Watching our beloved animals grow older is never easy. This book, by a bioethicist who recounts the moving story of her dog Ody's final year, also presents an in-depth exploration of the practical, medical, and moral issues that pet owners confront with the decline of their companion animals.
Combining heart-wrenching personal stories, interviews, and scientific research to consider a wide range of questions about animal aging, end-of-life care, and death, Jessica Pierce tackles such vexing questions as whether animals are aware of death, whether they're feeling pain, and if and when euthanasia is appropriate. Given what we know and can learn, how should we best honor the lives of our pets, both while they live and after they have left us? The product of a lifetime of loving pets, studying philosophy, and collaborating with scientists at the forefront of the study of animal behavior and cognition, The Last Walk asks-and answers-the toughest questions pet owners face.
