Euthanasia and your pet

Hate seeing this thread bumped.

Sorry about your loss habernac.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by habernac

I've dreaded this day. My poor cat just didn't look right when we came back from vacation. We had her put down today, she had kidney disease. 12 years is a decent run for a cat, but it doesn't make it any easier. Such a wonderful disposition, she was kind and gentle. Loved my kids, had a terrific purr. My heart is broken.

So sorry, man. The feels.

[hmmhmmcamo]

Originally Posted by habernac

I've dreaded this day. My poor cat just didn't look right when we came back from vacation. We had her put down today, she had kidney disease. 12 years is a decent run for a cat, but it doesn't make it any easier. Such a wonderful disposition, she was kind and gentle. Loved my kids, had a terrific purr. My heart is broken.

Sounds like you're going through some tough times between this and what you posted in the gear grinder thread. Hang in there man.

[habernac]

[redforever]

What a beautiful cat..sorry for your loss.

[Jbo]

Sorry for your loss

[dissentowner]

Sorry for your loss, damn this thread depresses me.

[Suzles]

So very, very sorry for your loss. I have an elderly calico at the present time. She is such a love bug. Calicos are often gentle souls. Take care.

[Brannigans Law]

after 13 long years, our family Beagle was put down last Saturday. My parents didn't tell me until I came home from Niagara, not wanting to ruin the week off I had and my engagement. I felt gut wrenched remembering talking to my Dad and telling him about my engagement, meanwhile he was likely very upset about the loss of our dog. The two of them were best of friends, and I've wound up loaning my new pup to them for a few days to provide some puppy therapy (and its worked well).

I cant believe our little friend is gone, but he had an amazing life. I emailed my Dad this poem and he loved it (and cried my Mom said), and I'll leave it here for others going through the loss of a dog.

A Little Dog Angel

High up in the courts of heaven today
a little dog angel waits;
with the other angels he will not play,
but he sits alone at the gates.
"For I know my master will come" says he,
"and when he comes he will call for me."

The other angels pass him by
As they hurry toward the throne,
And he watches them with a wistful eye
as he sits at the gates alone.
"But I know if I just wait patiently
that someday my master will call for me."

And his master, down on earth below,
as he sits in his easy chair,
forgets sometimes, and whispers low
to the dog who is not there.
And the little dog angel cocks his ears
and dreams that his master's voice he hears.

And when at last his master waits
outside in the dark and cold,
for the hand of death to open the door,
that leads to those courts of gold,
he will hear a sound through the gathering dark,
a little dog angel's bark.

Noah M. Holland

[Dion]

So sorry for your loss.

[Suzles]

Beautiful poem - so very sorry for your loss.

[Reaper]

Sorry to hear this. So hard to lose our companion animals.

[Yamer]

Well, sadly, for those who have peeked into the other thread I have been posting in, my dear friend suddenly took a turn for the worst this evening and needed me to make that fateful decision that he couldn't for himself. At about 8 PM tonight, I said thank-you and good-bye, and stood by my feline companion as he drew his final breath and was finally able to rest. His name was Biz, he was 14 years old, and he was a great friend. I will miss him greatly.

I'm just numb right now, with intermittent periods of weeping. I was glad that I was with him in the end, but I can't stop picturing his lifeless expression in my mind. Yet, he was in so much trouble when I last saw him alive. Suddenly blind, face twitching, feebly mewing for someone to make it all OK. After settling him on the counter in a warm blanket and an air-warmed mattress thing, he calmed down somewhat...but had a completely blank stare. I think he was all but gone at that time, and after he started to pant and struggle again I just wanted it over for his sake.

With how suddenly it progressed they think it may have been a tumor, but at the request of another family member we will not be doing an autopsy. Part of me wishes I insisted, because despite of everything I just don't feel closure. What the #### killed my friend and stole him from me? And what the #### could I have done to save him? Did we make the wrong decision?

I can't believe I have to go to work in the morning.

[Zevo]

Really sorry for your loss. Just know that the good memories will start to push out the grief and feeling of helplessness you have now. It just takes time.

The right thing is always the hardest thing in your situation. Don't second guess yourself, you did the best thing you could for your pet...you didn't let him suffer.

[ben voyonsdonc]

I'm so sorry, Yamer.

I understand trying to get closure by doing an autopsy but from your description of what he was going through, you did the right thing in putting him down.

Do you have any cat owner friends? Maybe reach out to them and chat. Sometimes people don't realize how much a pet really means to someone and only another cat lover may understand how hard this is.

Do you really have to go to work tomorrow? Does your company offer flex days or sick days? Are you going to be productive if you go in?

[ben voyonsdonc]

Dion posted this poem in the other thread and I think it belongs here as well.

"A Pets Prayer"

If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done,
For this, the last battle, can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand,
Don't let this grief than stay your hand,
For this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship stands the test.

We've had so many happy years,
What is to come can hold no tears,
You'd not want me to suffer, so,
When the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end,
And hold me firm and speak to me,
Until my eyes no longer see.
It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail, it's last has waved,
From pain and suffering I've been saved.
Don't grieve that it should be you,
Who decides this thing to do,
We've been so close, we two, these years,
Don't let your heart hold any fears.

Smile for we walked together for a little while.

[WhiteTiger]

I'm sorry for your loss, Yamer.

[Suzles]

The love you have for a pet is so pure. Absolute trust. They know your every mood and love you anyway. You tell them your secrets and know they will never tell. I would love to see some photos of your cat -I'm sure all CalPuck would. Trust me, you will never stop missing them but you do learn to cope. And it is the happy memories that hold strongest. Our dog died 3 years ago - I was driving home a couple of weeks ago and saw my first gopher. I said "Eeek" and looked into my rear view mirror as force of habit, fully expecting Molly to be all alert and ears on end. Truly, it made me smile. Take time to think about your cat. Talk about him. What a very lucky cat to have been so loved by you.

[Yamer]

After getting all of maybe 2-3 hours of discontinuous sleep, and basically walking around like a zombie after hearing my alarm this morning, I decided to take the day off. Trouble is, I kind of regret it. I know it would have given me something to do to take my mind off of everything, but I also know I wouldn't have done the place any good (and probably dragged some happy people down into my depression). I drove a family member to the dentist, just so that I could get out of the house, and even though waiting in reception consisted of listening to phones going off, receptionists chatting, and a baby crying I was content for that 1/2 hour simply because I wasn't being reminded of everything at home.

I just feel a sort of "all-over" awful right now, and I really, really wish I could sleep for a little while...but every time I'm about to doze off I'm overwhelmed with grief. I'm glad it was quick for him, but at the same time it was so sudden that I didn't really get the opportunity to say the good-bye I had always intended.

After visiting the dentist's office I stopped by the Vet clinic and picked up the paw print we had requested. It's a beautifully done memorial, and helped me shed a bit more ocular fluid I apparently didn't need.

Thanks for all your support, I truly appreciate the kind words and encouragement. Right now I'm just completely unsure what to do with myself. Memories everywhere I look.

[Reaper]

I'm so sorry, Yamer. It's never easy to say goodbye to someone we love. [Internet Bro Hug]