Would you put your life on hold for a pet?

[twinmomplus2new]

I have done so and would do it again without a second thought.

 

[DVC-Don]

We can board at our Vet's, so that's what I'd do.

 

[NEM]

Nope,but my father does. I will say from the other side of this issue, it is very irritating and disappointing to know that your own father rates staying with his animals over spending time with you or his grandchildren.

At this point, I would never do that to my kids. Family first, then animals. It really can make for hurt feelings to know you rate below the dog...

and these are not sick animals...he just chooses to not board or go away from them for longer than a few hours. Dogs and birds. The whole situation makes me very frustrated and honestly a bit angry. I can see this coming to a head in the future as it also affects the time he spends with my kids.

I think animal owners should take into consideration the feelings of the people they are blowing off to tend to their creatures when the situation applies.

 

[cocodog]

Yes, I can empathize with your SIL, as I am in a similar situation right now. Can't take the dog and not going to leave her in a cold kennel to possibly die when we are not around. She has been a faithful companion for 16 years, and deserves better than that.

 

[bigtinkfun]

I had a 16 year old cat who was very slowly going downhill due to liver disease. My sainted Tibbles (may she rest in peace) saw me through a divorce and a major illness and all kinds of horror.

The last year of her life, I went to Book Expo America when it was in LA, and had made plans with a friend to go to DisneyLand (which I hadn't seen since I was nine). We were going to stay at Disney's Grand Californian for 4 days and I paid for my package up front.

My father was taking care of Tibbles while my mom, brother and I were in LA. Day by day, we got reports from him that sounded worrying. He thought Tibbles was going downhill fast and was worried she might die.

There was no question about it: when he said he was worried she was dying, I called the airline and got the first ticket out of LA on the red-eye back to Charlotte, then to Greenville. When I arrived home, I was absolutely sick with worry. I opened the door to the house and I could hear her in the hall, meowing.

I opened the hallway door, and there she stood, mad as aitch-e-double-hockey-sticks, and fit as a fiddle. Daddy was fit to be tied. I was so relieved, I could have cried. I didn't miss that DisneyLand vacation or the $1,000 I'd lost at all.

Five months later, she died in my arms at the vet's. I have never doubted that I'd made the right choice.

 

[Rebelmom67]

Nope, an animal, is just an animal to me. Life goes on and if a pet is sick or whatever, arrangements will be made but I won't be putting my life on hold.

 

[JessicaR]

Yes I would and yes I have and would not hesitate to do it again should the need arise.Our pets are members of our family and we love them deeply and them us.

 

[cassie]

Yes I would, and I have done so a few years ago when my GSD was aging with a few problems.

 

[MissMet]

Yes, I have and yes, I would again. I think it boils down to whether you see your pets as just "pets" or as "family members".

Each person should do what they are comfortable with...and others should respect their decisions.

agreed!


I was in Egypt when my 14 year old dog unexpectedly passed away & it was the hardest thing in my life! She wasn't just a pet she was family.

 

[minnie56]

Sure would!
I have met many humans I don't like but I've never met an animal I didn't!

 

[NikiM20]

I'm sort of putting things on hold right now due to our geriatric dog. Although, I think it's extreme to not vacation or go to a wedding for the animal.

My dog doesn't have much time. While she's alert and chipper most of the time, she has an out of control bladder. So what's on hold is getting new furniture and rugs until she's gone.

I'm not really sure what to do. For some people, an out of control bladder is enough to put a dog down. But she's still alert and show interest in life, so I can't do it right now.

Anyone been in that boat?

Check with your vet. I had a dog who had bad bladder control issues and we put him on Proin. It was 2x's a day and it made all the difference in the world. He went from 2-3 accidents a day to maybe 1 a week. I hope this can help you.

Niki

 

[aristocatz]

I would sacrifice alot for my pets. I love them just as I would any other member of the family. Some people may not understand that, but there have been times in my life when my pets were my best friends and really there for me. I would never hesitate to be there for them as well.

All that said, if my pets were so sick and on meds to the point where I was sacrificing so much like the OP's story, I would likely have to consider if my pets were comfortable being like that & if keeping them alive was the best thing to do for them.

 

[HunnyPots]

Yes, I absolutely would, no question. As much love and happiness as they've given me over the years, it's the least I could do. And I would not care one bit what other members of my family though about it.

 

[WDWBarb]

I'm sort of putting things on hold right now due to our geriatric dog. Although, I think it's extreme to not vacation or go to a wedding for the animal.

My dog doesn't have much time. While she's alert and chipper most of the time, she has an out of control bladder. So what's on hold is getting new furniture and rugs until she's gone.

I'm not really sure what to do. For some people, an out of control bladder is enough to put a dog down. But she's still alert and show interest in life, so I can't do it right now.

Anyone been in that boat?

I have been in that boat with the greatest dog that ever came into my life.

She was 16, already very old, and suffered with arthritis and decreased vision. Then, quite suddenly, she started uriniating in excessive amounts. I would fill her water bowl several times a day and then find huge puddles of very diluted urine all over the house. The day I decided it was more than just older-dog bladder problems was when my entire kitchen floor - all of it - was covered with urine.

She was diagnosed with Cushing's Disease - a pretty severe case of it. Her legs were so bowed by the arthritis that she could barely stand. When she was able to walk, she walked into furniture because she couldn't see.

