putting my first dog to sleep tom :(

[chinchillalover0927]

well after putting it off and the dreaded time coming, we are putting my first dog to sleep tomorrow..
my mother bought her for me for my birthday 9-10 years ago so she was my first dog we ever had....

within the last year she started having problems with her back end so we brought her to the vet, her spine was starting to phuse(sp) together and her back legs were loosing all controll, feeling, etc...her anal area has no feelings so she started to accidently just poop in the house, and when she is walking her back end would slam into walls and other things...

my mom said when she couldnt get up anymore we were putting her to sleep, and over the last few weeks she has been struggling.....she falls and cant get her back end up and gives up and just lays wherever she fell, she slams onto the floor due to not being able to controll herself anymore, and now its to the point where she trembles so we know she is in pain...im 19 and i love this dog to death but i told my mom yesterday that we had to do it that i couldnt take it anymore....so tomorrow we are putting her down and im so torn up about it..i have cried myself to sleep last nite and im sure i will tonite to..

my only thing, im undecided about....i want to be there for her and hold her when this happens but i think im going to freak out , i dont know if i can handle it and i dont know what to do... im just so hurt....
_________________________

 

[tunes]

It's hard to be there when you let a friend go that's been with you for a long time. I personally have to be there. I want the last thing they hear to my voice telling them how much I love them and how much we'll miss them. Other people cannot do it, it's too hard for them.

Whichever you decide to do, I'm very sorry this has to be done, but when they reach a certain point, and it sounds as though your doggie has, then it's the last, best thing you can do for them. You are allowing her to leave this life with dignity.

 

[minrex]

I'm sorry you have to make that decision. It's incredibly difficult to lose a beloved pet and it's even worse when you have to be the one who decides when to say goodbye.

I can't tell you whether you should be there when your dog passes, as that is a personal decision, but I will say that my way of thinking is usually that an animal would probably be comforted by having a familiar, kind touch or voice, especially that of someone that they have a close bond with, when they take their last breath. If I'm given the choice, I always choose to be there, to try to give that comfort, and also because it provides some sort of closure for me. Whatever you decide though, I hope that you are comforted by the knowledge that you are doing your friend a great kindness and performing a selfless act of love.

 

[Ziora]

Take a deep breath. You will get through this.

When I had to let my beloved cat go, it was so emotionally draining. I believe he knew it was time. I held him as he passed over the bridge. As hard as it was, I just wanted to be with him. We all have our reasons for being there or not being there, and whatever you decide, it will be the right thing. If you think you will freak out, then maybe you can be gentle with yourself and have a family member be with him. You need someone there for you too.

Crying is ok. I cried buckets.

Take care of yourself and allow yourself to grieve in your own way, not how someone else might tell you.

You'll be in my thoughts tomorrow.

 

[Ziora]

I'm sorry, I meant to say "her." when referring to your beautiful dog. I was thinking of my cat, I guess.

 

[chinchillalover0927]

thank you all of you...i appreciate it, and i think ive decided im going to be there for her tomorrow....
we are putting her to sleep in the truck so that we dont have to bring her in the clinic, one for me and my mom freaking out crying in front all those people and 2 she hates the clinics and i dont want to make it a bad experience..
i want to hold her when we put her to sleep i dont know how im going to take it but im going to try my best to deal with it and be there for her sake...

we are bringing her home and burying her and im going to bury her in my favorite blanket, so she can have a piece of me, but it breaks my heart that all ill have is memories or pics of her, i have nothing to hold on to that was hers because we have so many dogs ...we are also going to bury her in her favorite spot, in the sun, she loved to bask when the sun was out and her name was sunny lol
i took these today of her

 

[Ziora]

I'm glad you have a compassionate vet who will do that for you.

She is gorgeous. The pictures and her expressions will give you many smiles in the years to come as you remember her.

 

[InkedupTara]

Hugs sweety. May she be pain free and always run free in your heart.

 

[chinchillalover0927]

i did this today, im going to put it over her picture frame on my wall, i just got done, just letting it dry off

its yellow,for the sun with hot pink dots its suppose to say sunny lol but its all over the place from me painting it lol

i thank all of you so much for being here for me and helping me threw this, its so hard because i have never been here before, ive had animals come and go but never one that was for 10 years and one that had so much meaning to me..

 

[RDZCRanch]

Why don't you do a clay impression of her paw? Then you could also push a small clipping of her fur into the clay. It'd be a great memorial.

Losing a pet is always hard...they end up being more like family than a pet as the years go on. I was there when we had our 20yr old dog that I'd had since I was 2 put down. She was 2 when we got her...so I had her a good 18 years. Her companion is still with us and going on 13 now with some (now controlled) bad arthritis, hearing loss, and sight loss.

