A sharing about euthanasia

I have been seeking help from supportive friends, both from the experiential as well as the spiritual domain.


I just received this email from Leo de Silva, and he has given me permission to publish his email here, for the benefit of all readers.


Thank you, Leo.


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Kah Yein,



You do not know me. My brother-in-law, Vijaya, has forwarded your email to me. This is because I was in the same predicament some years back.


I think Thailand and Bali have got it right. My dog Pebbles was 16 yrs old and suffered all the health issues that came with old age. When we took her to the animal hospital the prognosis was bad. She had come to the end of the road and there was nothing else that the vets could do. After much deliberation, my daughter and I painfully decided to put Pebbles down. I have regretted that decision to this day.

The debate in my mind was “do I put Pebs out of her pain or be a good Buddhist and not put her down but do the best I could for her til the end”. The Buddhist in me lost out when I saw the pain and sadness in her eyes and I gave the vets the OK to put Pebs down.

To this day I regret that choice. If I had that choice again I would bring Pebs home and show her all the love she deserves and make her as comfortable as I could until she passes on in a loving surrounding.


That is my two cents worth, Kah Yein, hope it helps.


Leo