That is when I made what I believed to be a merciful decision. I loved that dog more than anything (other than my family, of course - she had been with me since I as a child myself) so my decision to end her life was not about me - it was about her and not wanting her to suffer.

If you haven't seen your vet, please do. There may be something that can be done. Had I notified the vet sooner and not just assumed she had old dog bladder control issues, we may have been able to treat her.


Ergh - talking about her still makes me cry. I think it always will.

 

[Carys]

Yup, except I don't consider choosing to care for a sick pet (which by the very nature of owning an animal I have made dependent on me) over a social event as putting my life on hold, it's a part of life (maybe not a fun part, but a part all the same). I agree there's a point at which the animal's quality of life is so poor it's selfish to string it out, but I'd never put down a sick pet for convenience. Never ever ever ever. The thought blows my mind. Nice to see lots of fellow pet lovers on this thread btw, thanks to all those that shared their own pet stories

 

[Disney Doll]

Nope,but my father does. I will say from the other side of this issue, it is very irritating and disappointing to know that your own father rates staying with his animals over spending time with you or his grandchildren.

At this point, I would never do that to my kids. Family first, then animals. It really can make for hurt feelings to know you rate below the dog...

and these are not sick animals...he just chooses to not board or go away from them for longer than a few hours. Dogs and birds. The whole situation makes me very frustrated and honestly a bit angry. I can see this coming to a head in the future as it also affects the time he spends with my kids.

I think animal owners should take into consideration the feelings of the people they are blowing off to tend to their creatures when the situation applies.

Sounds like there's more behind this issue. It seems very strange for someone not to want to leave perfectly healthy pets for a few hours.

 

[Disney Doll]

I have been in that boat with the greatest dog that ever came into my life.

She was 16, already very old, and suffered with arthritis and decreased vision. Then, quite suddenly, she started uriniating in excessive amounts. I would fill her water bowl several times a day and then find huge puddles of very diluted urine all over the house. The day I decided it was more than just older-dog bladder problems was when my entire kitchen floor - all of it - was covered with urine.

She was diagnosed with Cushing's Disease - a pretty severe case of it. Her legs were so bowed by the arthritis that she could barely stand. When she was able to walk, she walked into furniture because she couldn't see.

That is when I made what I believed to be a merciful decision. I loved that dog more than anything (other than my family, of course - she had been with me since I as a child myself) so my decision to end her life was not about me - it was about her and not wanting her to suffer.

If you haven't seen your vet, please do. There may be something that can be done. Had I notified the vet sooner and not just assumed she had old dog bladder control issues, we may have been able to treat her.


Ergh - talking about her still makes me cry. I think it always will.

I do believe we owe our pets a dignified death. The day we put Ted down was the worst day of my life, bar none. But he had been such a great, happy, energetic dog with such a fabulous personality that to see him just lying listless, walking circles, not recognizing/responding to anyone...I keep telling myself, even now, that it was the last loving thing we could do for him, and that we owed it to him to keep our promise to not let him suffer, and we were there with him till the very end, but it was still so terribly difficult...and still is....

 

[Skywalker]

I am typing this right now with my dog sleeping on my lap, and knowing that tomorrow I will probably have to have him put to sleep. I am enjoying his warm softness and counting every breath he takes while tears are streaming down my face and my heart is breaking.

So yes, I would put my life on hold for a pet. I would cancel every vacation or social outing I have ever had for more time with this little guy. And anyone who didn't approve can take their cold heart and lecture someone else because I don't care.

 

[WDWBarb]

I do believe we owe our pets a dignified death. The day we put Ted down was the worst day of my life, bar none. But he had been such a great, happy, energetic dog with such a fabulous personality that to see him just lying listless, walking circles, not recognizing/responding to anyone...I keep telling myself, even now, that it was the last loving thing we could do for him, and that we owed it to him to keep our promise to not let him suffer, and we were there with him till the very end, but it was still so terribly difficult...and still is....

I am typing this right now with my dog sleeping on my lap, and knowing that tomorrow I will probably have to have him put to sleep. I am enjoying his warm softness and counting every breath he takes while tears are streaming down my face and my heart is breaking.

So yes, I would put my life on hold for a pet. I would cancel every vacation or social outing I have ever had for more time with this little guy. And anyone who didn't approve can take their cold heart and lecture someone else because I don't care.

I guess that's why I never saw it as "putting my life on hold" when one of my companion animals needed me. They are such a huge part of my life; they have brought me enormous joy and tremendous love. It's not me putting my life on hold for them - it's me wanting to be with them and return the love they so generously provided to me.

I guess they put their lives "on hold" for us every day. Every time we leave them (go to work, trip to the store, trip to Disney World), they wait, patiently and lovingly, for our return. And while they may pout a bit about our time away, they never hold it against us.

It's the very least I could do to pay a small portion of that back. And, in return, I am rewarded 1,000-fold for it.

They are angels, in my eyes, sent to show us what true love really means. I learn something from them each and every day.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Haven't read the rest of the thread...

If her child/spouse/parent/friend was sick and she stayed home to take care of him/her, nobody would consider that "putting her life on hold". So, I would do the same exact thing she's doing and would not believe for one second that I was putting my life on hold.

You do what you gotta do, and life isn't a big party 24/7. Sometimes you have responsibilities that trump the party.