Monthly feature story: Grieving for Horses. March 2013

Transcription

1 Learning English with CBC Calgary Monthly feature story: Grieving for Horses March 2013 Lesson plans created by Justine Light english/ 1

2 Feature Story Objectives CLB competency outcomes Listening: Reading: Speaking: Writing: Language skills Vocabulary: Grammar: Grieving for horses L: Identify factual details and some implied meanings in extended narration R: Access, locate, integrate, interpret, and analyze information contained in a two page moderately complex text on a familiar topic; draw conclusions. S: (knowledge and strategies) Produce intelligible and communicatively effective pronunciation W: Demonstrate an understanding of how writing is organized with the use of the main idea and supporting details Use vocabulary words in context Develop understanding of the formulaic expression have got Pronunciation: Identify thought groups in speech Language Activities (in order of appearance in materials) Answering comprehension questions and discussion questions about a short background text on pets in Alberta Completing pre listening activities to build vocabulary and prepare learners for audio Listening to the audio to identify facts and details Listening to audio to develop listening transfer skills Identifying thought groups in audio Identifying and understanding the formulaic use of have got Completing pre reading vocabulary activity Scanning text and making inferences to select relevant information Using outlines when taking notes 2

3 Introduction Background Reading: Many Albertans live closely with pets and other companion animals. In 2010, the City of Calgary reported that there were 122,325 dogs and 91,551 cats licenced in Calgary 1. Some estimates state that there are more than 300,000 horses in the province. The close relationship that many Albertans have with these animals leads to a number of complex issues related to animal care and difficult end of life decisions. This month the CBC audio examines issues about the difficulties faced by horse owners who chose to euthanize or put down 2 their horses. The reading text presents advice from the Alberta Society for the prevention of animals on caring for your pets in winter. Food for thought: Do you own a pet? Did you own a pet before you came to Canada? Have you noticed any differences in people s attitudes towards animals between Canada and your home country? Euthanize or put down means to end an animal s life by giving lethal amounts of medication to end suffering. 3

4 The Audio In this audio, you will hear CBC journalist Paul Karchut accompanying Greg Alexander in his work to offer support to grieving horse owners. Below is a photograph of Gideon a horse from the story. CBC file photo Before you listen: Have you ever owned a pet? Did you feel your pet was a member of your family? Did you ever have to take your pet to a vet? 0:00 0:02 SPEAKER Paul Karchut Greg Alexander TITLE: GRIEVING FOR HORSES Greg Alexander pulls down a dusty road just outside of Calgary. Behind him he hauls a grey trailer that is about to give another horse its last ride. The job today was to come and help a lady get through putting her horse down and then removal and a little bit of counselling and helping her deal with it. Make sure that she knew she wasn't doing the wrong thing and that sort of thing 4

5 Pre listening vocabulary The words below are from the audio. The definitions are next to the words. Read the definitions then complete the sentences. WORD DEFINITION A. removal the process of taking something away B. ailing to be in physical pain or discomfort C. bereavement period of sadness and grief after a death D. conventional usual and traditional E. insensitive not caring about people s feelings F. processing the work of changing animal products into meat for food G. carcass(es) the dead body of animal H. traumatic emotionally distressing I. swollen when something becomes larger often due to injury J. compassionate showing sympathy and concern for others K. method a particular and accepted way to achieve something L. circumstance situation or condition M. dread think about a future event with fear and worry 5

6 Use the vocabulary words to complete the following sentences. (Answers can be found in the appendix.) 1. The nurses were very with my family when my grandmother was in the hospital. 2. I taking exams because I often forget everything I have learned. 3. My dog is really old now and his health is. 4. A company is going to be responsible for the of all the old cars parked outside my neighbour s house. 5. The way of testing children in school may not be the best way to measure their intelligence. 6. My brother is very and often makes unkind remarks to my sisters and I about our appearance. 7. The death of my cat was very for our family. 8. My dad was a hockey player for many years and now his knees are always. 9. The best for learning vocabulary is to make lists, memorize the words and practice using the words in new sentences. 10. The of our wedding were difficult because some of our family missed their flights and arrived too late. 11. I feel sad and angry when I see animal at the side of the road. 12. There are many services available for seniors who have lost a family member. 13. There have been many problems at meat plants in Europe where horsemeat has been labelled as beef. 6

