Maybe so. And money does play a role in my thinking. But, if the surgery was free, I wonder if the dog would rather have the pain of two operations and associated rehab or just get the damn leg out of the way and get along with life. If all we're talking about is the humane aspect, the amputation is far less traumatic. Now if it's about life threatening things or illness, I will pay to save the life or comfort of an animal, but $5K for a dog's leg tells me you've never seen a three-legged dog and how well they get around.

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1983 M-B 240D-Gone too.
1976 M-B 300D-Departed.

"Good" is the worst enemy of "Great".