Bertie, a 58-year-old hippopotamus who was the longest living animal resident at the Denver Zoo and one of its celebrities, was euthanized last Monday as his age left him in declining health. (Provided by the Denver Zoo)
Re: “Denver Zoo mourns loss of longest living resident, Bertie the hippo,” May 5 news story.
A few weeks ago I was hopeful that the consideration of a “death with dignity” bill proposed by state Rep. Lois Court would go further than committee and be voted on and passed. So when I read this week that Bertie, a 58-year-old hippopotamus at the Denver Zoo, was allowed to die with dignity and without further pain because he was seen by his caretakers as showing a “significant decline in his quality of life,” I wondered once again when humans would be shown such thoughtful attention.
I hear of people’s beloved pets being euthanized so they don’t go through undue, unnecessary duration of pain. A law has been passed in several states so that humans can choose to die with dignity and peace. I would hope that citizens of Colorado who were pioneers in legalizing marijuana will be able to vote and receive this same consideration within the near future.
Harriet Turner Strong, Denver
This letter was published in the May 10 edition.
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