7 Listening for meaning Listen to the interview and answer the following questions. 1. How common is it to find a business that offers these services to horse owners? 2. What is the typical procedure when a horse is ailing and needs putting down? 3. Describe Gideon s health problems. 4. How does Brian Irving feel after Gideon is put down? 5. Explain why many of Greg s clients feel have mixed feelings about him visiting them. 6. In your own words explain Greg s passion for his work. (Answers can be found in the appendix.) 7

8 Listening strategies Who said what? The goal of the listening strategies section of the monthly feature lesson is to help you to improve your listening skills for all listening situations not just this audio. When you listen to a number of speakers talking, it is important to be able to integrate ideas from different speakers, comparing and contrasting their contributions to the discussion. In the audio, CBC journalist Paul Karchut talks with three different people who each have connections to Gideon. Step 1: Step 2: Select which piece of information relates to which person based on what you remember from your first listening. If you don t know an answer, then leave the row blank. There may be more than one person for a statement. Listen to the audio once again and complete the table. Greg Alexander Paul Irving Cindy Houghton Grew up on a dairy farm Owns a boarding stable in Langdon, Alberta Director of Alberta Equestrian Federation Been looking after Gideon for a year Believes that putting Gideon down is in the horse s best interests Takes care of putting Gideon down Provides bereavement counselling to people whose horses have to be put down Feels a spiritual connection to horses 8

9 Building Speaking Skills: Thought groups When speaking, it is important to consider thought groups. Thought groups are groups of words that together make up an idea. At the end of a thought group there is often a pause and a drop in pitch. It is important not to pause in the middle of a thought group because it makes your speech more difficult to understand. There is no rule for where thought groups begin and end, but punctuation is often a clue. Listen to the speech sample below and notice where the thought groups are. They are marked with [//] 0:30 PAUL KARCHUT Greg runs an unusual business//, maybe the only of its kind in North America//. He will come to your house//, help put an ailing horse down// on his own or with a vet//, remove it// and offer bereavement counselling. Greg Alexander was raised on a dairy farm//, always around horses and livestock,// but this isn t really a job he ever expected to have//. Now listen to these other sections of the audio and mark the script where you think you hear thought groups. NOTE: Because there aren t clear rules and speakers differ from each other, answers may vary somewhat. See the appendix for suggestions. 3:01 PAUL KARCHUT Gideon takes one more mouthful of straw and Greg lines up cool and calm for the shot. It s a shocking moment for Brian and Cindy but Greg s been through this hundreds of times. He tells them they ve done the right thing. 3:56 PAUL KARCHUT Gideon s body get s winched into the back of Greg s horse trailer on his way to get cremated, buried or sent to the landfill but Greg s job isn t over. He ll also be available to help deal with the grief. Pronunciation Practice: Next time you are listening to people speak, try to listen for thought groups. You can also record yourself speaking and check to see if you are pausing in good places. 9

10 Grammar Activity Understanding have got In the audio you can hear two examples of the formulaic use of have got: 2:08 BRIAN IRVING He s got severe arthritis, being a former jumper and after a while, as it is in humans it just catches up. We ve tried medication. We tried a medicine that s popular in the horse world, kind of a miracle cure for arthritis, called Legend, but unfortunately he s just too far gone and the damage is too severe and at this point in time it s just not fair to him. 3:24 BRIAN IRVING There s a sickness in the pit of my stomach, my heart is in my throat; it s not something you just walk away from. I don't know of any person, whether it be a cowboy, any person who s been involved in the horse industry can just say ah yeah whatever it was just a horse. they don't look at it that way, they feel a loss and they ll always keep them in their memory. I m going to miss him. I ve got my pictures in my mind of him and I will never forget him. In both of these cases the structure looks like the present perfect. Remember the present perfect is made using: the present form of have + the past participle of the verb However, it is very common in conversation to use [have + got] in order to simply mean have. Although this is often described in textbooks as British English, it can be heard in the audio used by these Canadian speakers in conversation. In the present perfect, the speakers may have said these alternatives: He has had severe arthritis. or He has suffered from severe arthritis. I ve kept pictures in my mind of him or I ve remembered pictures of him in my mind. When you are listening to people speak on the radio, try to listen for the expression, have got. How often are people using this expression in their speech? 10

