Euthanizing My Mom's Dog....

When it's time, you know. If you think it's his time, and you are doing the right thing, then do it. No need to let this poor dog continue if you feel it's suffering greatly.
Leaving the remains in the freezer is bizarre. Couldn't you have the dog cremated and then spread the ashes at the cottage? I don't think I would ever eat food out of that freezer again.

If his quality of life is gone, yes it is time. You can see it in a dog’s eyes when they had enough.

Think of all the things your mother has done for you or has done to help ease your own pains - I think you owe it to her to do this for her.

Hi, I know it's hard, and I sympathize with what you're going through. I think of euthanasia as the last truly kind and unselfish thing we can do for our animal friends. The way I see it, all the reasons for avoiding euthanasia are selfish (for example, "I'm afraid I'll feel bad if I make the decision too soon" and "It's too painful and difficult to make the decision" and "What if I regret it later?"). Euthanasia is a gift. Our beloved pets have given us so much; when they are suffering without relief, it is time for us to take responsibility as owners and give them the dignity and humane end-of-life care that they deserve.

For what it's worth, I wouldn't recommend lying to your mom under any circumstances, and I think it's a good idea to either cremate or ask the vet if they have room in their freezer until you can take him to the family cottage... HTH

If he needs to be put down, then have him put down. It's not fair to him to make him keep suffering.
And don't lie to your mom and say he died in his sleep. She authorized you to have him put down if the need arose - be honest with her.

S.,

I lost my 16 year old Jack Russle/Beagle on January 6, 2011, he had not been feeling well (on and off) for a few weeks. The day before he died he had a really bad night and I made the decision to take him in to his vet the next morning. I didn't want to either, but he no longer had any quality of life and it was the most loving thing to do. I cried for the first six months after he died. I'm better now but I still miss him every day. I'm about ready for another pup (probably a rescure dog), and I know I will fall in love again, but another dog will never replace Frankie in my heart.

If you are having a hard time taking him in, get a friend to go along. Where I live there are some vets that will come to the house.

I know this is a very heartbreaking thing to do and it sounds like your mom just couldn't and needs you to step in.

Blessings....

If you have her written permission, and it's apparent that he is really suffering, I would have it done - it's about what is right and fair for the dog, not all the humans. Not that I am advocating lying per se (and I hope people won't hate me for this), but you could have it done, and say that he died naturally in his sleep, or tell her that his health took a turn for the worse, you took him to the vet, and they diagnosed him with heart failure, or lung cancer, or whatever, and you didn't feel it was in his best interest to attempt treatment.

I am very sorry you and your family are having to go through this right now. It's always difficult but you will see that in the end, it's the best thing for the pet.

I know I am late in responding but just wanted to share something helpful on this topic. Last year when one of our horses was in a great deal of pain and could barely walk, I too found it very difficult to face the obvious. A friend of mind told me "she needs your help, don't let her down". Our pets rely on us to make the right decisions for them in life and in death. Like my horse, we had done all we could and gave her the best life possible, then it was time to help her transition out of pain that we couldn't control.

It sounds like your Mom is also counting on you to do this for her. As hard as it is, it is much more of a relief when it is done. One year later I am again faced with this same decision with another horse. It is tormenting beyond words when you have had these animals for years, but death is also part of life, and who knows, we may be holding them back from a wonderful, pain-free, new exisitance. will be thinking of you.

S.

I just had to put our cat down, and I feel for you. It's probably the right thing to do for this dog. He must be in so much pain, poor guy.

I'm not sure the vet will let you take the whole remains home - maybe they will, but when we put our cat down they asked me if I wanted the ashes or a paw print or something.

I'm so sorry for your hard decision. It's such a hard thing to decide. All the best to you and your family.

I think I would wait until she's home -but before she picks him up, just say, "Hey -I think you understand the inevitable here, and I hate to do it, but I think I need to take him to the vet." Let her know. I wouldn't call her in the middle of vacation with it, but I would do it and then take his body to her. It's never a good thing -SO hard!

If he dies or fails so badly while she's gone that you have to do something, do go ahead and freeze him. A friend called me a few years ago to ask what she should do when another friend's cat who she was looking after died. I told her to put her in the freezer so they could do what they wanted and see her when they returned. I would want someone who was watching our animals to do that as well.

It is time to let go of "puppy". He has had a good life and he is looking for your help. Take him to the vet and be there when he gets his shot. It is so quick you can't blink and they are gone.

I had to do this with our daschund about six years ago. It was hard but she had fallen and hurt her back and the cost of the surgery and with no guarantee that it would work was not the answer. So my daughter and I took the dog to the vet and were then when the shot was administered and said our goodbyes.

She and another dog are in my sewing room resting comfortably in boxes on a shelf with an artificial flower and their leashes on spindles.

Release mom and you from worrying about what we should do and do it. You will have the closure and the dog will have relief.

The other S.

PS You have my sympathy about letting go and knowing it is the right thing to do.

It's really hard to put a beloved pet down. REALLY hard. But there are times when you need to love them enough to do this for THEM for all the years they've loved you.

If he has trouble walking and all the other things - I'm sure he'll be relieved for you to do this FOR HIM. I know it's hard. If we lived closer, I would come with you to do it and hold your hand and let you cry on my shoulder.

