Suffering In Of Mice And Men

In the story Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck there is a ranch in the town of Soledad, California during the great depression. One important character of the story, a swamper named Candy, has an old dog that Carlson, a ranch hand, wanted the dog put down because he was in the way and was suffering in pain. The reason for killing the dog is that he is suffering in pain. He has no teeth, can barely walk, and he is blind along with if Carlson killed the dog it would be a painless death and Slim, a mule skinner who works on the ranch, agreed that the dog should die seeing how slim's opinions were law.
According to the book, suffering in pain is the most likely reason because as it states, “Got no teeth, [darn] near blind, can’t eat. Candy feeds him milk. He can’t chew nothing else'' (36). Having disabilities like not being able to eat is very sad but not being able to walk is even worse like it states, “That dog of Candy’s is so [gosh darn] old he can’t hardly walk” (36). This dog is going through a lot of pain especially with rheumatism as it points out, “Got no teeth,” he said. “He’s all stiff with

Candy is very attached to the dog and before what almost was like “approval” from slim he demonstrates, “Candy looked a long time at Slim to try to find some reversal. And Slim gave him none” (46). It is good to know that a friend has your back and is someone you can look up to in tough situations. Slim's dog has just had nine puppies and is too many for her to feed as it is presented, “Yeah,” he said. “You can have a pup if you want to.” He seemed to shake himself free for speech. “Carl’s right, Candy. That dog ain’t no good to himself. I wisht somebody’d shoot me if I get old an’ a cripple”