11 Reading Activity Pre reading vocabulary The following vocabulary activity will help you to understand the reading below. Match each word to its correct definition. The first one is done for you. (Answers can be found in the appendix.) 1. frigid C A. keep 2. coincide B. suffer something or put up with something and survive 3. precaution C. very cold temperature 4. capable of D. have the ability to do something 5. ensure E. happen at the same time 6. retain F. more likely to be hurt by something 7. acclimatized G. something you do to stop another bad thing from happening in the future 8. tolerate H. gather a number of things together 9. chapped I. the physical condition when part of the body becomes red, swollen, hot, and often painful 10. inflammation J. get used to the weather 11. pellet K. Skin becomes cracked and sore because of the cold 12. accumulate L. more than is needed or safe 13. excess M. to experience something because you are in a particular place 14. susceptible N. a small, hard ball 15. compromise O. to have a negative effect on something 16. exposed to P. to be sure something will happen 11

12 Reading text: Cold Weather Pet Care The frigid temperatures that coincide with Alberta winters can be dangerous for your pet. If you own or are caring for companion animals, you need to take extra precautions to protect them from the extreme cold. The best place for your pet is inside, except when it is taken outside for exercise or is a breed of dog capable of surviving outdoor weather. Even long haired dogs that are accustomed to being outside need extra precautions when the temperature plummets. Here are a 10 simple ways you can help keep pets safe and comfortable during the winter months. Provide Extra Food Animals that spend time outdoors in the winter require extra food to give them the necessary energy to stay warm. Give Liquid Water Ensure their water remains unfrozen by frequently replacing the water or using a heated bowl. Avoid metal bowls that tongues can stick and freeze to. Have a Proper Dog House A dog house needs to be the right size for your animal just big enough for the dog to stand up and turn around, allowing the dog to retain its body heat. Make sure the doghouse is sturdy with proper bedding (straw is better than blankets which soak up water that then turns to ice). Finally, the house should be turned away from the wind, or have an L shaped entrance to reduce wind chill. Watch Closely When Your Pet is Outdoors If you let your pets outdoors to do their business, keep a close eye on them. Pets that are not acclimatized to the cold weather may not be able to tolerate the frosty temperatures, even for short periods of time. Watch your pets to ensure they aren t showing signs of discomfort or distress while outdoors. Wash the Pads of Their Paws Pets that go outside can pick up rock salt, ice and chemicals on their foot pads. After a walk, wipe your pet's paws with a washcloth. This will keep their pads from getting chapped and will also prevent inflammation of the digestive tract that may result from licking the salt. Trim Excess Hair on Their Paws 12

13 Sometimes ice pellets will form in the hair between your dog s toes causing discomfort when they walk outside. The warmth of their feet causes the snow to cling to these hairs, melt, refreeze and allow for more snow to accumulate. Trimming the excess hair between their toes will decrease the development of ice pellets. If you are uncomfortable trimming the hair yourself, visit a professional dog groomer. Be Aware of Garage Dangers Make sure that all chemicals are properly stored and spills are cleaned up. Be especially careful with antifreeze, which has a sweet taste that attracts both dogs and cats but can be fatal in even small amounts. Practice Caution Before Starting Your Car Cats and small wildlife in search of warmth may curl up inside a car engine. Before you turn your engine on, honk the horn or knock on the hood to scare them away. Is Your Pet Especially Susceptible? Animals that are young, old and in poor health are particularly susceptible to the cold. Conditions like diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and hormonal imbalances can compromise a pet's ability to regulate its own body heat. Animals that are not generally in good health as well as very young and old animals shouldn't be exposed to winter weather for a long period of time. Report Neglected Animals If you suspect an animal is being left outside for too long without proper protection from the elements, report it. If you have any questions about cold weather precautions for your pet, your veterinarian who knows your animal s specific conditions will be able to help you. Reproduced with permission from The Alberta SPCA, care/pet_care/pets_winter.html 13

14 Reading for meaning Answer the following questions about the reading, Cold weather pet care. Indicate whether each statement is true or false according to the information in the text. 1. Alberta winters often include extremely cold temperatures. TRUE / FALSE 2. The ASPCA recommends keeping your pet outside during the winter. TRUE / FALSE 3. Some breeds of dog are able to survive the cold temperatures of the winter weather. TRUE / FALSE 4. Dogs with long hair can be left outside in winter. TRUE / FALSE 5. A suitable doghouse should be three times the size of your dog. TRUE / FALSE 6. Blankets provide the best bedding for a doghouse. TRUE / FALSE 7. Salt used in winter can affect the respiratory system of a dog if licked from paws. TRUE /FALSE 8. Dogs and cats do not like the taste of chemicals such as anti freeze. TRUE / FALSE 14