Do this for HIM. Don't let him continue in pain, blind and deaf and incontinent as well. It's easier to do it this way than to find him dead on your floor. THAT sucks. BIG. TIME.

I am praying for you. I know it's hard.

Wow! That is a tough decision! I think I would wait and let your mom say goodbye, and then do it for her.

Remember love is letting go. If you can put him down you are releasing him from pain. It is the ultimate show of love. You would be thinking of him and not yourself.

I'm so sorry you are going through this. Our pets bring us such joy and unconditional love. Remember the love does not die only the body. He and his love for you will always be with you.

It is a hearbreaking decision and we've had to do it 2 times with our dogs. One dog was 13 and one was 15.

I did not want to do it because they had been our babies for so many years. However, each time, the way the dogs looked at me it was like saying "please it is time to let me go".

We had our dogs cremated and the ashes were sent back to us in a cedar box with an engraved nameplate, the Rainbow ridge poem and a white silk rose. This way, we can keep them with us where ever we go.

I am so sorry for you because this is one of the most difficult we are pet owners and lovers have to make.

It's time to let him go. But I would have the dog cremated rather than freezing his body for burial. You can sprinkle the ashes or just bury them. Or, you could get a nice urn or box and place them up at the cottage on the mantle or a shelf. My mom has had 3 of our dogs cremated, and when the 4th finally goes, she will do it for him too. We had wanted to bury them in the flower garden, but I'm glad we didn't because my mom had to move a few years ago and it would have been sad to leave them there (not to mention weird for the new owners). She keeps them tastefully concealed in a vase or a decorative birdhouse, and is comforted knowing they are there with her.

I would call her and say that you are very torn, but you think he's suffering and it should be done. She's done up all the paperwork so it shouldn't be a surprise. She might need you to do it. It is a very hard thing (my DH was unable to let our cat go, but he did rescind the resuscitation order so when the cat crashed at the ER vet, they just let him go).

I have been there with my own pets. Sometimes the HARDEST but most kind thing to do is to say good bye. My heart goes out to you and your mom. I would take him to the vet and not lie to her about it.

We were allowed to bring our cat home intact. DH said it was actually good for him to see the cat at peace (he'd been very sick). Talk to the vet beforehand - will you stay? Will you step out? I could not stay. Cowardly, maybe. Tell the vet what the wishes of the family are regarding taking the body home to be buried.

I'm sorry your mom essentially put this on you. I would take him while he is in your care but do not lie and say he died in his sleep. You love him and I agree that our pets are part of the family. I have euthanized hundreds of animals....it's a pretty peaceful way to go. Stay with him and pet him so he is not afraid.

I vote no on the freezer and go for cremation. I really, really disliked the freezers and moving the frozen bodies....way to uncomfortable for me.

Do that dog a favor and put him to sleep. You're not doing him any favors with the condition he's in. You're not thinking of his best interests but your own.

I understand he's been a part of the family for a long time. My grandparents had a dog they got when I was only 10 months old. We saw that dog almost every weekend (grandparents lived close). She was almost as much ours as she was theirs. But when she lost her hearing and had cataracts that led to being gored by a bull, it was time to let her sleep. She and I were 17 years old. As hard as it was, it was the right thing to do.

Let him sleep ... it's the right thing to do.

I would do it for your mom it must be very hard for her. Can you have him cremated and then bury the ashes?

I offered to take my mother’s last dog to be put down. The dog had a large and growing tumor in her stomach and could not eat. I asked my mom to not let her die from starvation that would be cruel. She did take her in so that the dog would not be in anymore pain.

Euthanasia sounds like a good option for the dog at this time. It seems like both you and your mom think so. I would go ahead with it and be honest with your mom. Let her know that being around him 1 on 1 while she was gone, it was obvious that he was in misery and this was the best choice. I think she will be relieved and you will be to. Don't even worry about it another second, and don't try to cover up what happened to your mom. She gave permission and it seems she wants you to do it since she can't. Move forward for the dog's sake!

It's not quite the same but with our diabetic Pug my husband waited until I got home from a business trip. I got the sad task of taking our Pug the very next morning to be put down. The Pug had had enough and you could just tell by looking in his eyes. Technically our Pug started as my Pug. However, it really came down to my husband being way too soft hearted for the tough task. I know that about him so I wasn't surprised the job fell to me.

Oh and just to add. My MIL stored their Poodle in her freezer and I think no one ate out of her fridge for ages. She was totally unfazed, though. She said he was well wrapped and nestled among the tamales. No harm, no foul in her mind. You should see the suprised look on her face when people bring the story up and give her a hard time for her decision. To her he was a beloved family member, deserving of loving treatment even in death.

You know your mother better than any of us and maybe she just needs help with this difficult, sad task. If you feel confident she'll be okay with your taking charge of this task and by all accounts she seems to have given her tacit agreement with all the of paperwork she's provided, then take the dog in to be euthanized. Our vet clinic stored our Pug in their freezer until the following weekend. We picked him up the next Saturday to bury at the family ranch. The whole rattling Pugsicle on the drive to the ranch is another story entirely. Best wishes to you and your family. Good luck also.

I would make absoultely sure and have her say yes put him down for me. before i did it myself.