For anyone who has ever had to put down their dog...

milarso

http://www.vimeo.com/8191217

This video is incredibly honest and very sad. I don't recommend watching it if you can't handle something pretty emotional.

Rygar

:(

eyedclaar

Goodbyes

Jerry was finally on the edge of a fitful sleep when his wife stomped through their living room. She shot a withering glance towards his blanketed form on the couch and then slipped into the deep purple light of first dawn, the front door slamming like a rifle report. The brief encounter had been his only contact with Sarah all day; a three second snippet stuck on constant rotation like holiday jingles.
He was a bit surprised she had gone to work. After last night, he wasn’t sure if anyone would be in the proper mind frame to deal with stressed shoppers hunting for last-minute gifts. Jerry could picture his wife biting the head off some unsuspecting customer, but knowing her spiteful toad of a manager, he couldn’t imagine Sarah taking any chances.
Jerry had called in sick despite having the entire next week off. They needed the money, but he made it a point to avoid spinning blades when exhausted. Over the years, he’d seen co-workers lose fingertips, entire digits, and once, even a hand. Besides, Jerry knew his boss would be willing to sign off on a smaller paycheck. A recent nosedive in the weak construction market had already brought mandatory furloughs to Dante’s Lumber Yard. Jerry was only scheduled for a half day and, although he didn’t like to take advantage, there was a solid chance Dante would pay him the hours anyway. They had grown up together in the Idaho logging town of Timberline and their families had been acquaintances for three generations.
Standing at the kitchen window, Jerry digs a pack of Camel cigarettes out of his flannel shirt pocket and lights one. Yesterday had marked the end of ten days without smoking. Sarah had made it clear that it was an impossible habit to justify when they could barely afford to heat their house, but that hadn’t stopped him from taking a walk down to the corner Smoke N’ Suds. Not today.
He looks at the clock on the stove. 5:49. The glowing green numbers are the only light in the room, barely enough to cast his ghostly reflection across the glass. Outside, it is dark and dumping snow. Although the driveway is less than thirty feet away, Jerry can barely see a vague outline of his battered Chevy S-10 through the thick flakes. The rest of the world has been swallowed by the storm. It has to be the roads, Jerry reasons. Otherwise, she would be home by now.
The fight last night had been explosive, bordering on a physical confrontation. Jerry had never seen Sarah so close to hitting someone. He winces as he recalls her petite figure swelling with rage, her blue eyes turning black. He remembers the potted poinsettia that was supposed to serve as their Christmas tree smashing at his feet, showering his legs with shattered clay and damp soil. Jerry still hears the unbearable sound of his wife weeping behind a locked bathroom door.
A broad-shouldered and shaggy Saint Bernard creeps into the kitchen, toenails clicking on the tiled floor. The animal turns his back to Jerry, sits at the side door of the house, and begins to whimper softly.
“You too, Brutus?”
Upon hearing his name, the giant dog offers Jerry a suspicious glance before returning his attention to the door.
“You think I wanted that, huh? I didn’t have a choice, man. He was too far gone. I guess I should have let your mom take him in when we noticed the abscess... We can’t even afford your damn dog food!”
Brutus doesn’t flinch. Jerry might as well be talking to himself.
He thinks about the heavy Carhartt boot box resting on a work bench in their garage. The ground outside has been frozen for weeks; digging holes has to wait for spring. Time enough for him to carve a maple plaque with commemorative inscription at Dante’s shop. Sarah will like that.
A haunted vision of trust-filled eyes floods his memory. He remembers the lurching metal in his hand, the acrid smell of burnt powder, and the black stain splashed across the evening snow. He remembers the conviction he was doing the right thing vanishing as quickly as the echoing blast. He remembers handing Sarah the collar and realization taking control of her eyes.
Jerry takes another look at the clock and then back at their dog. The Saint Bernard raises a giant paw and places it on the doorknob. Jerry takes a last drag off his cigarette, slowly exhales the plume of smoke, and snuffs it out.
“Goodbyes are important, Brutus. Don’t worry. She knows that.”

decides2dream

well with that disclaimer, who's actually going to watch it? :? :(
i've had to sadly put down a few pets in my lifetimes. it is a gut-wrenching experience.

milarso

decides2dream wrote:

well with that disclaimer, who's actually going to watch it? :? :(
i've had to sadly put down a few pets in my lifetimes. it is a gut-wrenching experience.

I know- but I just want people to know what they are in for. It's sad, but it's worth it if you can feel something you can relate to.

Wobbie

I've had to do it and there's no fucking way I'm clicking that link! So there.

unlost dogs

imalive wrote:

I've had to do it and there's no fucking way I'm clicking that link! So there.

I'm with you!
Have 3 dogs now. When we lost our old fellow two years ago he went in his sleep, on a dog bed right beside my husband who was working on the computer. One big "woof" and he was gone before my husband could get his arms around him in a hug. Very peaceful for him, traumatic for us.

Can't possibly click on that link... :( :( :(

Wobbie

unlost dogs wrote:

imalive wrote:

I've had to do it and there's no fucking way I'm clicking that link! So there.

I'm with you!
Have 3 dogs now. When we lost our old fellow two years ago he went in his sleep, on a dog bed right beside my husband who was working on the computer. One big "woof" and he was gone before my husband could get his arms around him in a hug. Very peaceful for him, traumatic for us.

Can't possibly click on that link... :( :( :(

come on over!

