Putting my pet to sleep.

[41husk]

I have a 13 year old black lab.  We got him when he was a puppy, found him in a ditch with a broken hip after being hit by a car.  took him to the vet and $600 later we had a new puppy.  Well it seems the hip and old age are taking its toll.  It has been getting bad, so bad about three days a week I have to pick him up and carry him out side and back and he just lays and relieves himself in the house.  Just after Christmas it got so bad he stopped eating and drinking and would drag himself out under a tree.  Considering quality of life, I call and make an apointment for this morning at 8:30 to have him put down.  I get home from work and he has eaten his food,  could drag himself to the door to go out, I still had to carry him down the stairs.  This morning he eats again and can walk -drag better than yesterday.  I am very torn, it seems ironic, I saved his life and now am taking him to the same vet to end his life.  It's verry tough, although he appears better the quality of life is still not good.

[69CoronetRT]

It is one of the most difficult decisions as a pet owner. You'll know when 'it's time'. That doesn't make you feel any better and the house will be empty without him but as the owner, it is your responsibility to help ease and end his pain for his sake. I'm sure you two have had lots of good times over the years.

Just remember the Rainbow Bridge. It does help.

http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm

[Lostsheep_01]

I know that it is not an easy decision.  I tried to comfort my wife as they had to put their family lab of 15 yrs down.  Poor old girl was in very a similar situation only she was blind as well.  That's the 1st time I had heard of the rainbow bridge.  It brought them some comfort.  Also, about a year and a half ago, my wife's cat, that she got freshamn year of college, passed away.  I had been giving him IV's every couple of days.  It was very sad to watch him go.  He actually passed the morning that we had an appointment to take him in to be put to sleep.  I know that making the decision to make the appt was extremely difficult and painful for my wife and I.  Just remember how your life was enriched and that you don't want to see him in any more pain than any other family member.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

[6pkrunner]

One of the hardest things to do. I do feel for you. At least you can be a bit removed and see the quality of life he has these days. Really not fair to him. Although mere words will not make it easier for the trip to the vet or the hollowness and heartache to come.

[41husk]

Thanks everyone,  well it's done.  It was even harder than I thought it would be.  My wife went in with him, i just couldnt do it.  I think it was the right decision but that doesn't make it any easier.

[Plumcrazy]

All of us pet owners have or will be in your shoes someday.   I know it doesn't help to here this now, but you made the right decision.

[Charger_Fan]

That's one experience I always hate having to deal with. As much as love my pets, I always know there's a good possibility I'll be there on a day like that too. One of my favorite cats I've ever had died in my arms a couple years ago & I still tear up just thinking about it.
I've got another one now, that's just my bestest little buddy...one day I know he'll leave too, but I'll gladly love & appreciate him for today.

At least it's over now & your dog's not suffering anymore. All animals go to heaven in the end!  

[old man]

I know that the words " I know how you feel " do not bring you any comfort right now. I have had to put two of my best " friends" to sleep and I know it rips your heart out. My last a mixbreed poodle Daisy was the hardest thing I ever had to do. She was in great pain and full of cancer. My wife and I buried her in back in the flower bed. I still go out there and sit and think about her. She was an abused puppy when we found her and she stayed with me in bed thru first back operation when I came home. I'm glad I'm alone in office now so others can't see me crying. It will get better and there is no more pain for your lab. God Bless.

[Blown70]

Allen,

Very sorry to hear, I know I will be a complete wreck when my Boxers time is up.  She is a great dog.

It is hard to see, them suffer too.

Tom

[Charger-Bodie]

man that really sucks i feel for ya dogs are the best thing on this earth even better than chargers 

[RD]

sorry to hear that allen... I have been fortunate enough in my life to only experience such things when i was a child and did not understand it to its fullest meaning, now as an adult, i would be devastated.

I hope you feel better soon.

Jamey

[19Charger68]

Every time I see a post like this it makes me cloud up.  I have been were you are and it is one of the worst experiences in the world.  For those of us who love animals, they truly become a part of the family, and it just rips you up to lose one.  You did the right thing - even though they can't really tell you - you know when they are suffering and it isn't right to let it continue.  It hurts like hell to have them leave us.  You truly have all my sympathy!  When we had to put our dog down about three years ago, I didn't think I could ever go through that again - but we opted to do it anyway.  We now have two wonderful dogs in our lives and I know that some day we will go through the same thing with them - but the joy and love they give us - and that we give them makes it all worthwhile.

[bull]

That's a real bummer. I know how you feel and it's not good.