 

[starleomach]

I am so sorry.

 

[3CsMommy]

I hesitate whether to say whether staying with her or leaving before she falls asleep is "right"; that's determined by each person. When it's been animals for rescue, the group I worked with *never* let an animal have that last shot alone. In those cases, though, I might have been only the second or third human in their lives to be gentle and loving and sympathetic toward them and we had to make up for lost time. There's nothing quite so simultaneously hopeless and lightening as the moment when the suffering ends. I won't lie and say that it doesn't hurt or hurts less over time, because I'm crying as I type this, seeing every one of those little faces relax in my hand, but I know it was what they needed us to do for them. It sucks, but I think it's one of the greatest gifts we can offer a companion animal.

In a way with *my* childhood dog, we were lucky; he'd had a series of strokes and we knew the time was coming, but the morning of his appointment, we woke up to him still asleep beside the bed. I miss him every day of my life, but his quality of life had slipped to the point that, again, we couldn't let him suffer. I think, knowing his personality, he decided he wasn't going to make us fuss at the vet, even though he would have loved one last car ride. (Had we been planning a trip to Dairy Queen, though, he might have stuck around for another day. ) My father is *not* the crying type, and I think while he was digging Jack's grave, he sobbed harder than either my mother and I. Jack wouldn't have wanted Daddy embarrassed by losing it in public. He wouldn't have wanted me scared to take another animal to the vet because I remembered something so sad every time we went to the office. He wouldn't have wanted Mother to leave that office with empty arms again. So, he decided to leave us where and when he was comfortable and leave the smelly guy with cold hands out of the day entirely. And I think it was best for us, in the long run, that we didn't have to take him to the office one last time.

So, when it comes time to decide 'stay or go' while she falls asleep, think about it from her point of view. Would she be upset if you sat with her crying your eyes out, or would she understand that it's because her job is done and you're going to miss her until you see her again? Would she feel abandoned if you quietly went into the waiting room (Where no one will judge you, by the way, for what needs to be done. If there are people like me there, and I'm sure there will be, someone will likely mourn with you.) or would she understand that you wouldn't want your sadness to upset her? Most important, and call me nuts if you want, is simply to explain to her. They understand us, usually better than we understand ourselves. If you can say, "I love you, but I want you to go to sleep without worrying about me," she'll accept that and love you. If you tell her, "I love you and don't want your legs to hurt any more, so I'll be here to hold you while you fall asleep," she'll accept that and love you too. Dogs just don't live long enough, and that's their only flaw.

I'll light a candle tomorrow to help her find her way into whatever's on the other side of that last sleep. Know that my boyfriend Clint and I are thinking of you today and tomorrow with sympathy. We've been where you are before, and will be again, and there's no pain quite like it. Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure it will be what's best for all of you.

 

[bpayne1217]

I'm so sorry about Sunny. I have had 2 dog be put down when I was younger. I was sad but I don't remember much. Unfortunatly my 13 year old golden retriver, who I've loved and held since she was 2 days old, has a tumor and won't be around much longer and the thought of her being gone hurts me alot. Everything will be alright. You'll see your beautiful girl again one day. Just be happy knowing she lived a long very loved life.

 

[Kalandra]

While saying good bye to a beloved pet may be one of the hardest things you have to do in life, it can also be one of the kindest acts you will ever do for him. The decision hardly ever feels like the right one, but if he is in pain, can no longer walk on his own, or cannot do the things he loved in life, it sounds like it is time to allow him to pass on with dignity. It's never fair to let them to continue on just because it hurts us and it always hurts.

Just remember that there are many many animal lovers on this website, and most of us have likely been where you are at now. Crying at the vet's office is OK. Don't worry about what others think of you. As my vet once put it, they expect us to cry and be upset.

 

[lauralynne]

Will be thinking of you during this hard time.

 

[mishellyshel]

sorry about sunny. you did a nice tribute. i stayed with my first dog when he passed, it was difficult leaving him. my golden who passed a few years ago, my x husband took him to the vet, i thought he was coming home but he died at the office. i wasnt there with him and it breaks my heart that he died alone. okay now i am crying at work.

 

[Jenn]

I am so sorry you have to say goodbye to such a good friend. It is such a hard decision to make. Your story makes me think about all the animals I have had to say goodbye to over the years, which still brings a tear to my eye. Stay strong and know that you are doing the right thing for Sunny.

 

[chinchillalover0927]

ty everyone, we ar on our way now, im going to be there for her...