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=80212

dcfaithful

I hate thinking that one day I'll have to part ways with my precious Zeke. Oh how I wish he could live forever. :(

chadwick

my mom's friend betty just had her chow-chow Thai put to sleep & cremated.
Thai was with betty since puppy-hood and lived about 17 years or so.
chows are fantastic dogs.
a one family dog; excellent guard dogs.

our chow's name was Chi.
Chi ruled the world.
he loved snowdrifts and fighting other males dogs.
no no no we never supported dog fighting.
in the iowa country side dogs run amok.
if another male dog came in Chi's yard or woods it was on.
oh, and never go in Chi's corn field if you're a dude dog.
if you're a chic dog Chi will fuck you well.

Chi had a stroke and had to be put down behind the barn. (all i could do was dig the hole... prior)
he lived a good life.

btw, Chi pulled a toboggan with us on it one at a time.(kids of course)
fantastic dog.

Franny

I don't need to watch it ....been there done that with my Mac 18 months ago. He had just had his 14th birthday 2 weeks before hand, and been for his last walk to the pony club and ride in the car to the newsagent the day before. On the sunday night/monday morning he had a stroke whilst sleeping and I woke to find my mum crying and supporting him ( a 63yo woman with a 30kg dog i her arms). He was my 16th birthday present and it shattered me and the whole family. He was a big part of our life, we knew it was coming, but nothing can prepare you for it. But at least when we took him to the vet and they gave him his needle, we knew he could rest and not be in pain. Still miss my big boy.

The Juggler

had to put my childhood dog down on christmas morning 10 years ago.

needless to say that was....rough.

Got a hard hard head

I sometimes feel really guilty because I wept over our dog being put to sleep more than my Grandma passing away.

Sounds awful, doesn't it? But that fact is our dog, Lucky, was there for me every day. She was ready to welcome me home every day, ready to go for a walk with me, always had a way of coaxing me into sharing my food with her with just a look. She was a companion, a friend when I was alone – which was a lot. I had moments where I lost my temper with her when I really should have shown her the patience that she showed me. She had ways of making me laugh and seemed to know how I was feeling.

She was family and I miss her terribly. I can never own another dog, because I just don't think I could ever go through that pain again.

unlost dogs

Got a hard hard head wrote:

I sometimes feel really guilty because I wept over our dog being put to sleep more than my Grandma passing away.

Sounds awful, doesn't it?

No, completely understandable. People who don't have that kind of relationship with their animals probably won't get it, but the rest of us certainly do. Felt the same way when we lost our Seamus... we were lost for a long time and were very thankful we had the other two dogs to help us with that. Even so, everything was so different without his enormous personality.

When my Dad died, it was awful and too soon, but it was a release for him and he went the way he wanted too, peacefully at home with all of us there. It was his decision. And he too basically fell asleep and just didn't wake up. That was a comfort...

With our dogs, and especially when the compassionate intervention is euthanasia, we are making that choice for them. They are fully dependent on us to do the right thing for them. Childlike in a lot of ways. I can't imagine that it's ever an easy decision, no matter how much we know it's the only thing to do.

Different, but... the same. You know?

unlost dogs

imalive wrote:

unlost dogs wrote:

imalive wrote:

I've had to do it and there's no fucking way I'm clicking that link! So there.

I'm with you!
Have 3 dogs now. When we lost our old fellow two years ago he went in his sleep, on a dog bed right beside my husband who was working on the computer. One big "woof" and he was gone before my husband could get his arms around him in a hug. Very peaceful for him, traumatic for us.

Can't possibly click on that link... :( :( :(

come on over!

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=80212

THANK YOU!

Green Circle

Just put down my Old puppy Buster a black lab. He was 16 years old.
A part of out family, we were all there my wife and two kids. We all left crying.
One of the toughest choices I had to make.

Thoughts_Arrive

I just cried my eyes out right now.
Watching that brought me back to almost a year ago, felt like I was there again.
I was that guy in the video, and that was my family saying bye before taking our cat to the vet.
Maybe I shouldn't have watched it.
Poor Oden he looked so sad yet he was giving love back to his keepers one final time :(
And people in my other thread are saying that wouldn't try save their pet dog?

:(

Thoughts_Arrive

Got a hard hard head wrote:

I sometimes feel really guilty because I wept over our dog being put to sleep more than my Grandma passing away.

Sounds awful, doesn't it? But that fact is our dog, Lucky, was there for me every day. She was ready to welcome me home every day, ready to go for a walk with me, always had a way of coaxing me into sharing my food with her with just a look. She was a companion, a friend when I was alone – which was a lot. I had moments where I lost my temper with her when I really should have shown her the patience that she showed me. She had ways of making me laugh and seemed to know how I was feeling.

She was family and I miss her terribly. I can never own another dog, because I just don't think I could ever go through that pain again.

I feel what you feel, I cannot get another cat, just won't be right and don't want to go through this again.

BLACK35

Could never click on that link. I know what I went through a yr ago when I thought I was going to have to put my big buddy down. Best part was I didn't have to..just ended up that he ate a sock and couldn't pass it or throw it up..he eventually threw it up after 3 days.
But, my golden retriever is 12 yrs old and I know that his day will be here eventually. His hips are still ok at the moment....but you can see they are getting worse. The one thing I don't want him to do is live in a whole lot of pain. I'm sure I'll be a mess...had since he was 3 months old. Makes me sad even thinking about this while I'm typing...outta here

pandora

"Its better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all"
this also from a pets point of view.
The time we have with our beloved pets is short, even those that live long full lives.
My wish would be all pets could be loved but we know only the lucky ones are.
My wish would be that all humans would love just one animal within their lifetime but we know only the lucky humans know this love.
Embrace the passing of a beloved best friend by celebrating the love you shared, not the loss.
This love will stay with you forever.
Don't be afraid to make another pet and yourself very lucky with new love.

PearlOfAGirl

I had to put a mom and daughter down within 6 months of each other... the hardest thing in my life... :( at that point, I said no more dogs, well within 2 months later I got my JRT, and now we have another dog...