Staying in the room is the hardest thing in the world... for some reason the day of the appointment is always when they're having a "good day"... But as hard as it is on us, for them, knowing they were loved in that last moment before the light goes out, that means more than the tears now running down my face ever could. Goddamn it where's my tissues.
My dog, at the time of his passing was 16 years old and I was 15. I took care of him by myself for the last 2 years before we had to put him down. My father pulled me out of school and I was with him for his final moments and at the time I was sad but I'm glad now that I was with him in his final moments. He was a damn good dog...
Same here, metalman. I was 13 when the best dog I've ever had and probably will ever have just got too old..she couldn't walk anymore and it was her time. I wish I could go back and been with her but at the time, 13 year old me couldn't handle that. I had to leave and couldn't watch but I swear if I could have a do-over..I would have no hesitation in cuddling up next to her. She was the sweetest thing, nothing like her. Dang, I miss her.
i had to put down my 7 month old pit bull but didn't have the heart to stay or see him for the last time. I cried on the way home and every time i think about him i want to start crying again.
I held both of my dogs in my arms when they were put down. Even though it nearly killed me to see the light die from their eyes and their breathing stop, I was not going to let them pass alone in a strange place. I owed them that much for both of them being some of the best friends I've ever had.
Our pets deserve dignity, and our love right up until they actually pass away. It might feel hard to us to cope with seeing them die, but would you leave a dying spouse or close relative you really loved at the time they died?
It breaks my heart when I hear about someone leaving. Even if you don't want to watch them die, you owe it to them, because they've given you so much happiness, and you owe it to them to not let them spend their last moments with a veterinarian they rarely see. You owe it to them to let them say goodbye, too.
I don't even remember. (Which makes me feel bad) I'd had her 11 years and wanted nothing more to be there with her.
The man was rude in the first place. We dropped off puppies we didn't have the money to take care of after we couldn't find them a home.
He was a real ass hat while taking the dogs and the reason why. I didn't break down from my stone faced look till after they had rook her then he lightened up.
It's been 3-4 years but this post had me bawling.
In the end you just gotta remember it's not about your needs, it's about theirs, if you loved them than the last thing they should see is that love, even though it hurts knowing they felt love to the end makes it better.
It's not just dogs. My wife and I found a feral kitten that some kids were throwing rocks at. Took her to the vets and found out she was maybe 2 months old. 18 years and 2 cross country moves later we had to put her down due to kidney failure. Hardest thing I've ever done in my life.
you do, however. asshole. it's a big fucking deal because the dog spent its life giving you love and attention and you can't even be there to calm it with your presence as it's being put down??
"you do, however"
So? Deal with how you choose to, your comment seemed to be showing concern for the dog.
"it's a big fucking deal because the dog spent its life giving you love and attention"
It's not a big deal to the dog, because it doesn't know it's going to die.
"you can't even be there to calm it with your presence as it's being put down?"
That's not really a "can't even" kind of thing, it tends to be really fucking hard.
I've never owned a dog either, I just think that if you've loved an animal for, I don't know, 10 years? you probably love it enough to be there for it in its final moments. yes, I KNOW the dog probably doesn't know it's going to die but it's still agitated from the different environment and whatever else so it needs you and the comfort you provide just by being there. You, however, do know it's going to die so I'd expect you'd be a decent human being and do the right fucking thing. You chose to have a dog, it's your responsibility and I think you should do right by the poor animal and be there with it while it goes to sleep, whether that's hard for you or not. Life isn't a fairytale where you only get to do what you feel like doing and avoid the rest.
"it's still agitated from the different environment and whatever else"
Just like any other time it's at the vet's or another similar situation.
"so it needs you and the comfort you provide just by being there."
I don't think your dog *needs* you to be there every time you go to the vet. It's not usually that traumatic.
"do the right fucking thing."
I don't think you've made a case for that to be a significant moral obligation, it's just self serving, for the most part.
"I think you should do right by the poor animal and be there with it while it goes to sleep"
It's fine if you think that, but there isn't really a reason to think it's terrible if someone doesn't.
"Life isn't a fairytale where you only get to do what you feel like doing and avoid the rest."
Not in general, but this is a case where you can avoid the hard stuff without any repercussions.
It really was one of the hardest things I've ever done. Fortunately, our vet is a friend that the dog knew and liked, so she was not afraid. But especially if the dog is scared of the vet, you need to be there for them.
They know. I don't know how, but they do. I have five dogs and work at a vets office and some connections are so profound that they can't be explained.
*rips out heart*
*stops crying*
*rips out brain*
*stops crying*
The man was rude in the first place. We dropped off puppies we didn't have the money to take care of after we couldn't find them a home.
He was a real ass hat while taking the dogs and the reason why. I didn't break down from my stone faced look till after they had rook her then he lightened up.
It's been 3-4 years but this post had me bawling.
So? Deal with how you choose to, your comment seemed to be showing concern for the dog.
"it's a big fucking deal because the dog spent its life giving you love and attention"
It's not a big deal to the dog, because it doesn't know it's going to die.
"you can't even be there to calm it with your presence as it's being put down?"
That's not really a "can't even" kind of thing, it tends to be really fucking hard.
Just like any other time it's at the vet's or another similar situation.
"so it needs you and the comfort you provide just by being there."
I don't think your dog *needs* you to be there every time you go to the vet. It's not usually that traumatic.
"do the right fucking thing."
I don't think you've made a case for that to be a significant moral obligation, it's just self serving, for the most part.
"I think you should do right by the poor animal and be there with it while it goes to sleep"
It's fine if you think that, but there isn't really a reason to think it's terrible if someone doesn't.
"Life isn't a fairytale where you only get to do what you feel like doing and avoid the rest."
Not in general, but this is a case where you can avoid the hard stuff without any repercussions.