I did not want to put this into cee_Kamp's post, but his story about his Helga prompted me to get on a soapbox for a moment. From what I have observed in this forum over the years, most of you, hopefully all of you, do not even need this message, but I am putting it here anyway:


Be there with your pet when they are being put to sleep!

My daughter worked for a vet while she was in college and she said it is absolutely gut-wrenching to watch a dog, or a cat, being put down when the owner abandons it. Innately, they know what is happening, and they look around frantically, trying to find that owner that they love unconditionally to be there with them as they pass.

I hate hearing an owner say they loved their pet so much they just couldn't bear to be there when their pet was being put down. BULLSHIT!

If you abandon them in this moment, you are nothing but a coward. They gave you 100% of their love every day of their life and if you cannot be there for them in their moment of greatest need and insecurity, you did not deserve to have them.


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I wasn't there for my boy Ronald, that was over 15 years ago, I still regret it. When it was Agnes' time we were there. It hurt, but the regret would hurt more. So she went to sleep with her monkeys giving her scritches and telling her how much she was loved.

They trust us to make sure they're going to be ok, and that's what we did.

I cannot disagree.

BTDT too many times, and it never gets easier.

We've always had pets, back to childhood.

It wasn't until I was an adult that I had to put a pet down. Our Catahoula Luke had an inoperable tumor.
Hardest part of it, other than his lack of appetite [tumor was pressing on his stomach], he was his normal self.

It hit me a lot harder than I expected, got to the truck afterward & couldn't leave.
That was a really hard day & brings a tear to my eye to remember it now.

RIP Luke

Gut wrenching each time. We use Lap of Love now as the Vet comes to your house. When we did it for our Emma, we realized it was the best thing we ever did.

I fervently agree with the OP, the very least thing you can do is provide comfort at the end of their life.

I would also suggest that one should dig the grave yourself and bury your pet in a dignified manner. I have always done this for our pets, and even provided friends with a space in our backyard to do the same for theirs. I find the exercise of digging a fairly deep hole cathartic, and the satisfaction of knowing that there is still something you can do for them helps ease the pain of loss. We have some large granite stones in the park behind the house that make excellent and long lasting headstones. Eventually, I may smooth and engrave these, but haven't yet found the gumption.

I'm afraid that aging and health problems have left me in a position where I may not be physically able to perform this task for Clark, who turns ten next month, but I will sure as hell give it my best try. Thank goodness he is still in pretty good health, but I know how fast they go downhill once they pass a certain point in the aging process.

When my first dog died I wasn't there. She was with a vet specialist being treated for a spinal problem. I told myself I'd take off from work a couple hours early that afternoon to go see her. Mid-morning, the guy called and told me that Sadie had had a series of seizures and was gone. There was nothing urgent going on at the office that day, I could easily have taken the day off and gone to be with her, but I didn't. It might not have changed the outcome, but it might have made it easier for her. 24 years later I still kick myself for that.

I swore to myself that if I ever got another pet, that I absolutely would be there for them when their end came. I wound up with two dogs, brothers named Max and Sid. Max passed away nearly 2 years ago now, and Sid just a few weeks ago. I was there with both of them. Yes it's painful, but nowhere near as painful as the regret that I still feel about Sadie.

When we had to put our Cheyenne down 2 years ago it was the first time I'd ever been through that, but there's no way I was going to let her go back in that room alone.

It sucked holding her while the prepped her...felt like an absolute betrayal, especially because she trusted me so much that she didn't resist at all. But it was also comforting to see how peacefully she went, especially considering how much pain she was in.

It's definitely not easy, but it's the right thing to do.

My wife and I have split this duty in the past but we are always there. Even worse is when you have to put a pet down yourself, I've had to do it twice. Gut wrenching.

Fortunate to have a local vet that makes end of life house calls. Have had to use the service 3 times over the years. I buried 2 in the yard and my wife had her special sweet boy cremated.

My wife and I have been there for our two previous Scotties. Our current Scotties are four and-a-half and two and-a-half and healthy, but everyone's time comes.

As much as it hurt us to do, it REALLY helped us to be there and our vet was great about it. And most of all, it calmed the dogs.

As a loving pet owner you do many acts of love during their life, consider being with them as they leave for the Rainbow Bridge the last act of kindness you can give them.

When it was time for Digger, we took him in. He was full of vet anxiety and dred as most dogs do not like the vet. It was a struggle...

We were heart broken as this was his final moments.

Since then we pay to have it done at home...in our Sun room on their favorite bed after days of eating whatever they want (if time allows) and living like royalty!

They pass with both of us giving them love and affection...peacefully.

I was laying next to him until they told me he was gone.
I left him with his StatWars comforter.

The vet tech held my infant daughter.
EVERYONE in the office was silent as we wept.
The vet couldn’t make eye contact with us and I could see how hard it was for her.

I couldn’t imagine not being there for him.
How people treat their pets says worlds about them.
I’ll bet on a dog/cat before a person everyday.

I still can’t watch the Twilight Zone Episode “The Hunt” and it’s been half a decade.
I’ll wait outside too if dogs aren’t allowed in.




Butkus

I think this is a very personal decision and should be treated as such. There are also times that this is not possible for a variety of situations and reasons and one should not feel guilty one way or another. Has nothing to do with loving your family member. Yes, I have been with almost all my animals when the time came. Wife could not be there on a few. It was just easier that way. Again, a very personal matter. So handle it as best you can. Each situation is unique.

I was born and raised Catholic, taught that animals had no souls, just like rocks, which is one of many reasons I haven't been inside a Catholic church for nearly half a century.

Heaven, I'm absolutely sure, is just beyond The Rainbow Bridge. Bella has been waiting for me there since May of last year, along with many others I've lost over the years.

I miss you, Bella!

(Sorry about the oversized pic)

quote:

Originally posted by doublesharp:
Fortunate to have a local vet that makes end of life house calls. Have had to use the service 3 times over the years. I buried 2 in the yard and my wife had her special sweet boy cremated.

This is the best scenario if it can be done. We were fortunate to have our vet close by and willing to come to the house too. Because our last two labs had illnesses that allowed us to monitor their health and then schedule the time with the vet, our grown kids were able to come home and our other pets, including one cat, were able to be there as well.

Both times, we purchased a brand new dog bed for them to lay on in our family room. I had to carry our male and lay him on his bed because he could no longer walk. But both laid down quietly as they were tired, and they were calm because they were surrounded by the family they grew up with. Like so many of you have said, we loved on them, hugged and petted them as they fell asleep and as they passed on.

Our other pets knew what was happening. They laid down in the family room and quietly observed. Once each dog passed on, our cat walked over and nuzzled their noses and then walked away. It was amazing. It still hurt like hell, but they were beautiful moments given the circumstances.

I pray, and I believe, that our pets will be with us in Heaven. And I look forward to seeing them again.



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Been there and done that too many times, but I agree it's important to the pet. When we had to put down our GSD Jake last year, we had the vet come to us so he'd be comfortable at home with us and his little "sister". I highly recommend doing it at home if you have a larger pet that will be uncomfortable either in transport or from bad vet-office experiences.

I was told once that as you approach the gates of Heaven, all your animals will come running to greet you. I believe that! And the home Vet visit is the way to go, if you can arrange it.

I held Bandit on my lap as she went to sleep

I had one bad day in exchange for her giving me thousands of great days

It was the least I could do - and she went at my home at her favorite spot on the sofa