re: One of the tougher things to do in life

Ride out a hurricane comes to mind...

I know how you feel. You will get ripped on here though as a dogkiller. Sorry for your loss. I had a 16 year black lab go this year. I Cried like a baby.

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People that have never had to do it

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I envy them a bit.

I've never regretted it. In my opinion, it's the right way to do it. It's how I'd want to go out if I were in the position.

fricking psychos in this thread

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You will get ripped on here though as a dogkiller.

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Downvotes are for the wanton shooting of dogs, not for euthanasia purposes.

I agree that the most human is probably to do it oneself, but I don't know that I could do that. Maybe the best middleground is to pay the vet for a house visit.

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I envy them a bit

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Yup. It isn't easy and it sticks with you. But dying isn't easy. It's not supposed to be.

I think pets are here to teach us that lesson in life, about loss. We know that in the natural order of things, we will outlive them. And yet we can still love them even though we know we will lose them. We learn the impermanence of existence through them as we grow. They help us accept mortality in their own way. That and the meaning of unconditional loyalty.

I've had to do it a couple of times and it's horrible. But the dog doesn't have the stress of being taken to the vet. They're with you then it's over. Cried like a baby but it was the right thing to do.

It definitely teaches you something about mortality that you don't learn elsewhere. It's a horrible thing to have to do.

Humans don't deserve good dogs. There's a lot to say for a creature who is just happy to make you happy. I've had many a good one, and many a bad one. The good ones carve a place in your heart that they keep.

So when you shoot it do you get brains and blood on you? Hand gun? Riffle?

Depends on the animal. My Great Uncle showed me how to do it. He had hunting dogs. I was probably, 12 or 13 maybe? One of his was at the end and he told me it was time. So we took Traveler out of the pen and got in the truck and took a ride. He rode in the front with us on that trip.

My Uncle gave him some jerky on the way and rubbed his head until we got to some family land where we'd hunt.

We parked and started walking through the woods. Slowly. Traveler had trouble walking at that point, so my uncle picked him up in his arms and carried him. We came to a little clearing with a big pecan. My Uncle said that was where Traveler treed his first squirrel.

Then we took turns digging a grave near the base of the tree. When it was deep enough he picked Traveler up and squeezed him tight and whispered something in his ear. Then he wrapped him in the blanket from his pen and knelt down and placed him in the grave.

He gave him another piece of jerky and scratched him behind the ear. He kind of whimpered and laid down. Poor little guy was hurting.

Then he took the .357 out of his holster and put it behind his ear. Pulled the trigger. The shot echoed though the woods. It was over in an instant. He just went still. There was some blood but that's the way of things. He didn't suffer.

Then we buried him. My uncle carved his name and the date on that old pecan. I cried. He didn't but I saw tears behind his glasses. Pretty sure that was the only time I saw that.

Then we walked back to the truck in silence. When we got to the truck he looked at me and said, "that's how it's done." We drove home and life went on. He kept a picture of Traveler in an album with other dogs he had had.

Sorry for the long post. Been a while since I've dredged up that memory. I'll try to be brief with the rest.

When I had to do it the first time I was 17. My dog and I took a walk, I gave her some special attention and a treat and she sat there while I dug the grave. Gave her a treat and told her goodbye in my own way.

I used my first gun. Gift from the same uncle actually. Savage over under, 20g and .22 magnum.
I used the magnum. Behind the ear. Again, there's some blood, but it's done in an instant. Then you bury them and cry and give them a marker.

The next time I used a ruger 10/22. LR.
Two shots. right after the other. Probably didn't need the second.

It's not easy. But you're there with them all the way to the end and they're your dog. They walked with you through life. It's your duty as their master to bring them into the clearing and make their last moments as comfortable as they can be.


Whew. So that's that.

I think I'm gonna go have several drinks now.
Peace.