Dealing with a dogs death

genevieve

Hello,

As a person who has worked in a veterinary clinic for a while I feel your pain.
Ive sennmany animales put down. Its always hard.
You know what can help you get through this?
Do you know how many animals die in pain? How many come in in very poor condition and the owners have neglected?
You and you family loved your pet. Gave it the love and respect it deserved. Brought it in to have a fair death. The staff cares. And I care everytime I read a thread like this.

I say this time and time again.
Euthanasia is a mercy we only wish we had for human family members.

Take care and talk about your pet often.
That is what keeps them alive the longest.

ForestBrain

Oh, man, I know what you're going through. My cat had bladder stones and he was in constant misery. We tried having them removed, but he kept getting them. We had to put him to sleep. It was so hard.

Wobbie

One week ago today, we had to put our dear doggie down. She was 13 and it was awful. Some kind folks have given me some very thoughtful words on the ~~~~doggie~~~~ thread. My heart goes out to you :(

http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=114049&page=110

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/ddgrh8r/IMG_0008.jpg

imalive wrote:

A friend gave this to my wife. It really hit home with me. I've always carried Shelby's love and look forward to the day I can feel better about this. I liked this idea so much I retyped the thing my wife got and I'm going to pass it on to the next pet owner who needs it...

If you ever love an animal, there are three days in your life you will always remember. The first is a day, blessed with happiness, when you bring home your new friend. You may have spent weeks deciding on a breed. You may have asked opinions of many friends or done research finding a breeder. Or, in a fleeting moment, you may have chosen that silly looking mutt at the shelter, simply because something in its eyes reached your heart. But when you bring that chosen pet home, and watch it explore…when you feel it brush against you for the first time, it instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through many years to come.

The second day will occur years later. It will be a day like any other. Routine and unexceptional. But, for a surprising instant, you will look at your longtime friend and see age where you once saw youth. You will see slow deliberate steps where you saw energy. You will see sleep where you once saw activity. You will begin to adjust your friend’s diet and you may add a pill to her food. And, you may feel a growing uneasy feeling until the third day arrives.

On this day, if your friend or your higher being has not decided for you, then you will be faced with making a decision of your own on behalf of your lifelong friend. Whichever way your friend leaves you, you will feel as alone as a single star in the dark night.

If you are wise, you will let the tears flow freely as they must. If you are typical, you will find that not many family and friends will be able to understand your grief. But, if you are true to the love of the pet you cherished through many joy-filled years, you may find that a soul, smaller in size than your own, seems to walk with you at times, during the lonely days to come. At those moments when you least expect anything out of the ordinary, you may feel something brush against your leg. And, looking down at the place where your dear friend used to lie… you will remember those three significant days. The memory will be painful. As time passes, the ache will come and go. You will reject it and embrace it and it may confuse you. If you reject it, it will depress you. If you embrace it, it will deepen you. Either way, it will still be an ache.

But, there will be a forth day when, along with the memory of your pet, and piercing through the heaviness in your heart, there will come a realization that belongs only to you. It will be as unique and strong as our relationship with the pet we have loved and lost. This realization takes the form of a Living Love, like the heavenly scent of a rose. This Love will remain and grow, and will be there for us to remember. It is a love we have earned. It’s the legacy our pets leave us when they go… and it’s a gift we keep with us as long as we live. And until we leave, perhaps to join our beloved pets, it is a Love we will always possess.

It makes me feel a little better .

Nothingman54

Watch Old Yeller. I need mulch.

Smartypants

I'm so sorry for what you're going through. I've been through this a few times and I don't think there's very much that will make the next few days, weeks, months easier.

When my dog died a few years ago, I accidentally found something that made me feel better in the long run. I was writing in my journal that night and found myself writing a list of all the things I loved about her, all the funny things she'd done and the adventures we'd gone on together. I bawled like a baby writing that journal entry so I can't say that it made me feel much better at the time. I would also remember things days and weeks later and add them to the list.

Over time that hurt began to heal and I began smiling when I thought of her, instead of always crying. And whenever I open that journal and read that long, long list of things it always makes me happy and some of it even makes me laugh. I never would've believed it could happen, but there are even some things on that list that I'd forgotten over time. So I'm grateful that I did it and now I do it for all my pets.

stateoflove79

patrickredeyes wrote:

I've told this story before. But when my dog Mandy had to be put to sleep a few yrs ago. They let us come in and be with her as they gave the shot. Holding her paw in my hand I watched as she closed her eyes and went to sleep. Right across from us there was a brown lab giving birth to pups. It was the circle of life right in front of my eyes. I'll never forget that.


Once again I am sorry for all the sadness and pain your going threw.

That's an interesting story...

For the poster, I am so sorry for your loss. My wife and I had to put a dog down 3 months ago and we still grieve...we probably always will, he was a special boy...

As others have said, remember the good times. Dogs are seriously like family. Hell, they BECOME family. I call my dog "son"...lol

Sorry for your loss...never forget.

pearljamgirl07

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...
sorry to hear that it's so sad:( hugs