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We just found out my dog for fifteen years (Got her when I was four) has a "growth" that has enveloped some of her organs. Without talking too much about it, when it, not if it, ruptures, it will cause her to die a painful death. My Parents have to leave, giving me two weeks with the house completely by myself at the end of next month, and they don't want me to be alone with her if it happens.

So sometime in the next month, we have to put my dog of fifteen years to sleep. I just don't know what to do




R.I.P. Hunny Bear, your sorely missed already.

She's gone. Went while I was scratching her behind the ears, cried like a baby when it happened.

I'm sorry to hear that man. If it were my dog, I would give it all my attention and time until the day it had to be put to sleep.

And when it was over, I would get a new dog.

It's a difficult thing to face, but if it saves her from what is sure to be a lot of suffering, then it's for the best. I had a cat years ago that had a stroke, and he was seriously messed up, had trouble eating, drinking, walking. No telling how long he would have continued on that way, had I not had it done in a pain-free manner. I sometimes wish it was legal to do the same for people, I've lost several relatives after long, protracted and quite unpleasant illnesses.

Its a sad when you lose a pet that has been in the family for many years.

When I was younger I had a Cat that lived up to 17 years but was suffering kidney failure in his later years.

It was a sad moment but I'm glad he didn't die in pain when we put him down.

Yeah....

I know it has to happen, I know it is the best thing to do, but I really, really don't want to do it :/

No one wants to put down a beloved pet and it never gets easier, but you have to remember that its the right thing to do.

I'm so sorry to hear that, mate. Putting a pet down is never an easy thing to do, but if it prevents him suffering then it is the right thing.

I know how you feel and it sucks to have to make that choice, but as people have said, it really is the best thing to do. It would be far worse to watch your dog die slowly and painfully, then to let it go quickly and painlessly.

I also Agree with The Bringer, spend as much time with your dog as you can. I know from experiece that if you don't, you will always wish you had later.

Yak9UT wrote:Its a sad when you lose a pet that has been in the family for many years.

When I was younger I had a Cat that lived up to 17 years but was suffering kidney failure in his later years.

It was a sad moment but I'm glad he didn't die in pain when we put him down.

Exactly. The proper thing to do is avoid suffering.

Thanks guys.

Her name is Hunny Bear, and she has gotten me through quite alot. I'm sad to see her go, but there isn't much I can do

I had a similar experience with my sog, I sent the whole day alone with her before she was put down.

It was enough to bring me down to a blubbering reck I can tell you.

Yeah, hearing the news was the first time I cried in five years. I'm not ashamed to admit that.

It's always sad to lose a pet. My condolences to you.

Feel for you mate. Had to do that to my dog many years ago when I was young. Awfully sad day.

That sucks, I had to put two dogs down in the space of a year. A 18 year old border collie and a 15 year old bit bull mix that I grew up with but lived at my parent house. I just dreaded the call from my mom to come take care of the situation. I would come to my childhood home and call the vet because my dad didn't have the heart to do it, They both went the same way after a few months of messing in the house they both suffered strokes that left them pretty immobile... I won't get into any further description. I like to think they weren't in pain, but you could tell they were uncomfortable. After a short and tear filled argument with my dad about them deserving a dignified death I got to call the Vet. It was probably selfish to let them go this far, but well, you never really want to do it.

It really sucked I had them my entire life, well since high school anyway, the important bit. We had our vet come to the house and give them the shot in the backyard of my parents house. It was actually quite nice and peaceful and I wouldn't have it any other way. It was like they just went to sleep snoozing in a sun beam while I stroked them.

I was a 33 year old man, and my father (a korean war vet) and I cried our eyes out as we dug the graves and laid them to rest in their blankets, cursing the fact that we ever had dogs in the first place but knowing we enjoyed their company for all those years and loved them deeply. We laid them to rest in the graveyard where they joined two other beloved gone dogs, three former pet squirrels, numerous rabbits and birds. All marked with headstones made of paving tiles or twigs for some of the smaller critters.

I'm the the youngest of eight kids so I'd seen pets go before. My parents made a big deal of paying your respects, i remember some of by siblings thinking it was odd, but I always understood it was a respect thing. I tell you what though, I don't remember the other animals passings hurting so much as these last two. I know it always hurt my dad and he'd swear he'd never get another one, but he's been through about 8 of them in his life. I don't know, if before, I was young and death was so far away, it had little meaning or if it was just that I am older and that in turn, my parents are getting so old (80's). Maybe I was realizing that I won't have them around much longer either, but there was a real sting to these that I never felt for my grand parents or aunts and uncles. It sounds terrible, but that's just how I felt. I mean I was always sad before but this was somehow more profound. I don't know.

