good bye to Molly

[Terri]

Molly is my 16 yr old 1/2 collie. My husband and I made the decision to put her down tomorrow. She has trouble walking, falls down when she comes in the house, cant get off the deck... she has probably lost 20-30 lbs in the last couple of months and lately has had several accidents on the floor. She is also drinking lots of water. Oh and she pants all the time. We have had her for 7 yrs and she has been a good dog. The people that owned her 7 years ago were going to put her to sleep then (I had to call and cancel the appointment) because they couldn't keep her and no one else wanted an old arthritic dog.
We told the kids, and my 7 yr old son did not react well. He wouldn't eat his supper, cried himself to sleep and said he didn't ever want to talk about dogs again. :cry:
Am I doing the right thing? She looks a little perkier tonight

[Brigitte]

It's a hard decision, but you can't let a beloved pet suffer

[ErinC]

quailty of life.

she just does not have it any more.
and as owners we need to be responsible for the "right time"

you are doing the right thing, yes!

[Pasogirlz]

I'm sure you will know if you are doing the right thing for the dog. :hug

Let me tell you a little story my father told me when I was a small child and one of my beloved pets died...
I said I never wanted another pet again (insert crying and balling here :cry: )It hurt too much when they die.
My Dad then asked me if I would consider having a pet butterfly...
Of course being the animal lover that I always have been....I said Yes, I might like to have one. Well then Dad explained to me that butterflies don't live that long. Their life span is only a short time. Did I still want the butterfly if I knew ahead of time I would only have it a brief moment? As I sat and thought about this, Dad pointed out all the fun I could have w/the butterfly while it was alive and how special our time together would be. He said you have to remember the best of times when the time comes for the butterfly to go.
So yeah, then I decided maybe I would still want the butterfly after all...even tho it would be so painful to loose it in the end.

I told this story at my cousin Kimberlys funeral a few years ago. (She was only 25 and died in a car accident.) To this day I still think of her when I see a butterfly.

Hope this help you w/your son.

[Terri]

Lori, that was beautiful, thank you!

[ErinC]

you just made me cry , cry real hard.

wow.

:cry:

I will NEVER look at a butterfly the same again. I will always think og that story.

thanks!!!! ( no,, really thanks, that was sweet )

[jodiTowne]

Terry, sorry about your dog. It's a horrible decision to have to make. It sounds like its the right decision from your description and post poning only prolongs everyones suffering. Your family is in my thoughts.

[GeorgeGuns]

Gosh, collies are such terrific dogs. Mom had one, she noticed it wandering (actually hobbling) around the park accross from her place several years back. Mindi was already old. Mom took her in (mom hates dogs!) and the poor beast jsut kept going, just for her. When she finally decided Mindi had had enough, the vet told her that collies seem to put up with a lot jsut to stay with us, that Mindi was probably not showing all her suffering. Well that just about tore my mom up, but it made it easier to day good bye.

Kids have a really variable understanding of time and life span. Some get it right off, some don't some have quantum leaps overnight. The only thing I can sugest - if you haven't already let her go - is to draw it out on paper for your son, show human years, and dog years. Explain aging and that pets age too. If he can digest this, let him work on it, and if your dog is still here, maybe your son can bring himself to help with the decision. It may sound cruel to keep a dog alive for that, but honestly, I doubt the dog would mind, and your son may feel better about the whole deal.

If I wrote this too late, maybe a visit to the Rainbow Bridge site will help him out? http://rainbowsbridge.com/

[Got Brio?]

She's lived a long life for dog. I sorry you have to let her go :cry: At least she'll go knowing she was loved.

[Blameitonbrio]

There are some very good children's books dealing with the loss of a pet. One called I Will Always Love You is very good. I know how hard this is, and I am so sorry. I love my dogs, and giving that last gift is one of the hardest things I have ever done.

You and your family are in my prayers.


Where to Bury a Dog

I would say there are various places in which a dog may be buried. I am thinking now of a setter whose coat was flame in the sunshine and who, so far as I am aware, never entertained a mean or an unworthy thought.

This particular setter is buried beneath a cherry tree, under four feet of garden loam and at its proper seaason the cherry strews petals on the green lawn of his grave.

Beneath a cherry tree is an excellent place to bury a good dog. Beneath such a tree he slept in the drowsy summer or gnawed at a flavorous bone, or lifted head to challenge some strange intruder. This is a good place in life or death. Yet it is a small matter. For if the dog be well remembered; if sometimes he leaps through your dreams actual as in life, eyes kindling, laughing, begging, it matters not where the dog sleeps -- if memory lives.

But there is one best place to bury a dog. If you bury him in this spot, he will come to you when you call -- over the grim, dim frontiers of death, and down the well remembered path, and to your side again. And though you call a dozen living dogs to heel, they shall not growl at him, nor resent his coming, for he belongs there.

People may scoff at you who see no lightest blade of grass bent by his footfall, who hear no whimper, people who may never really have had a dog. Smile at them, for you shall know something that is hidden from them, and that is well worth the knowing.

The one best place to bury a dog is in the heart of his master.

--author unknown

[pnalley]

I'm so sorry your dog's time has come. But we MUST do what is best for the animal.

Is this your son's 1st experience with death? If so even though it's VERY difficult for all of you it will start teaching him about the cycle of life and death. And as my Mom always said time heals all wounds, and life goes on. I never got that as a kid, but I'm starting to get it now.

I'm so sorry for your pain, I'm praying you find the right words or deeds to help your son cope. Do let him know it's OK to grieve, let him know you hurt too.

[Terri]

I guess the time warp ate my previous post
Molly is gone. We buried her behind the horse fence. It was snowing and it was beautiful out there. She was a white dog and the snow seemed appropriate. I explained to my son she is now playing, free of pain with the other dogs I've known and loved (Sandy, Rags and Dewey). He had questions about what the vet did and now seems reconciled to her death.
I want to thank everyone for your kind words and beautiful sentiments. It was a difficult day, but I know it was the right decision. I will miss her. She truly was a good dog, she was protective of the kids, but NEVER agressive. She know how to love everyone and always be kind. Even at the last, when she was hurting, she never offered to snap or growl, just looked sad.

[Pasogirlz]

http://bestsmileys.com/hugging/3.gif

[Edurne]

:hug

[Minouri]

Terri,

The same time warp ate all of my posts from yesterday morning. I did want to say that I'm sure you did the right thing. It's never easy, but it is often the kindest thing to do.

Sending you a big hug,
Ruthie

[Moniece Dickerson]

My post is GONE!I posted here the other day!Terri the most important thing I said in that post is that I am here for you my friend.You PM or email me at any time for support through this and if you don't have my phone number I will give you that too.I have been where you are now sweetheart and my support is waiting for you :hug !Your friend,Moniece