I know that many of you have had animals put to sleep, I have only had one other dog that had to be put to sleep. I have had quite a few foster kitties that just never got going in life and didn't make it. I am feeling so guilty lately. I know on one side of my mind that this is definitely for the best for her, I cannot let her get to where she cannot walk and I just know that it is better for her but sometimes I look at her and she gives me that dopey puppy smile and I just feel so bad. Her "date" is next Thursday. Maybe it is because it is getting closer that I am feeling so very guilty for doing this. I feel bad for Koda too. He really likes Kaia, I know that he will get over her and I know I will too. But it is so frustrating. She gets worse everyday, she does have a good day every now and then but I can sit outside for an hour and she will almost guaranteed have her legs hurt her within that hour.
I know that this is right, I think I am just trying to convince myself of that right now. My husband is doing okay, he just has a hard time looking at her. I can't blame him. She has such a happy spirit in her.
Just curious, to all of you who have animals put to sleep, did you feel guilty about doing so? I think that if she was in extreme pain then it would be alot easier. It is hard to see her happy and know what has to be done.
Sorry for venting, I just needed to talk. This is so hard for us.
Awww, KatZ... I am so sorry... I know it is hard to let go....
I had to PTS my childhood dog " Samantha (sam) when I turned 18... I got her when I was a year old... I cried for days .. still to this day If I talk to much about her.. I'll cry. I did not feel guilty because , I thought to allow her to suffer was wrong. I knew it was the right thing to do and the right time. I was hard to say good-bye... as I held her in my arms... and she went to sleep.
We had our vet come to our home ... she was surrounded by the whole family
I will be with Kaia to the end. My husband can't and he will be with my kids. I have never had an animal, not even one of my fosters, put to sleep without being right there with them. I don't know if I could have it done in my home though. That would be very hard. Also, my vet that I want to do this works over 60 miles away.
Katz, I'm really sorry you have to go through this. Feel free to rant anytime, or if you need anyone to talk to, I'm free to chat anytime.
The only dog I have ever had that had to be put down was the Golden I had as a kid. And we had my uncle take him, because none of us could bear to do it. And I was just a kid. I think it tramatized me because I lost a bunch of weight afterwards and would cry a lot. I didn't understand. Just know that what you are doing is out of love. So don't feel guilty. You are helping her in a way that will ease her pain, and she will be looking down on you and be so grateful to you for all you did for her...
-- Edited by HunterNellasmom at 21:49, 2005-08-31
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-The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all
Oh, Katz!! I'm so sorry you have to go through this!! I know EXACTLY how you feel. The last couple months we had Eli, our first doberman, his arthritis was getting so bad that he couldn't even get off the couch by himself to go to the bathroom or to eat or drink. I always had to help him off the couch or just get up in general. It was tough!! We only had him for 9 months, we got him last June and had him pts in March. I hated watching him deteriorate so quickly. When we first got him, till about the 6th month we had him, he would sleep at the foot of the bed, on the bed, on my side of the bed. After the 6th month, he started sleeping on the floor, he couldn't get up onto the bed anymore. After that, he wouldn't even get off the couch to come in the bedroom to be with us at nite, until after Brad went to work, then he would moan and groan and I'd help him off the couch so he could lay on the floor at the foot of our bed, on the bed that I made for him, so he could guard me because "dad" was at work. He was the most loyal dog I think I've ever owned and he only knew us for 9 months!! He was obviously old when we got him, and abused and neglected as well. I just remember feeling so helpless whenever Brad would bring up the subject that we needed to put him to sleep. It was the hardest thing I think I've ever had to do!! I sat on the floor and held him while the vet gave him the shots. Brad was already crying on the way over there. We both just sat there and petted him and told him it would be ok and cried and cried for 20 min after he was gone. I'm crying right now just thinking about it.
It will be the toughest thing you'll ever have to do and yes I did feel a little guilty for not being able to afford his meds at $1.50 apiece, 2x daily, but in the end, I knew it was the right thing to do. I do have many fond memories of those 9 beautiful months that we had him with us, and many pictures as well. He was truly a good friend and I miss him still but I know he's in a better place and he can walk without a problem now and he has all his teeth and his whole sight back. It hurts for so long, but you know it's the right decision, though it is terribly painful and stressful, I think. I know I've kinda rambled on, but I hope this helps you, Katz.
