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I was going out with a girl (been my wife for 37 years) who had 2 older dogs. Due to health issues, it was time to put them to sleep. Neither her parents, her 3 sisters, or she had the heart to take them to their fate, so Mr. Boyfriend was elected to do the deed.
When I arrived at the destination I took them both out of the car on their leash and handed them off. I felt terrible. Blue Boy never once looked back at me. She just quietly walked into the building in her usual arthritic gait. But Brandy was a different story. It wasn't that he was nervous or anything out of sorts, as he too just walked slowly with the gentlemen taking them into the building. When I was just back to my car, I turned around to take one last look as they were entering the building. At the exact time, Brandy turned and looked at me.
That look is something I will NEVER forget. Our eyes locked, and the stare he gave me was one of him knowing his fate. It was so obvious, and I swear I am not making it up. His eyes drilled through me like a sword. When I got home I laid into the entire family because I was really upset that it was me who had to face that, and it wasn't even my dog.
All of that being said, now with my first dog, if/when that time comes I absolutely will be at Bentley's side.
I know. The doggers had to wonder (do dogs wonder? do they know?) why they were with you and why they went to a place that might have been familiar (vet) but being handed off like that. I know this is tough and I don't want to cast aspersions on people who make a different choice, but 37 years later with this thin connection I'm p***** at your in-laws.
I know. The doggers had to wonder (do dogs wonder? do they know?) why they were with you and why they went to a place that might have been familiar (vet) but being handed off like that. I know this is tough and I don't want to cast aspersions on people who make a different choice, but 37 years later with this thin connection I'm p***** at your in-laws.
That had to be hard.
I have to 'hand off' my animals to the Vet all the time. And people. I don't get to go into surgery with them and so forth. I have to wait in the waiting room.
I have to 'hand off' my animals to the Vet all the time. And people. I don't get to go into surgery with them and so forth. I have to wait in the waiting room.
True. I left mine for knee surgery a few years ago, but only after I half seriously asked if I could go with
There are vets who will come and do a house visit to put a pet to sleep. Granted not every locale has this "luxury" but it might make the process easier in a home setting rather in something so clinical like a vet's office.
I have done this with 4 of my seniors and buried them on the far side of the creek on my own land but not everyone as that option. I stopped when I lost a 100 pound lab/nuffy mix in winter when the ground was frozen. Digging a grave by hand that is deep enough is very hard work.
Since then I have had them cremated and have a all their ashes. When I die I'll also be cremated and can legally have my ashes mixed with all of theirs and then buried up on the hillside. Friends will then plant a white oak tree over us.
And they are just as frightened at those times. So are we monsters for that?
I think I addressed this and I wouldn't call anyone a monster under these sad circumstances. But I took a cat to be euthanized about a decade ago, and I was a wreck. It was a terrible experience. The only thing worse I can imagine at this moment it not having been there, but that's me.
Putting that on a non family member is beyond understandable to me, though.
I know. The doggers had to wonder (do dogs wonder? do they know?) why they were with you and why they went to a place that might have been familiar (vet) but being handed off like that. I know this is tough and I don't want to cast aspersions on people who make a different choice, but 37 years later with this thin connection I'm p***** at your in-laws.
That had to be hard.
I never forgave them for making me take the dogs. That stare is with me for life, and the hole it drilled.
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