re: Gotta put my buddy down. How do people do this!?!

Tough country right there.

Here's how I look at it, he looks to you to provide for him and care for him.

The last thing you can do for him is something he can't do for himself. If he's suffering, you owe it to him...and I know thats hard, I've done it.

Kids'll bounce back and they'll always remember him, and they'll always remember that you showed them to do the right thing, even when it hurts.



Onions.

It is one of the worst feeling in the world. I am so sorry for you and your family. Give him his best day ever!

You are not killing your best friend you are protecting him and being his best friend just like he has done for you over the years.

Last year the dog I grew up with had to be put down it was terrible and hard but having my own dog at the time helped. Our other dog still misses him and looks for him time to time. The love we have for a dog is beyond amazing to me and we are so blessed and lucky to be able to feel that much love for an animal. It does not get easier but over time it will get better.

The memories you have will always be there, stay strong.

All I know is dogs are a million times more better than people and can make the strongest of men to cry when they have to watch their best friend past away.

Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love. They depart to teach us about loss. New dogs can never replace a former one – they merely expand the heart. If you have loved many dogs your heart is very big.

For you kids and for yourself have a funeral type process, have a day to remember you dog. Sometimes it can help to have a memorial service, including the entire family and friends who knew your pet. If you have a backyard, you can plant a tree or flowers in your pet's honor. Your children may want to help you plan this. - We did something like that and gave our dog a couple of toys that meant something to us and yet we kept a toy or two as well. Also, it may make some children better to keep something that their pet really loved-such as a collar, tag or favorite toy.

Here are some other ideas: (I am doing the first one for the one that past away last year).

•You and your child can gather up photographs of your pet to make into a photo album. This can be arranged chronologically, starting with pictures of when the animal was a baby. Your child can also include information about your pet's favorite toys, treats and things to do.
•Sitting down with the family and sharing memories of your pet can make your children sad--but it can make them laugh, too, and will help your child understand that everyone is feeling the loss as well. - We still do this time to time, so many good memories.
Although your child may not feel like it, it can help to engage in his or her regular activities-such as going to practice or rehearsal after school, playing outside or going for a bike ride.
•Give your child one of the books on pet loss from the list below. They are written specially for children.

Recommended Resources for Children

Life and Loss: A Guide to Help Grieving Children, Linda Goldman;
Accelerated Development; Taylor & Francis Group, (800) 821-8312; 1994

Because of Flowers and Dancers, Sandra S. Brackenridge; Veterinary Practice Publishing Co.; 1994.

Dog Heaven, Cat Heaven, Cynthia Rylant; The Blue Press; Scholastic, Inc.,


Goodbye Mousie, Robie H. Harris; Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing,

Grunt, Suzanne Schlossberg, Tamberrino, Centering Corporation; 2001

Jasper's Day, Marjorie Blain Parker; Kids Can Press Ltd.; 2002

Saying Goodbye to Lulu, Corinne Demas; Little, Brown and Company; 2004



Cheers to you and your best friend

+1 on the puppy

My parents brought a puppy home the day after putting out dog of 14 years down (beagle). Seemed to help everyone get through it. The weirdest thing was the puppy (lab) had some of the same unique mannerisms and personality traits as the beagle. So much so that 12 years later my mom will still call the lab by the beagles name.

This stuff gets me. Havent put one down yet but had one die on me after she was hit by a car. Took her to the vet on a Saturday and helped the vet patch her up. She came through but never was the same. She was 11 at the time and I had gotten another female to take her place in the blind. One morning I go get her daughter to go hunting and I'll never forget the look on her mothers face when I didn't take her instead. Came back and she was dead. Never will forget that look. Buried her by the lake so she can hear the guns roar.

Getting teary eyed remembering the day I had to put our lab down.

He wasn't getting around well for a couple of days and had an accident in the house. I just thought he had eaten something bad, so I sent the kids off to school and scheduled him into the vet.

Turns out he had developed canine diabetes (and we didn't know) and was in diabetic ketoacidosis which had probably done some organ damage. So I had to basically put him down right then.

So then, when the kids got home from school, I had to explain what had happened.

Regardless, sitting there on the floor of the vet's office petting him while she administered the shots, then petting him as he slipped away... holy shite.

One of the hardest things I've ever done in my life, and that includes walking into a hospital bereavement room to talk to my wife after her father had just been pronounced dead from an unexpected heart attack.

Oh, as for disposal, beware the vet taking care of it for you. We ended up with a decorative wooden box with his ashes in it that rivals the box my father-in-law's ashes are in. Cost a pretty penny, which they didn't tell us until after they delivered it to us.

Thanks everybody. Took him for one long ride in the truck, went out and had a talk by a fire. Hugged on him and then headed on to the vet. Told him by, gave him his pillow, and balled my eyes out as my best friend drifted off.

quote:

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Yesterday I saw them swimming laps in the pool together

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That's the memories you hold on to when you have to let one go.

I remember swimming in the neighbor's pond and my big ole black lab scraping up my back with his paws...and you know...I never yelled at him for doing so...that was just one of those things. That's a good memory now!

Sorry for your loss, brotha. Prayers sent your way.

I justed teared up reading this, remembering when my best friend had to be put down a few years ago, and I couldn't even be there for him. I was living in Monticello, Ark playing ball, and my coach had talk me into not driving to Baton Rouge the day before my parents took him to the vet. Such a hard thing to go through.

I'm not sure of your current situation, and now may not be the right time, but getting another dog helps, not to replace the one you just had to say good bye to, because no dog will ever be able to replace him. But to help fill your house with love and laughter like your furry friend use to.