Anyone ever have to put their pet to sleep?

[Bacrd]

I had to do it today. My head knows this was the right thing to do.....but my heart sure is having a hard time being convinced!! To make it worse...DS(23) went with me and he took it worse than me!! I'm not sure if he's ever gonna talk to me again!
Heart talking...I know he was 13 yrs old, completely blind and arthritic to the point he had to be carried in and out of the house. He's been falling down the basement stairs and off the porch. I know his quality of life was gone!!
Heart talking....The poor baby NEVER complained, whined or got snippy. Was it really time????? I hope if there's a "doggie heaven" that he knows how much I hated doing this and how much we loved him!
I guess I just need a "faceless" place to vent...thanks for letting me.

 

[olena]

to you. I didn't get that far. I had to give up my puppy a couple of weeks ago and I'm still depressed about it.

 

[Jolie C]

 

[WDWHound]

Your pet was lucky to have an owner who cared enough to do the right thing for them. I know from personal experience how hard it must have been to do this, and I also know from experience that your pain will lessen bit bit bit, day by day. May the day come soon when you remember the happy times more than the pain.

 

[ZachnElli]

Oh goodness, tears reading this! I just did this exactly 3 weeks ago today! My dear sweet Sammi was the exact same way! Blind, almost deaf, arthritis so bad I had to pick up all the time and she'd fall right back down! She was a golden retriever and I couldn't carry her. She never complained. Dh tripped over her and she didn't make a sound and he finally realized she was just so use to pain that it didn't phase her anymore. I couldn't be there, but he (who was totally against it) came out and said we did the right thing. He said her face relaxed and all the pain just melted away and she looked like a puppy again! He said we just couldn't see how distorted her face was from the pain because we were so use to it, but it was so evident. It was so hard, but we did the right thing and so did you!! They are running and playing and rolling in the grass like they use to!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes and it hurts. I realized how much discomfort my cat was in after she was gone. At the time you "get used to" how they are.

 

[helenabear]

It's happened in my family more than once... I am sure you knew was best. I am just so sorry you lost your furbaby

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

's to you. Yes, I have had to put two of my cats to sleep. I never thought the pain would subside. It has, but I have never forgotten them, and now am a cat mom to three more. My thoughts are with you.

 

[janette]

It is one of the hardest things to do. This is one of the best things I've read on the subject.

Dogs Don't Have Souls, Do They?

I remember bringing you home. You were so small and cuddly with your tiny paws and soft fur.
You bounced around the room with eyes flashing and ears flopping.
Once in a while, you'd let out a little yelp just to let me know this was your territory.
Making a mess of the house and chewing on everything in sight became a passion, and when I scolded you, you just put your head down and looked up at me with those innocent eyes, as if to say, "I'm sorry, but I'll do it again as soon as you're not watching."
As you got older, you protected me by looking out the window and barking at everyone who walked by.
When I had a tough day at work, you would be waiting for me with your tail wagging just to say, "Welcome home. I missed you. "You never had a bad day, and I could always count on you to be there for me.
When I sat down to read the paper and watch TV, you would hop on my lap, looking for attention. You never asked for anything more than for me to pat your head so you could go to sleep with your head over my leg.
As you got older, you moved around more slowly. Then, one day, old age finally took its toll, and you couldn't stand on those wobbly legs anymore. I knelt down and patted you lying there, trying to make you young again. You just looked up at me as if to say you were old and tired and that after all these years of not asking for anything, you had to ask me for one last favor. With tears in my eyes, I drove you one last time to the vet. One last time, you were lying next to me.
For some strange reason, you were able to stand up in the animal hospital, perhaps it was your sense of pride.
As the vet led you away, you stopped for an instant, turned your head and looked at me as if to say, "Thank you for taking care of me.

I thought, "No... thank you for taking care of me."

By Chuck Wells

 

[mickey65]

I'm very sorry for your loss. I understand just how you feel, 2 months ago today I had to put my kitty to sleep. I still miss her dearly.

www.petloss.com is a wonderful support group. Please stop by and check it out. The people in the chat room are very helpful, without them I would not of been able to get through my loss.

