re: How did you cope with putting your dog down?

I took Pete out to his favorite field, where he loved to run and buried him. The wife refused to leave the truck cab. When I finished, I sat on the tailgate for a while and then on the way home I told her I would never have another dog. The pain of losing him just wasn't worth it. I look at other folks' dogs, pet them and then walk away. It has been over 20 years and still brings a tear.

Sorry for your loss. Yes it hurts.

It’s time for my german shepherd. Just made 9 years old but his health declined rapidly, recently. Took him to the vet where they discovered cancer all over his body. Talk about a kick in the nuts. He hasn’t really showed any signs of pain until about a week ago. Now he’s breathing heavy, incontinent, won’t eat even his favorite treats and steak, lethargic, etc. It’s all just come so sudden and I can’t stop balling my eyes out thinking about tomorrow when we have to put him to sleep.

I’ll really miss you, best friend.

I didn't.

A week later my vet begged me to rescue a Frenchie. 8 years old and in a really bad situation. I took her in. Never have really formed an emotional attachment with her, but she helped me at the time by giving me something to focus on. She needed help bad. Tried to give her to friend after a few days but she was already following me around.




Just be there with him when the time comes. He will be scared and needing comfort in his final moments. If you are scared or emotional to the extreme it will be more stressful for your dog. Just think about the happy moments that you got to experience with him and be thankful that you had such an impact on their life. Something to think about is pets may only be with us for a short time of our lives but we are a part of their entire life. So you are probably the best thing that they had in their lives and feel comfort that fate brought you to them and them to you

When we knew time was short for my girl, we went ahead and got a puppy before she passed. It was immensely comforting for my family to know she got to meet and approve of our new family member. And the puppy was very helpful in finding healing and peace.

Especially #3 You did what any thoughtful person would do.

quote:

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I got a cat.


Needed a change from dogs and I’ll be damned if I’m not just as attached to this cat as I was the previous dogs

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Lost our 14½ year old big cat a little over a year ago. It was awful.

The process of putting him down was heartbreaking to see, even though it was painless. However, we were not about to leave him alone. He died getting a rub down and being told how much he was loved.

I miss that cat so much.