15 Reading Strategies Understanding implied meaning The goal of the reading strategies of the monthly feature is to help you become a better reader of all reading texts not just this text. Implied meaning can sometimes be tricky to understand from a written or spoken text. This is because implied meaning is not stated directly. In this text many dangers of winter weather for pets are described. For each danger a suggestion is implied to avoid putting your pet at risk. Can you find these suggestions? Complete this table by directly stating what can be done to prevent harm to your pets in winter in Alberta: Winter danger Precautions Cold leads to a need for more energy Tongue sticks to water bowl Extreme cold for dogs from wind for dogs living outside Distress caused by pets being let out to do their business Ice, salt and chemicals on dog paws Ice pellets causing pain on dog s feet Animals consume chemicals in the garage Animals hide inside car engines to keep warm Cold weather & poor health is a dangerous combination 15

16 Writing Activity Writing an outline of a reading text when taking notes When you are taking notes on a text it can be helpful to write an outline within your notes. Writing an outline can help you to understand how the text is organized into main ideas and supporting details. This can help you to be more organized when you write your own texts. Look back at the text, Cold weather pet care. Analyse what the main idea of each section is. What examples and details support the main idea of each section/paragraph? Try to use your own words to avoid plagiarism (illegal copying). 1. Introduction: The weather in Alberta in winter can be extreme & pets need help Supporting information: A number of tips for how to protect pets will follow 2. Provide Extra Food Supporting information: 3. Supporting information: water freezes/ metal bowls are dangerous 4. Have a Proper Dog House Supporting information: A doghouse should not be too big, just big enough for your dog to turn around. 5. Watch Closely When Your Pet is Outdoors Supporting information: 6. Supporting information: This helps keep salt and other chemicals out of their mouths 7. Trim Excess Hair on Their Paws Supporting information: 8. Be Aware of Garage Dangers Supporting information: 9. Practice Caution Before Starting Your Car Supporting information: 10.? Supporting information: Some animals are particularly susceptible to the cold and owners have to take special care of them. 16

17 Links For more information about The Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Alberta SPCA) a registered charity dedicated to the welfare of animals check out this website: The Calgary Humane Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals provides care for surrendered, neglected, abandoned, and abused animals. Their official website: The Edmonton Humane Society is committed to helping homeless and abused companion animals, enlightening people, and enriching lives. Their official website: The Northern Alberta Society for Animal Protection to provide a solution to the problem of homeless and unwanted animals in the Northern Alberta area through foster homes and adoptions. Their official website: For more information about Greg Alexander and his horse bereavement services: 17

18 Appendix Answer Keys Pre listening vocabulary 1. The nurses were very compassionate with my family when my grandmother was in the hospital. 2. I dread taking exams because I often forget everything I have learned. 3. My dog is really old now and his health is ailing. 4. A company is going to be responsible for the removal of all the old cars parked outside my neighbour s house. 5. The conventional way of testing children in school may not be the best way to measure their intelligence. 6. My brother is very insensitive and often makes unkind remarks to my sisters and I about our appearance. 7. The death of my cat was very traumatic for our family. 8. My dad was a hockey player for many years and now his knees are always swollen. 9. The best method for learning vocabulary is to make lists, memorize the words and practice using the words in new sentences. 10. The circumstances of our wedding were difficult because some of our family missed their flights and arrived too late. 11. I feel sad and angry when I see animal at the side of the road. 12. There are many bereavement services provided for seniors who have lost a family member. 13. There have been many problems at meat processing plants in Europe where horsemeat has been labelled as beef. Listening for meaning 1. How common is it to find a business that offers these services to horse owners? It is very rare the audio says Greg s business is the only one in North America. 2. What is the typical procedure when a horse is ailing and needs putting down? Usually the vet puts the horse down; meat processing plant picks up the horse body with a truck full of other horses carcasses and sometimes after a long delay. 3. Describe Gideon s health problems. He is a former show jumper, who suffered abuse, including losing an eye, he has severe arthritis, he s underweight. 4. How does Brian Irving feel after Gideon is put down? 18

