing the best possible care for him for the 3 years he was part of our family.

Murphy's journey was one that involved frequent vet visits, numerous lab tests, and an ultrasound to diagnose his kidney disease. Thanks to our fortunate circumstances, we could afford the specialized diet and medication he needed. We also maintained a close relationship with our veterinarian, who was there for us every step of the way, guiding ongoing follow-up treatments and offering emotional support.

My husband is retired and my work schedule allowed us to be there for Murphy when he needed us most. Our comfortable home that we own  was equipped with a doggie- door into our secure, private backyard . We had the financial resources to maintain a network of trustworthy dog sitters for Murphy and our other dogs whenever we had to leave town.

We worked hard for what we have, and we provided Murphy with a comfortable and loving life until the very end. Absolutely no fault in this, but I’m taking this moment to acknowledge that not everyone is as fortunate as we were. 

Many families face significant challenges and difficult decisions due to circumstances beyond their control: 

-Some people don’t have enough money for food, let alone covering the high costs of veterinary care, medications, special diets and dog-sitters for their pets, especially when pets develop conditions as they age.

-Access to a computer to research affordable resources and tenement rights or is out of reach for many of these families. 

-Demanding work schedules can make it challenging to take time off for standing in long lines for hours at the limited number of free clinics, especially during emergencies. 

-Not everyone has a pet-friendly living situation, which can limit their ability to provide a safe and comfortable environment for their pets. 

-Without a support system of friends or family who can assist with pet care, pet owners may find themselves in difficult situations. 

-Making tough decisions about a pet's health and well-being can be emotionally draining, especially when resources are limited. 

These circumstances combined frequently lead families to be faced with a decision to drop their pets off at the animal shelter because they cannot provide for them. I’ve observed it first hand as families hover together in grief out in the parking lot afterward. It wasn’t easy for them. I simply couldn’t imagine being faced with such a difficult decision, and feel fortunate that I’ll never have to. 

Our experience with Murphy serves as a reminder that privilege comes with a responsibility to have compassion for those who are less fortunate and to advocate for equitable access to pet care resources.

The Human and Pet initiative, HAPI was created as an act of compassion in action, to reduce the number of furry family members entering our local shelters by increasing confidence and resources in pet guardianship.