[firefighter3931]

Thanks everyone,  well it's done.  It was even harder than I thought it would be.  My wife went in with him, i just couldnt do it.  I think it was the right decision but that doesn't make it any easier.

Hang in there Alan. You gave that pup 13 great years of life and brought him back from certain death. 



Ron

[REDNECK]

hay man i know how you feel. i have lost many dogs and cats, and even lizards and rabbets. its not easy to handle and i lost one of my best dogs to a grain truck on my13th birthday. good luck. it helped me to get another dog

[BMOTOXSTAR]

Man,
  It is a tough thing. I have been in your shoes. Like they say, "Man's Best Friend". I still miss my dog sometimes.
          BMOTOXSTAR #079

[Afflyer]

Allen,

  Please take comfort in knowing you and I share the same pain of heart.  Just two weeks ago, we had to put our male boxer, Jake, down.  He had a large tumor on his kidney, which caused him to pass blood in his urine for the past several months.  We just thought that it was due to the fact that he would go running with me often and it was too strenuous for him.  Boxers are so stoic in nature, that he never once showed any pain.  He was steadfast to the very end.  It's a testament to the Boxer breed.  Jake was my buddy and best friend and we shared a common bond as being the only men in the house.  His playmate, our female boxer- Bella, was very affected by his loss for over a week.  Sniffing around for her lost buddy, especially out in the yard.  All of us can tell, she misses Jake very much.

  Unfortunately, I was out of town when the decision was made to let him go.  My wife and two year old daughter had to do the terrible task.  I was able to talk to him through my cell phone as he slipped the surly bonds of earth with his last breaths.  My wife and I in tears, we both told him how much we loved him and thanked him so much for loving us in his stoic ways.  He was my "big man".

  As I write this to you Allen, my eyes fill with tears as I recall the memories of my final words to Jake.  I told him that I wished I could be more like him in this world; strong, stoic and to love unconditionally as he did.  He was my hero in the best of ways.  I'm going over to the vet tomorrow to pick up his ashes, as he was cremated.  We'll pay a lasting tribute to him here at home and cast his ashes to the wind in our backyard, where he and Bella so loved to run, chase and box each other around.

  My heart goes out to you Allen, as do my thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.  I feel your pain.

  "Dogs Rule"


In memoriam to my "big man" Jake

  Bradley

[Troy]

I'm sorry to hear that Allen. I will miss him.

Troy

[Chryco Psycho]

Tough choice Allen , it sounds like his quality of life is not great & it is hard to do but has to be done eventually
Dogs are awesome but never live long enough 

[tan top]

sorry to here this guys , people who never have dogs or cats , don't realise how much "part of the family " they become . as Troy says  there life span  shorter .  plus when they are ill they can't tell you what is wrong .

[Arthu®]

I am very sorry for you Allen, pet's are a blast but it really hurts when they are gone. You don't realise how much they really become part of the family until you almost lose them. I didn't figure it (I mean we had cats and sure they died after they became 19 and 20 years old, no wonder you get attached to them after such a long time) but recently we adopted a dog from a shelter. His former owner commited suicide so we didn't know anything about him, after a couple of months it turned out he really couldn't stay within a family. He was way too dominant and with my little brother and sisters it just couldn't work so we had to take him back to the shelter. That was probably one of the worst I have ever felt and it was only after a couple of months. Hang in there Allen.

Arthur

[Lord Warlock]

Sorry to hear it.  I put my 13 year old cocker down a few years ago, it was rougher on the wife than it was for me, but it was still hard to say goodbye.  But when you see how hard it is for them to live day to day, it only makes sense.  They aren't living a full life if they can't walk anymore. 

[Big Lebowski]

Bummer, I have a 17 year old cat that acts like a kitten, he doesn't know he's old.

[SLIKK 70]

Same thing happened to me and the wife. Early in Dec. I came home from work Saturday evening, while the wife and I were eating dinner our J. Russel Terrior was sitting in front of us panting hard. She would play ball but could not get her breath. Took her to the Vet. Hospital in the morning. Massive tumor in her stomach and it had progressed to her lungs.  Had to put her down before the tumor started to cause pain. Here today, gone tomorrow never been more true. Sorry for your loss.

[RECHRGD]

I've had to go through it several times and it dosen't get any easier.  My latest little buddy is only two years old so hopefully I've got plenty of time before I have to deal with it again.  It just doesn't make sense to have them suffer after all quality of life is gone.

Wish that option existed for my 95 year old Mother-in-Law.