 

[Bacrd]

Thank you all !!!!!!! Reading all your wonderful thoughts have opened up the "flood gates" that won't quit..but its probably a good thing. Thank you for sharing your very personal experiences on my behalf.

 

[christineann]

We had to put our black lab Jake down in January because of lymphoma. I told my daughter as we held him and cried after he died that this was our final act of love for him, just as you did for your pup today. At a St Francis blessing of the animals several years ago, our minister said that when someone asks him if there are animals in heaven, he replies, "of course there are. Heaven is perfect, isn't it?" I know that I will see them again.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by Bacrd
......I hope if there's a "doggie heaven" that he knows how much I hated doing this and how much we loved him!
I guess I just need a "faceless" place to vent...thanks for letting me.

's There is, Bacrd, right by the Bridge. And many faces here to grieve with you, but aso to celebrate a life, one who gave you and family many years of friendship, loyalty. He'll be there. And yes, I have also......

<font face="Comic Sans MS">
<h1 align="center"><img hspace="5" src="http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rbowx.gif" width="74" height="37">Rainbow Bridge <img src="http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rbowx.gif" width="74" height="37"></h1>
</font>
<center><p><font size="+1" face="Comic Sans MS">Just this side of heaven is a place
called Rainbow Bridge.<br>
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet
goes to Rainbow Bridge.<br>
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and
play together.<br>
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and
comfortable.<br>
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those
who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember
them in our dreams of days and times gone by.<br>
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss
someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.<br>
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and
looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers.
Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs
carrying him faster and faster.<br>
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you
cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses
rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once
more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never
absent from your heart.<br>
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....<br>
Author unknown...</font></p></center>

www.petloss.com
<center>

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Dan.. I was just going to do a search for the Rainbow Bridge, someone sent that to us when we put our Cat down. It was very hard to do and so sad for all of us.

Hugs, hugs, hugs Bacrd, you guys were so good to your pet. You did the right thing, hard as it may seem right now. Very strange that you posted this tonight, I called my friend, who went through what you have gone through with your pet. Carrying it around, the dog was blind, dementia, he labored over putting it to rest, but did it yesterday afternoon. I called him tonight to see how he was doing. So sad. Hugs again

 

[catsrule]

I am so sorry about your doggie. We love our pets so much, they are babies forever.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

You did the right thing. I accompanied my father when he had to put his 15-yr. old dog down due to stomach cancer. It was just a few weeks ago and I still think about her every day. She was a big part of our lives for so long. We loved her too much to let her suffer.

 

[two4ruff]

While our head tells us its the "right thing" to do, it just takes our hearts a little longer to be convinced. So sorry...

 

[LauraR]

You absolutely did the right thing. A little too early is much better than waiting too long. My dad had a German shepherd that was about 13 who had arthritis and liver cancer. While my dad was overseas the dog started deteriorating and his girlfriend took the dog (Max) to the vet who recommended he be put to sleep. She didn't think it was time yet, and didn't want to do it while my dad was gone. A few days later (just last Friday), my dad returned and when they got back from the airport at 9:30 pm Max was vomiting and in the process of dying. He only lived until midnight, but it was a horrible homecoming and so difficult for them to see his painful end. You did your dog a great service. A few days or weeks more is not worth risking the suffering of a loyal friend.
I'm sure your dog knew how much he was loved, just seeing the love that came through your post.

 

[mermaidlady]

We put our dog down several years ago. The day we took him in he seemed to be doing better but he had a sinus cancer and it was invading his brain. It took us 3 years to get another

 

[Duchie]

I had to make this decision several years ago. My dog was very young (only 5) but suddenly everything stopped working - kidneys, liver, pancreas. Still don't know why it happened. But she was my dog and my dad held my hand while he had me make the decision. I was numb for days. I swore I'd never have any more pets, but soon enough my cat came into my life. Now she is aging (13) and I am fearing I will need to make this decision again soon. In her case, I think I will choose to make it sooner, rather than later, because I can not bear the thought of her suffering. She's been with me through so much - starting out on my own for the first time, engagement, marriage, kids, moving..... I can't imagine life without her.

I'm sure you did the right thing, and you'll know it, too, one day.