My only real comfort was that they passed comfortably and in a place familiar to them surrounded by their loved ones. That and my (at the time) 9 month old German Shepherd was there and it seamed like a passing of the tourch. It sucks to look at him on the couch right now and know he won't be there forever.

But that is the deal you make when you get a pet.

I would recommend finding a good vet that would do this for you. It cost no more that it would at the kennel and saves your loved one the trauma of that final vet visit and they can go in peace. I could never imagine just dropping them off and getting them back in a box or an earn. They really deserved to be grieved for.

Cody
Puck
Sam
Max
Bugsy
Bugsy II
Rocky I,II,and III

You are missed.

It sucks, but life goes on. You have my sympathy and condolences. I almost deleted this a couple of times, thought it might be too heavy, too sad, too much. I'm not sure why I opened up like that. I never do stuff like this. But, I guess if it helps you know everything will be ok, well, it will be. And you're not alone in feeling that pain. I don't know if people without pets understand, and doubt all people with pets do. Hell I didn't understand until these last two. But it really is a profound thing, and I wanted you to know that it's ok to feel the pain, it's healthy, it shows you are a real person. Don't be ashamed of it, be proud of it. You shared a relationship with an animal that asked nothing but love and gave you more back in return.

But yeah don't brag about it either in front of your dudes, guy code strictly precludes acting like this in public, maybe that's why I shared here, you know anonimity of the web and all. (levity).

And don't any of your fethers use this against me in my posts. I'll tear you a new one (levity).

Wow that sucked writing that!

I feel for you man, I'm going to be a wreck when my buddy Diesel is gone

My cat, Abigail, died of a tumor an December 12, 2009. She was 14. She went from bad to worse in a matter of days. a few days later, her daughter, Samantha, at age 12, passed away from malnutrition. She refused to eat, and she passed away. They were the best cats I have ever had, and I will always remember them. I have to stop now, I'm starting to cry...

Hate to say it but it will hurt like hell Slarg as you are already finding out :(

Been through it like the other chaps here and 4 years on I still miss Sally and Harvey.
But strangely they are always with you and while I don't believe that time is a great healer, it does allow one to find a way to come to terms with things.

Take care and am so sorry to hear of this news.
Special hugs to Hunny Bear.

Sorry to hear that. But at least it will be painless which is the way everything and everyone should go.

I have decided what I am going to do for her.

When we first went to pick up a dog, she grabbed my brothers shoelaces constatnly and was tugging at them. Finally we just grabbed her and said "we will take this one".

I bought some shoe laces at the store where I work, I intend to tie one around her collar before the end, and I will bury the other since we aren't taking her body with us.

Clinton, that's awesome. I wish I could have dome something meaningful that for my cats, like burying them with their favorite toys.

We buried the two next to each other, with them snuggling the other one.

when they give her the shot they will ask you if you want to stay in the room with her, or if you want to leave.

dont leave.

Chowderhead wrote:Clinton, that's awesome. I wish I could have dome something meaningful that for my cats, like burying them with their favorite toys.

We buried the two next to each other, with them snuggling the other one.

Honestly, it just makes me even more sad; I can't think of something like it to do with my other dog.

Envy89 wrote:when they give her the shot they will ask you if you want to stay in the room with her, or if you want to leave.

dont leave.

Wasn't planning on it. I got told to stay away when we thought it was going to happen. I told my boss I was leaving at 1:00 when it took me 15 minutes to get to where it was, and the appointment was at 2:00.

It sucks I've put down a few, and it just plain sucks.

Don't leave the room, if you can find a home visit vet pay the extra for it.

Have sunglasses onhand...even if its raining, you'll want them.

Really sorry to hear that man, I'm welling up just reading these comments... must be hard.

Sorry to hear about that, it's never easy losing a member of the family which a dog basically is. I've had to put two of our cats to sleep so I know how you are feeling. All I can say is just to think about that at least you'll be able to say goodbye and that you'll be there when she passes on rather than the alternative.

I also agree with R3con, get a home visit regardless of the extra cost, at least that way she'll be with those that love her and comfortable in familar surroundings.

We've set the date now; the 11th.

Don't go to school on tuesday. You'll just cry all day.

Spend all day sunday playing with her, and the day after, spend it recuperating.

I don't go to school anymore.

I plan on taking the 11th off of work, and telling my boss to "go ahead and schedual me for the 12th, but I probably won't be coming in".

Remember: crying doesn't make you girly. It proves that you're facing one of life's toughest situations head on. Enjoy the time you have, and know that you'll always have memories.