Sort of a long story here. My dad was a great guy. Loved him so very much. He was my business partner and mentor. Never had an electrical question that I could bring to him that he wouldn't provide an answer. He also became a dear friend after I hit my adult years. When he passed away I was beyond sad. Still think of him most every day. When he died I barely shed a tear.

A few years ago my pointer got sick at around thirteen years. Just stopped eating and was having trouble pooping. Took him to the vet and got a bunch of tests and some medicine and he seemed to rally for a day or two. Didn't last. Had to take him in to be euthanized that weekend and I stayed with him till he was still. I was just an absolute mess, Cried like a little girl for an hour. I had him cremated and I went down to get the box that following week on my motorcycle. I put him in the saddle bag and finally gave him that ride. Almost couldn't ride with the tears streaming down my face. Haven't had the real urge to get another dog since. I lost pets before but this one was different. Dude was my constant companion for his entire life and he was in my heart in a special way.

On Harley"s final day took her for a ride in the car (which see loved) got a snack of fries/ chicken tenders then drove around for a hour then got her a cup of ice cream / then arrived at the vet for her appointment.. We were in the room holding her as she crossed the bridge.. For 14 1/2 years she was my shadow so was there for her. Have her ashes in nice box with her name tag......... drill sgt.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Always. Always. ALWAYS.

Your pet deserves for their final moments to be spent at ease, being held by their beloved friend that has been the center of their life and their world for the entirety of their time on Earth.

I couldn't imagine abandoning them with some strangers, and having their final moments be spent scared and alone, wondering what was happening and where their Daddy went.

The type of person who would willing choose to subject their pets to that doesn't deserve to have pets in the first place.

You are a compassionate pet owner.
Would a person not be with their parent at the time if death if possible?

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
2 respondents answered "no, I hand over the pet and depart." I'd like to know their reasoning behind that.

I've done one of each. The first, when I left, was only after he had been given a large dose of Versed (think valium) and was unconscious. I didn't think that I was strong enough to watch him die, and he didn't know it anyway. He was gone when the Versed hit him.

The last one I was there for it as I pretty much had to carry him in. Head resting on my lap, he died very peacefully.

With neither one, did I make it home without pulling over to cry like a little girl. I'm OK with it though.

Only done it once, but still can pull a tear thinking about it.
He was a good boy & was still his normal self at the end, which made it all the harder.
Was there with him through the end.

Louisville area is blessed to have a wonderful vet who makes house calls to euthanize, Dr Courtney Bennett, Hearts Ease. I've had to do this twice and it is tough duty but at least there is no stress from unfamiliar surroundings. My old red dog Barney will be 18 in Sept and he is failing. I'm dreading it but you can bet I'll be with him until the very end and then I'll bury him next to his brother.

Always sit on the floor and cry my eyes out. The last time the vet was crying right along with my wife and me.

You owe it to your pet to be there right up until the end. A vet’s office is most likely not your pet’s favorite place to be. They will be scared. Possibly in pain. Abandoning they in their final moments of need is beyond cruel.

The cat that I spoke of in the o.p.
Was an indoor cat for a single lady .
It didn't like almost anyone.

She was not socialized in the least.

Judging from what had been posted here.
She might have been
Very anxious from the car ride,
The people, the environment.

So that might have exacerbated the whole howling and crying out that my neighbor spoke of.
Which in turn
Put a great deal of stress on my neighbor.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
EDIT: While we're on the topic perhaps a vet can chime in and explain something to me: Why are there always two injections? One to sedate them, and then the overdose. Why not just give them the OD right from the get-go and not prolong the misery for both of us? I'm assuming there's a good reason, I just don't have a clue what it might be.

Not a vet, but I asked and she said she always gave the two shots, the first to relax the animal and the second to stop the heart. Her explanation was that to skip the first shot would stress the animal and be cruel.

Strangely enough, the large animal vets do the same on goats, for similar reasons. And not that these guys aren’t caring and good doctors, but they are very pragmatic / realistic about how they treat livestock and not to bag on goats, but they’re reasonably tough. If there was an animal where one might cut that corner, a goat would be the first one that would come to mind. (Says the guy who has a herd of them.)

I answered always, but we have a few times had a mobile vet come to the house. This is even less stressful for the dog than going to the vet accompanied. If you can get this service locally, it is far better than taking them in.

I feel an obligation to the dog, so that is what I do, but I won’t judge others for what they do.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
Roxy is going to outlive me by decades.

Which brings up the question “will Roxy stay with you when she has you put down?” (Roxy seems to like so I voted yes )

I’ve always been by their side at the end. 2 years ago I was there when out 13 year old bearded collie left. 4 months ago I was there when our 12 year old goldendoodle left. It’s not so hard when they are sick and their health is failing.

So we’ve said goodbye to Daisy, Mac, Barney CD, Willie, Molly, Skip, Rusty, Kimber, Bailey and recently Murphy. We’ve loved them all in our near 50 years of marriage and hoped to see them lined up at the Gate.

When the time has come, I always go in and am holding them as the injections are given. The last dog I had to put to sleep, licked me as she passed......I am crying like a baby remembering it now.

A few months prior to my dog being put to sleep, my father passed away with stage 4 bone cancer. What occurred with my dog was a kindness compared to what my father and the family went through with his last couple weeks of pain and suffering.

You would have to be a cold POS to leave your sickly or dying pet to die with strangers. I've been with and hold mine until they pass.

quote:

Originally posted by k5blazer:
I will always be with my beloved pets. They are family.

This

I've always stayed with them to the end. It never seems to get any easier, and it's starting to change the way I feel about getting new pets.

The last one was my 6 year old orange tabby cat. She got a nasty cancer and it had to be done, but it broke my heart in a way that physically hurt for a long time.

We went in with Agnes. I couldn't let my little girl do that alone.

I spend every day I can with my hounds, right up until their last. I sat on the floor of the vet with my last dog Louie laying across my lap when he breathed his last breath. They're family, and I love each of them dearly. And though I've been accused of being an unfeeling hard ass more than once, I'm not at all embarrassed to say I've wept each time one of my hounds left me.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
The cat that I spoke of in the o.p.
Was an indoor cat for a single lady .
It didn't like almost anyone.

She was not socialized in the least.

Judging from what had been posted here.
She might have been
Very anxious from the car ride,
The people, the environment.

So that might have exacerbated the whole howling and crying out that my neighbor spoke of.
Which in turn
Put a great deal of stress on my neighbor.

That's a tough one.

To be in that place and then have that trauma for a last/lasting memory.

Please tell your neighbor, this cat owner is sorry.

My wife and I are elderly, she is 75, I am 80… so when Jasper passed after 14 years of friendship and joy, we decided that we would not get another doggy. While it is terrible to lose a furry friend, we thought it would be worse to leave one, should we likely pass before.

However, fate is peculiar… We were asked to dog-sit for Sophie - a 10 pound, 9 year old ball of fur who had just lost her human mother to breast cancer; her gentleman friend has a traveling job and could not handle her.

Long story short, the sitting is now in the 10th month, so In actuality, we have a dog! Absolutely unplanned, and a happy event! Sophie is now part of the family and a loved member.

Amen…