Pet euthanasia

Ron-P

Saturday, March 5th, the day before we left for Mammoth for 7 days, I made the decision to put Angel down, our 13 year old Dalmatian. She'd not been doing well for quite some time and things were not getting better. It was a very difficult thing to do, and it was something I'd never done before. She richly blessed our lives for those 13 years, a great dog in every respect.

My regret. When I brought her in, my vet asked if I wanted to be with her, I said no, handed her off and left. My reasoning, I wanted to remember Angel being at home with her family, not on a table in a room. I was only thinking about me, not her. I now think maybe I made a bad decision by not being with her in her last moments. To be there for her so I could have been the last person she'd see instead of the vet. I just dropped her off to die. I so wish I would have stayed.

PolkThug

I'm sure she was thinking of you, just as you were thinking of her. If you would have been there, you probably wouldn't have let it happen. I've been thinking about this scenario lately, I've got a 16-year old German Shepherd, that my mom is caring for.

Regards,
Toby

bobman1235

I've had to go through this twice, and have done the same thing as you. It's hard enough to even bring them, and being with them is just impossible. The way I see it, dogs are much more susceptable to feeling the emotions of others than humans - being a dog owner I'm sure you know this. So I always figured that my being in the room would just increase teh stress level of the room and make the experience worse for the dog. If you have a decent vet it's supposed to be very quiet and peaceful for the dog, so they don't even know what's going on. If you were in there blubbering or even just all tense, they'd feel what was coming.

You did the right thing.

Sorry for the loss.

McLoki

My sincere condolences.

I have had to make the same decision before and have also let the vet take care of it. (due to my own selfish reasons at the time) I have since been there with each animal that it had to be done to and in every case I was happy that I stayed with the pet while it was performed. While I have learned it is something worth staying for, it is not something worth beating yourself up over.

Judge yourself for the treatment you and your family gave her for her entire 13 year life, not for the last few minutes of it.

Michael

HBombToo

Ron its always easy to second guess yourself. You made the best decision for YOU at the time it was made and there is no shame in that.

I have been through this same thing and completely understand what your thoughts are and were. Don't worry about it and keep the good memories of Angel in the forefront of your memory.

My best to you friend.

Henry

dorokusai

I'm sorry to hear of your loss Ron.

madmax

Sorry to hear. Tough decision but yet one you had to make. Right or wrong you did what you thought best at the time. I'm sure she did not feel abandoned in any way. That is more a human thing, which is how you are seeing it right now. It's too easy to dwell on it after the fact. If you are feeling bad about it give your sorrys, have a good cry and move on knowing she had a good life with you. Everything goes as it does for a reason. Your post shows you really cared which is much more important than whether you stayed or not.

madmax

Ron-P

Thanks guys. I'm a mixed bags of emotions as this is the first pet that I had to put down and I'm just beating myself up over how I handled it all.

shack

I've done both ways. A year and a half ago we had to have our 12 year old Dalmation put to sleep. He was in really bad shape and it had to be done. I stayed. It was hard to watch him take his last breath....he was a good dog. He was the fourth dog I have had to put down. The hardest was the dog that got an extremely agressive cancer in his eye and nose area. He was still relatively young and was still quite strong. After 2 surgeries in less than 6 weeks the growth was as big as before the Vet said there was nothing else to be done. It was obvious he was in pain but he looked so healthy otherwise...I could not watch that one. Take heart though Ron....I've found that most Vets care as much about your pet as you do and I'm sure they were kind and gentle in her last few breaths of life.

cfrizz

Ron, I am very sorry for your loss. I had to put down my 2 cats in 2003 one in May and the other in September exactly 14 days after my mother died.

Tami made it to 20 yrs old. I stayed with her when it was time for it to happen. It just about destroyed me.

Then to have to put Oscar down a few months later so soon after my mother's death was more than I could handle. So I had my vet come in and pick him up. She called me a couple of days later to let me know he went peacefully and she assured him that I loved him very much.

Everyone has their limits. There is no right or wrong here, you gave her the best life you could and a quiet peaceful end. An animal can't ask for any better!

Take care,
Cathy

Davidv

I am sorry to hear of your loss. I have been through both experiences with our 2 cats. We stayed for the first and I dropped off the second. All I can say is that it really sucks either way and I feel your pain. It really helped me to think of all the good times and the funny things that happened. Take care.

steveinaz

Sorry about that Ron. I've been thru that myself and have come to some conclusions.

