how do you know when its time to let go?
- Thread starter michelleB
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This is a sad topic for all of us. I think the problem is that we as the caregivers, have to make a difficult choice. I've always thought about what the right time is, and I agree, if the dog is no longer enjoying things they used to enjoy, and their health and quality of life is no longer good, it's time. I know we'll be facing that with our 12 year old at some point. She still enjoys things- she plays with the others, enjoys sunning herself outside, she eats well, and is generally in good health aside from being a little stiff and tender, but it won't last forever.
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Michelle, how are you? I am so sorry for what you're going through...I've never lost a dog before, I've lost other pets and I know it's extremely hard. I don't know what I'll do when my girl leaves me. Just thinking about it I start crying. I hope you're okay. If you need to talk about anything, I'm here.
my friend Kelly is going thru the same with ler little jack russell Queenie. This is one thing you might consider. Queenie is blind and deaf at this point and gets very stressed out when taken out of her domain. Kelly couldn't even make the call so she had me call the mobile vet to find out how much they would charge to come to the home instead of going to the clinic. The fee wasn't really that much more and considering queenie would be in her enviorment that would be best for all. Just thought i would add this for your consideration. Queenie is still in the land of the living, but knowing this has brought Kelly some comfort.
thanks for the idea....actually we have made arrangments with our vet to come to our home. least of all do i want to make this stressful on Roxie. a car ride will freak her out. we will do it at home. 
i have decided to wait a few more days tho...because of other things going on at our home. i really want her to go peacfully and right now we have a house guest. i have cried so many tears and spent so many hours with this decision. now that the decision has been made i cherish each moment i have left with my old girl. we pulled out some old home movies and it was wonderful to see her bouncing around and playing again.
i never did know how to 'train' a dog back then so Rox and I kinda made things up as we went along. we have (or had) a language all our own. we just understood each other. she always came when called and did so many other things just because she wanted to please me.
...she used to open our screen door to get in or out of the house...she understood 'get off the rug' (so i could clean), 'wheres Daddy', 'go lay down', inside, oustide, off, up, wait here and so much more....she would catch any insects in the house for me (flying or not). she was so good with the kids. she wouldn't do a thing when they pulled her ears and tail....all those things that babies will do. all without me 'teaching' her a thing.
16 years. thats almost half my life.
what will i do when shes gone? i will pull out those old videos again...cry with my children and husband and then cry some more. we will bury her in the woods behind our home and go thru the awful pain of loosing a best friend. it's simply heartbreaking. for now i'm loving her and enjoying her company.
thanks again for all your help with this very difficult decision.
i have decided to wait a few more days tho...because of other things going on at our home. i really want her to go peacfully and right now we have a house guest. i have cried so many tears and spent so many hours with this decision. now that the decision has been made i cherish each moment i have left with my old girl. we pulled out some old home movies and it was wonderful to see her bouncing around and playing again.
i never did know how to 'train' a dog back then so Rox and I kinda made things up as we went along. we have (or had) a language all our own. we just understood each other. she always came when called and did so many other things just because she wanted to please me.
...she used to open our screen door to get in or out of the house...she understood 'get off the rug' (so i could clean), 'wheres Daddy', 'go lay down', inside, oustide, off, up, wait here and so much more....she would catch any insects in the house for me (flying or not). she was so good with the kids. she wouldn't do a thing when they pulled her ears and tail....all those things that babies will do. all without me 'teaching' her a thing.
16 years. thats almost half my life.
what will i do when shes gone? i will pull out those old videos again...cry with my children and husband and then cry some more. we will bury her in the woods behind our home and go thru the awful pain of loosing a best friend. it's simply heartbreaking. for now i'm loving her and enjoying her company.
thanks again for all your help with this very difficult decision.
Reading this with tears. I went through this 2 years ago and still cry for my beloved terrier. And still have guilt that maybe I should have waited a little longer. My vet is a family friend and he came to the house. JoeJoe was not an outside dog and was not going to have him put out even then. We had him cremated and keep his ashes and picture in living room. Thanks for the poem-going to print it out and put beside his pic. I have a 12 year old pom and it affected him too. My prayers are with you.
shes gone....after 16 years...shes gone
its over...after 16 years...its over.
my girl is gone. i miss her so much. my heart is breaking.
she won't hurt anymore.
she won't be lost. she won't be cold.
now she can finally rest in comfort.
i miss her so much. i can't move her beds or blankets. i won't touch her dishes. i can't even think of it yet. i woke last night to carry her outside. she wasn't there. been crying ever since.
16 years i loved her and worried for her and cared for her...now shes just not here. theres a huge hole in my heart where she used to be, actually, where she still is.
she was such a huge part of my/our lives.
please remind me that this ache will ease with time. i have such a raw wound and it won't stop bleeding.
if i didn't already have another pup, i think i would never do this again. it just hurts too much.
its over...after 16 years...its over.
my girl is gone. i miss her so much. my heart is breaking.
she won't hurt anymore.
she won't be lost. she won't be cold.
now she can finally rest in comfort.
i miss her so much. i can't move her beds or blankets. i won't touch her dishes. i can't even think of it yet. i woke last night to carry her outside. she wasn't there. been crying ever since.
16 years i loved her and worried for her and cared for her...now shes just not here. theres a huge hole in my heart where she used to be, actually, where she still is.
she was such a huge part of my/our lives.
please remind me that this ache will ease with time. i have such a raw wound and it won't stop bleeding.
if i didn't already have another pup, i think i would never do this again. it just hurts too much.
A-w-w.....I'm so sorry you're in such pain. It will ease up in some time. It's such a difficult thing to try and accept and all the words of logic..."it was the best thing." Or "it was her time. she's in a better place free of pain and suffering" don't seem to help the part of us which misses our dear friends. I still miss my Lab, Bonnie and she was put down last year. But it wasn't too terribly long that I was able to accept her loss pretty well and saw that that is part of the life cycle. I miss her sweet presence but realize that she is in a better place. I send my best to you that you will feel better soon. So sorry.