Thank you so much. I am very sorry about Eli. I remember reading about him on here. I know exactly what you mean about getting attached in such a short time. We have only had Kaia since the end of February.
It is very hard for me because she still plays like a puppy. I know that I could probably drag this out farther until it just was too painful for her to walk but I do not want to see her that way, and I don't want my kids to either. That is not the Kaia I want to remember. I am thinking Koda better just die of old age in his sleep one night. I really don't want to do this again! At least not anytime soon. Luckily Koda is only 3 and he still has a long way to go still.
Yes, it's EXTREMELY hard seeing them deteriorate like that. It's good that you know you're doing this for the right reason and I totally understand where you're coming from. It really sucks. I told Mollie and Chopper, right after we pts Eli, that they better die of old age in their sleep too. We've had Mollie for 4 years in November, and Chopper for 2 years on the 8th of September, I think. We had Eli for 9 months and that was tough enough, I can't imagine what it will be like with Mollie and Chopper. Lexie better die of old age too, though. I know it's tough and a lot of people just give up on dogs and cats because they know that someday they're going to have to go through that pain again. I just can't imagine a life without dogs though, even though I really don't like the pain that I have to go through when one dies, I can handle it. You can handle it too, Katz. You're making the best decision for her and it takes such a strong person to do it. It's a real judgment of character, doing something so selfless. You're not thinking of YOU and how YOU will miss her, you're thinking about HER and what SHE needs and what SHE feels and that is soo wonderful. So many people try to drag the dogs' lives on and on and on and you know they're not that comfortable, so you know the people are doing it just for THEMSELVES, not for the better of the ANIMAL. Sorry, rambling again. I'm here for ya though.
Thank you for your words. It does make it easier. I am going through that now with a person that I knows mother, she has a maltese that is like 17 years old. His name is Rags, he is blind and deaf now and he doesn't hardly move at all, she has to feed him piece by piece of his dog food because he won't go to his bowl, she lifts his water to him because he can't drink by himself, she carries him to go potty and has to pick him up as soon as he goes, the poor dog is barely alive and this has been going on for months. Just this last week, he was diagnosed with cancer on his spleen and she said that it must be time to put him down. She still hasn't done it yet but the poor dog is just nothing. He has NO life and it is so very sad to watch. Rags is a very sweet dog (or was when he had a little life to him) but he should have been put to sleep a LONG time ago. I feel so bad watching him suffer like that. I just hope she does it soon and doesn't let the cancer spread farther. I know she has had him a long time and she just can't bear to part with him but she is not thinking of him AT ALL. It is very sad.
Her story has really helped me make the decision with Kaia as well. I could NEVER let one of my dogs get to that point. I would feel more guilty then, then I do now.
i used to be so against anyone that would have a pet put to sleep. then when our peke got cancer, i watched her get sicker and sicker until she would cry out in pain. moreso at night. she used to sleep with me , but i made a bed up in the kitchen and made her sleep there so i wouldnt hear her cries. the meds were not working much and she got louder and cried out more and more. my daughter came to my room one night in tears and told me that she loved toy as much as me and could not stand to watch her suffer any longer and if i didnt have her put to sleep , i was no better than an animal abuser. we had her put to sleep the next day. it was so peaceful she just closed her eyes and went to sleep. no more suffering. i feel bad that my selfishness of wanting to keep her as long as i could, caused her to suffer . we had had her for 13 years. it devastated me for a long time. i still miss her and cry if i get thinking about her. but theres peace in knowing that she is pain free now. i think loving them also means knowing when to let them go.
It's just too bad that there isn't a shot that is legal to give to humans in the same situation. When they have no life left in them at all, are being fed thru a tube, are being breathed for by a machine, it's time to let them go. I really do wish there was a legal shot to give to humans. It's sad when our pets get to die more peacefully than our human relatives do sometimes.
