re: Gotta put my dog down I’m a wreck

We don't deserve dogs. They are such beautiful creatures.

Think of it as the last beautiful gift you can give her to ease her suffering.

Thank you for sharing. Mine has some incontinence, has trouble getting up, but can walk still. She’s also still 100% there in the head, so it’s mainly pain management at this point, but is unable to run and do her favorite activities outside like she used to.

We are drugging her up for the pain, increased dosage, but once this dosage starts to become ineffective, it’ll be time. Hoping for a few more months, but don’t want to do it too late. I have no idea what to do/say to my young children, who have a routine of giving her a bednight hug every night.

I'm with you there. It fricking sucks and it never gets easier. I remember my childhood dog being put down my senior year of high school and it wrecked me for a long time. Just know you are doing the right thing for her. Prayers sent

It’s one of the most selfless decisions we have to make
I hope you can find peace in knowing you aren’t letting her suffer

It will eventually get better, it takes time, then it will hit you out of nowhere but it does get better

Very sorry for you, friend. Had to do this a few years ago. I had not ugly cried like that in years. We picked up another puppy, <4 months later. Good amount of time to grieve, and make sure we were all ready. Current dog is great, kind of retarded at times.....but great.

My last dog got hit by a car when I was about 18 and I swore I'd never have another dog again. And I haven't. It just hurts too bad. It's almost worse than a human dying.

However I love dogs and do want a dog so I'm going to attempt to time it to where the dog outlives me. Sorry dog. It's your turn.

The Power of the Dog -Rudyard Kipling

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie—
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find—it’s your own affair—
But… you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!).
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone—wherever it goes—for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long—
So why in—Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

Did this first of the year with our old gal. Very difficult but I know I did the absolute right thing. I just knew I couldn't keep her for the sake of having her around. She deserved better and knew I it was the right thing. We still miss her, but the pain of her loss has subsided.