19 He is very upset. He feels sick in his stomach, his heart is in his throat, he feels a loss. 5. Explain why many of Greg s clients feel ambivalent about him visiting them. Because he only visits when their horses are very sick. But they still appreciate him being there. 6. In your own words explain Greg s passion for his work. He didn't dream of doing this job but it is his calling. He has a spiritual connection with the horses and wants to help them pass away with compassion. Listening strategies Who said what? Grew up on a dairy farm Owns a boarding stable in Langdon, Alberta Director of Alberta Equestrian Federation Greg Alexander Paul Irving Cindy Houghton Been looking after Gideon for a year Believes that putting Gideon down is in his best interests Takes care of putting Gideon down Provides bereavement counselling to people whose horses have to be put down Feels a spiritual connection to horses Building Speaking Skills: 3:01 PAUL KARCHUT Gideon takes one more mouthful of straw// and Greg lines up// cool and calm for the shot//. It s a shocking moment for Brian and Cindy// but Greg s been through this hundreds of times//. He tells them// they ve done the right thing//. 3:56 Paul Karchut Gideon s body get s winched into the back of Greg s horse trailer// on his way to get cremated//, buried// or sent to the landfill// but Greg s job isn t over//. He ll also be available to help deal with the grief.// 19

20 Reading Activity Pre reading vocabulary 1. frigid C A. keep 2. coincide E B. suffer something or put up with something and survive 3. precaution G C. very cold temperature 4. capable of D D. have the ability to do something 5. ensure P E. happen at the same time 6. retain A F. more likely to be hurt by something 7. acclimatized J G. something you do to stop another bad thing from happening in the future 8. tolerate B H. gather a number of things together 9. chapped K I. the physical condition when part of the body becomes red, swollen, hot, and often painful 10. inflammation I J. get used to the weather 11. pellet N K. Skin becomes cracked and sore because of the cold 12. accumulate H L. more than is needed or safe 13. excess L M. to experience something because you are in a particular place 14. susceptible F N. a small, hard ball 15. compromise O O. to have a negative effect on something 16. exposed to M P. to be sure something will happen 20

21 Reading for meaning 1. Alberta winters often include extremely cold temperatures. TRUE / FALSE 2. The ASPCA recommends keeping your pet outside during the winter. TRUE / FALSE 3. Some breeds of dog are able to survive the temperatures of the winter weather. TRUE / FALSE 4. Dogs with long hair can be left outside in winter. TRUE / FALSE 5. A suitable doghouse should be three times the size of your dog. TRUE / FALSE 6. Blankets provide the best bedding for a doghouse. TRUE / FALSE 7. Salt used in winter can affect the respiratory system of a dog if licked from paws. TRUE /FALSE 8. Dogs and cats do not like the taste of chemicals such as anti freeze. TRUE / FALSE Reading Strategies Winter danger Cold leads to a need for more energy Tongue sticks to water bowl Extreme cold for dogs living outside from wind Distress caused by pets being let out to do their business Ice, salt and chemicals on dog paws Ice pellets causing pain on dog s feet Animals consume chemicals in the garage Animals hide inside car engines to keep warm Cold weather and poor health is a dangerous combination Provide extra food Avoid metal bowls Build a dog shelter Precautions Keep a close eye on pets whenever they are outside Wipe your pet s paws whenever they go outside Trim hair between toes Store all chemicals properly Honk the horn before you start the engine Animals with health problems cannot be exposed to winter weather. 21

22 Writing activity Taking notes using an outline 1. Introduction: The weather in Alberta in winter can be extreme & pets need help Supporting information: A number of tips for how to protect pets will follow 2. Provide Extra Food Supporting information: pets need more food to give them energy to keep warm 3. Give Liquid Water Supporting information: water freezes/ metal bowls are dangerous 4. Have a Proper Dog House Supporting information: A doghouse should not be too big, just big enough for your dog to turn around. Add bedding and do not face the house into the wind. 5. Watch Closely When Your Pet is Outdoors Supporting information: Whenever your pets are outside do not leave them unsupervised. 6. Wash the Pads of Their Paws Supporting information: This helps keep salt and other chemicals out of their mouths 7. Trim Excess Hair on Their Paws Supporting information: This will avoid freezing between paws 8. Be Aware of Garage Dangers Supporting information: Chemicals in the garage could poison your pet 9. Practice Caution Before Starting Your Car Supporting information: Animals may be hiding in there to keep warm 10. Is Your Pet Especially Susceptible? Supporting information: Some animals are particularly susceptible to the cold and owners have to take special care of them. 22

