I grew up with a four-legged friend and she benefited in her hour of need at nearly fourteen years of age from a vet who I thought was callous in his appraisal at the time. I cried buckets as a teenager for not standing firmer against what the rest of the family decided then (I am the youngest) but I later with another four-legged soulmate came to understand how difficult it is to get that kindest decision right.