What price love (for a dog)?

At a time when everybody seems to be scraping to save money, and nobody walks past a quarter lying on the ground, we bring you a (sort of) related story from the animal kingdom (thank you, Bobby).

A family in Naperville, Ill., is preparing to spend $25,000 to treat its sick golden retriever. It's a very sad story and anyone who has ever had a beloved pet can relate. This dog isn't just sick, though - it has stage four lymphoma (cancer), a diagnosis that would stun into submission any human who received it. Maybe being a dog has its advantages.

The treatment involves stem cells, a flash point for some treatments bestowed upon people. But don't worry - there's no aborted dogs or other creatures involved. Put down the picket signs. The process involves taking healthy cells from the animal and returning them to its body after radiation treatment.

But the tab - possibly $25,000? Wow. Given the present economic climate, it's almost hard to believe anyone has that kind of money lying around, not to mention ready to spend on veterinary care (sorry if I sound like someone who's watched too many dire economic reports on MSNBC).

Ironically enough, one bit of fallout from the recession has been more and more people giving up their pets at shelters because they couldn't afford them anymore. And these are the lucky animals - at least they might be adopted by someone else. What about the ones whose owners just drop them off in the middle of nowhere and drive away? Irresponsibility and selfishness know no bounds.

Back to the Naperville dog. I completely understand how the pet's owners feel. Pets are wonderful because they give love unconditionally and without fail. It doesn't matter if you have a goiter the size of a watermelon - a pet will still think you're the most beautiful being in the world.

I can relate (a bit) to the Naperville family. My former cat, Sinbad, developed health problems late in life and I spent a LOT of money on him. But he was my best friend, and I loved him dearly, so it was worth it. I knew he wouldn't be around forever. When the time came I made the decision, and on that final day Nancy and I stroked him, wished him goodbye, told him we loved him and nodded to the vet to do what had to be done.

Obviously the Naperville family isn't ready for that. If they can afford the treatment, all the more power to them. If you consider it in a cold accountant-type fashion, the cost-benefit analysis surely doesn't work - the dog is 7 years old, and golden retrievers rarely live past 12. But this is a decision based purely on emotion, not logic.

Perhaps some observers would bemoan the family's decision, saying they should donate the money instead to a charity that provides medical care for people. I don't agree. It's their money, they earned it, they can spend it as they like. If it's on veterinary care, that's their decision.

One closing thought supersedes all: That's one darned lucky dog.