23 Appendix Transcript SPEAKER TITLE: GRIEVING FOR HORSES 0:00 Paul Karchut Greg Alexander pulls down a dusty range road just outside of Calgary. Behind him he hauls a grey trailer that is about to give another horse its last ride. 0:13 Greg Alexander The job today was to come and help a lady get through putting her horse down and then removal and you know a little bit of counselling and helping her deal with it. Make sure that she knew she wasn't doing the wrong thing and that sort of thing. 0:30 Paul Karchut Greg runs an unusual business, maybe the only of its kind in North America. He will come to your house, help put an ailing horse down on his own or with a vet, remove it and offer bereavement counselling. Greg Alexander was raised on a dairy farm, always around horses and livestock, but this isn t really a job he ever expected to have. 0:50 Greg Alexander You know I can t imagine anybody thinking this would be your lifelong dream but it is a calling that feels very strong to me. I saw a need. The conventional ways of handling with it were a little bit insensitive as far as I was concerned and people needed help dealing with the loss of what has become a very important part of their life. 1:15 Paul Karchut Typically a veterinarian will put a horse down on site and then call the meat processing plant to pick up the body. Problem is these processing trucks can take as long as a week to show up and when they do may be loaded down with other carcasses. The whole thing can be traumatic for an owner whose horse has become a part of the family. And that s what brings us here to a boarding stable near the small town of Langdon, Alberta. That s Gideon. He s a tall, handsome 17 year old Hanoverian, but get a bit closer and you can see that he s thin, too thin. His joints swollen, he s blind in one eye from abuse during his former career as a jumping horse. Brian Irving owns this stable; he s also the Director of the Alberta Equine Federation. He has been looking after Gideon for around a year now. 2:08 Brian Irving He s got severe arthritis, being a former jumper and after a while, as it is in humans it just catches up. We ve tried medication. We tried a medicine that s popular in the horse world, kind of a miracle cure for arthritis, called Legend, but unfortunately he s just too far gone and the damage is too severe and at this point in time it s just not fair to him. 2:32 Paul Karchut Cindy Houghton has also been caring for Gideon. It s an emotional day for her and that s why they chose Greg. 2:39 Cindy I think Greg provides a very personalised and compassionate method that does it all and it s 23

24 Houghton nice to have someone come and take care of everything. I really love this horse and probably because I loved him is why we need to put him down. Because we didn t want him to suffer anymore. 3:01 Paul Karchut Gideon takes one more mouthful of straw and Greg lines up cool and calm for the shot. It s a shocking moment for Brian and Cindy but Greg s been through this hundreds of times. He tells them they ve done the right thing. 3:20 Greg Alexander Yep, but now you can remember him happy. 3:24 Brian Irving There s a sickness in the pit of my stomach, my heart is in my throat; it s not something you just walk away from. I don't know of any person, whether it be a cowboy, any person who s been involved in the horse industry can just say Ah yeah whatever it was just a horse. They don't look at it that way, they feel a loss and they ll always keep them in their memory. I m going to miss him. I ve got my pictures in my mind of him and I will never forget him. 3:56 Paul Karchut Gideon s body get s winched into the back of Greg s horse trailer on his way to get cremated, buried or sent to the landfill but Greg s job isn t over. He ll also be available to help deal with the grief. 4:10 Greg Alexander I m here. I spend hours on the telephone with different people. You know, all the different questions that are going through their mind. What to feel and not to feel guilty and all the different questions that are racing through their head, in a moment of terror. 4:30 Brian Irving I wish I could say it's a pleasure to meet you 4:32 Greg Alexander Everybody says that after. You know you hear that all the time that they hope to see me under better circumstances and I understand that. People almost dread to see you pull in the yard you know, but it doesn't bother me at all because I know I am there for the right reason. I find it almost an honor to help them pass. It is never easy it does take a toll on me because I am very spiritually connected to the horse. So it does draw on you, but its something that I have been driven to do to help the horse. 5:10 Paul Karchut In about an hour Gideon s body will be gone. The trailer sprayed clean and Greg Alexander will wait for the next call. For CBC Radio, I m Paul Karchut. 24