Re: For those that put their pets down...

Now I am crying at my desk!

I thankfully never had to deal with this and one day I am sure I will. If it was up to me, I would want to be there no matter how the pain felt. I think I would owe it to my little girl to be there for the amount of joy she has brought to my life.

Re: For those that put their pets down...

When we had our cat put down recently we chose not to stay. I preferred to remember her the way she was, not actually dying. Its a personal thing, some people want to stay, but we didn't want to.

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I couldn't with my childhood dog.....my mom and I brought her in, we said our goodbyes and then the vet brought us in afterwards, and she looked very peaceful.

Re: For those that put their pets down...

I seriously need to stay off the Pet Board at work... So far 2 threads this morning have had me in tears....

Re: For those that put their pets down...

Posted by lipglossjunky73

Posted by Gertyrae

I did with my dobie...it's hard, but at the same time they just go to sleep.

I dont know if I could take this, but I also couldnt leave him alone to die...

Message edited 12/12/2008 9:20:19 AM.

Re: For those that put their pets down...

My DH and I stayed with our Rottie when we put him down. It was very hard and extremely emotional and I know that this will sound crazy, but it was peaceful as well.

Re: For those that put their pets down...

Yes. It was horrible, but I woulnd't have him die alone. I didn't hold him. He layed on the table, and I held his head and pet his head and kissed his nose and talked to him until he was gone. it was probably the worst moment of my life. When he took his last breath his head pushed forward and it was the most awful thing ever. But I wouldn't want him to die alone.

Re: For those that put their pets down...

Posted by Shroggie

I'm crying just reading your stories

Re: For those that put their pets down...

I was never able to when we put our family Husky, Nikki down but I was young then (about 12)

I know when the time comes for my beloved Sandy, I will not be able to let her face that alone. I want my face to be the last face she sees and that she can go in peace

she is only 4 so hopefully, this day won't come for a long while

Re: For those that put their pets down...

I could not. I just had to put my cat Bubba down a few weeks ago and I could not be there when it happened. After it was done I went outside and cried in my car for the longest before driving home. I feel a little guilty for not being with him at the last second but I had the hardest time seeing him sick... the thought of watching him die was absolutely horrific to me.

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With Hershey, they called us at 1AM and we had to make a decision so we weren't there (something that I still really regret).

DH stayed with Max (I couldn't even go to the vet with him).

We were both at the hospital with Bailey but I had to leave the room.

Re: For those that put their pets down...

For every pet I put down, whether it be for myself, my Mom or my Grandmother, I made the effort to be there (unless I was OOT). It's horrible and it never gets easy, but I felt as though I needed to be there; to comfort them, to draw comfort from the experience. I didn't want them leaving this world alone. I wanted them to be held and loved by the people who were closest to them.

When I put my ( cat/son) Victor down, I literally went into hysterics. I must have cried/screamed so loudly that people heard me in the waiting area. When I came out, there was a young woman standing there with her puppy in near hysterics as well. She came over and hugged me so tight. I'll always remember that moment.

Re: For those that put their pets down...

we had to do this last night . my sister stayed with her cat, my mom and i left the room. i couldn't see her die.

when my sweet angel went to heaven 3 years ago i let the doctors do it. my abu wasn't alone at all--he had the doctor (who i LOVE) and the techs with him. and they treated him with dignity. i just couldn't watch my sweet angel die in my arms--that would have haunted me forever.

please don't say your animals are alone if you don't stay with them. if you have a vet that you love and trust, they are with him. my cat was NOT alone--he had loving, trained people with him while i was blubbering and heartbroken in the waiting room.

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The last time I waas in that position I was a teenager and my dad took the dog to be put down when I was not home without me knowing. With my Brody, I will be in hysterics, but I will want to be there when it it his time.

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With both of my cats, I was with them and held them, I couldn't let them be alone without me.

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I didn't for my first dog because she was in surgery and the vet called us with the news so they just put her down on the operating room table, but my present dog has cancer and I know its going to be something we will have to do in the near future. Its going to be a tough decision, but i'm sure i'll be there.

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All these stories have me in tears... thankfully i have never had to do this but when i was in school doing my internship, i was observing while the dr put down a maltese (i have a maltese, she was my first dog) and it was so upsetting i started hysterical crying and had to leave the room. i must have cried for a hour. i dread the day i have to go thru this with my own dogs, especially since 4 of them are sisters and i worry they are gonna go one after another. May all your pets rest in peice

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I couldn't do it-I had my dad do it. He said my cat looked very peaceful and did not look in pain, the way she did when I cared for her as she was dying.

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I couldn't with my childhood dog and cat because it was too hard. The vet asked if we were sure of our decision.

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Yes, I do not regret it, DH didnt want to but decided last minute and I think it helped him, it helped knowing we were with her and i kept her head in my hands and just kept kissing her and telling her I loved her-I was the last thing she saw so she didnt have to be scared, I dont know if it helped me or hurt me, the pain is still too raw, her bday was the 25th of Nov, she would have been 8, its impossible not to remember her bday b/c our other dogs bday is on the 24th, its our first holiday season without her, so its really hard this year, Im hoping the pain turns into just happy memories, eventually....