Thoughts on saying goodbye to pets

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm going through this right now with my kitty Lydia. We are so sad and don't think she'll make it through the weekend. It's just getting to the point where 'the decision' needs to be made, but my vet is out of town til Monday. It's always so hard.

[OakLeaf]

(((((Lisa & kitty))))) I'm so sorry.



We scattered each of our dogs' ashes at a park where they'd loved to walk. Each time DH and I and my first husband, their "dad," went to the ridge, scattered their ashes, shared some memories, and cast with their ashes one or two small (biodegradable) things that they'd enjoyed. My ex and his new wife and their dogs visit that park often. For myself and DH, it's more difficult to go there, but we can always feel the dogs' spirits when we do.

Only one of them made the decision easy for us. One did an awful premature death; one woke up one morning and almost literally told me "Mom, I'm tired of fighting;" the other two declined so slowly that it was difficult to say "this is the day." They never gave us a clear sign. We just had to make a judgment call on when the fun times they were still having, were outweighed by the bad times.

[badger]

what strange timing. I was just youtubing and came across the woman who dances with her dog (youtube "Carolyn Scott and Rookie"). I dug around some more and found that he had to be put down last July and was bawling thinking about the anguish I felt and still feel about doing the same for my dog.

When Chevy died last October, I wanted to remember him by planting a tree on top of his ashes, like oak or maple so he becomes part of a big, sheltering tree for other animals and be inviting for children to climb because he loved people so much.

But I couldn't find a public enough spot that wouldn't be intrusive or odd, and before long it was too cold to do something so he still remains in his urn on my bookshelf.

I still want to do something like that, so I'm scouting for possible locations.

As for stalling putting an animal down, I know in hindsight Chevy was suffering for about 2 months too long, but I could NEVER have made that appointment with the vet. In the end I had no choice, but I don't think I could have scheduled his passing.

[spindizzy]

Serendipity..our cat just died suddenly 2 hours ago. I was getting ready to go out (to get him food). I was in the kitchen, heard a thud. Thought it was Nugget throwing himself against the window to scare the squirrels and birds. I went to see him - he wasn't where I thought he was. I found him on his side at the bottom of our stairs, I patted him while thinking what to do - he coughed twice then died.

Nugget and my daughter adored each other..She was at a soccer game with DH when it happened. We are devastated as we had to put our Golden down 1 1/2 years ago. The kids wanted cremation and we still scatter his ashes in places he loved. We will let DD decide what to do with Nugget. For now, we're just hugging each other and crying...

[Biciclista]

Serendipity..our cat just died suddenly 2 hours ago. I was getting ready to go out (to get him food). I was in the kitchen, heard a thud. Thought it was Nugget throwing himself against the window to scare the squirrels and birds. I went to see him - he wasn't where I thought he was. I found him on his side at the bottom of our stairs, I patted him while thinking what to do - he coughed twice then died.

Nugget and my daughter adored each other..She was at a soccer game with DH when it happened. We are devastated as we had to put our Golden down 1 1/2 years ago. The kids wanted cremation and we still scatter his ashes in places he loved. We will let DD decide what to do with Nugget. For now, we're just hugging each other and crying...

how strange! had he been ill?
I'm so sorry to hear this.

[Tuckervill]

I'm sorry about little Nugget.

Karen

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Serendipity..our cat just died suddenly 2 hours ago. I was getting ready to go out (to get him food). I was in the kitchen, heard a thud. Thought it was Nugget throwing himself against the window to scare the squirrels and birds. I went to see him - he wasn't where I thought he was. I found him on his side at the bottom of our stairs, I patted him while thinking what to do - he coughed twice then died.

Nugget and my daughter adored each other..She was at a soccer game with DH when it happened. We are devastated as we had to put our Golden down 1 1/2 years ago. The kids wanted cremation and we still scatter his ashes in places he loved. We will let DD decide what to do with Nugget. For now, we're just hugging each other and crying...

Oh, I'm so sorry!- how awful. Was he old? Hugs and sympathy to you and your family in this sad time. What a terrible shock that must have been.

[OakLeaf]

Oh ((((((spindizzy)))))) I'm so sorry.

[PamNY]

Oh dear, that must have been an awful shock. I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.

Pam