I don't see a problem with wanting your last memories of her to be "positive" memories. I stayed when they put my Pug down--and wished I hadn't. Who knows whats right? You do what you're comfortable with, and you move on....

Sorry again bro.

polksda

My deepest sympathies.

This really hits home.

I've been agonizing over a decision like this for a few months now. I've had my cat Ariel since she was 5 weeks old in 1989. At the age of 16, she's having trouble. She can't jump up onto things and has to pull herself up onto the couch. I've tried building a padded "ramp" so that she could walk up, but she refuses to use it. Her breathing has become extremely labored.

Every time I think of putting her down though, I just can't do it. She's still as affectionate as she ever was, and likes to sit on my shoulder, purring away.

Roommates, significant others, and jobs have all come and gone; she's been the one constant through everything...

*sigh*

One of the most beautiful poems I've ever read deals with the loss of a pet:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

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.
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.

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.

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.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

-- Author unknown

danger boy

Ron,

sorry to hear about your beloved Angel. Don't beat yourself up for your decision. Just remember the good times and happy memories you and the family shared with Angel.

MacLeod

This is the down side to owning a pet.

They just dont last long enough.

I was reluctant to getting another pet cause when my last one died it nearly killed me. Its been 5 years and I just recently got a cat.

My sympathies Ron.

RuSsMaN

Ron, brotha. You did what you could. A great full life, with lots of love, loyalty, and companionship.

I've had a lot of pets, dogs and cats. I've 'stayed', and I've left. It's not harmful, tramatic, or upsetting to the animal. You have NOTHING to worry or fret about. Trust me on this one. It's quick, VERY quick, and painless. That pup didn't know any different. I promise you that. If anything, she wouldn't want you to fret over it.

Keep the faith, and never forget. Cherish the memories and time, and chin up broham, there's another pup in your future, that probably needs you more than the last one did.

You're a good man Ron. Remember how choked up you got when you read 'Where the Red Fern Grows'? Remember how the circle of life started again at the end of the story?

Hardcore man, F'in hardcore. But would you want it any other way? Nope. Save her collar tag, keep it on your keychain for a while.

Cheers,
Russ

Polk65

Ron, sorry to hear your pain. All I can say is you made a decision at the time for a reason. Now and in the future, you will always remember your Angel.

Years ago I had to leave a sick pet in the hospital overnight and got a phone call the next morning that she didn't survive the night. Driving to the vet the next morning was hard, and having to cough up a few hundred dollars for my dead pet in a box while choking back tears was surreal. It took a long while for me to get over the loss, but we had great times together and I still think of her from time to time.

A cool thing about pets is that they are never the same. Although we live longer than they do and it seems unfair that they die so young, we do get to remember their characters.

Willow

Ron sorry to hear about the tough decision you had to make, it's not one that I envy. I don't look forward to the day I must do the same, our dog willow, is a major part of our family I actually introduce her as my doghter (daughter). If this helps, a year ago I saw my grand mother take her last breath, which crushed me, even though this memory may haunt me I have 100000 great ones to that one bad one. You made a selfless act, the dog was older and it would have been selfish keeping her alive for you, it was his/her time. Just remember what she brought to the family !!

Ron-P

Thanks for all the support guys, it really helps. Makes me feel much better about what I had to do and how I did it.

I did keep her tag. The pictures we took with her on that last day we plan to put in a frame along with her tag and hang it in the hall with the other family pictures.

We did rescue another Dalmatian about a year ago and she is just a pup, 16 months old. She's nothing like Angel but it's been great having her around now that Angel is not.

Here's a couple pics I just dug up from an old Polk thread. The late Angel and Gumball as a pup.

TroyD

Ron,

Nothing really I can add that hasn't already been said. Chin up, brother. Remember the good times and the good things, those are the things you will ulitimately remember.

Troy

George Grand

That's some rugged duty to pull Ron, either way. Staying OR going. Sorry about your dog man.

George

masanz1

we lost our cat after 11 years, his mama left him at 1 day old and we weaned him into health and he was alot like our first child. He has always been an inside cat and 1 week after we moved into our new house he ran outside and got hit by a car. We were both devestated and could barely do anything. I went out there to pick him up and put him in a box. I started to dig a hole and just couldn't bring myself to bury him. We ended up taking him and having him cremated. He now sits inside a little urn with a picture next to it. Best wishes to you