elaine wrote:
>
> Yesterday I put my dog of over 15 years down. It was the gentlest of
> goodbyes. The vet and his assistant were wonderful. I held her as they
> tenderly jabbed the vein in her front leg -- 10 seconds later it was all
> over with an overdose of anesthetic. Oh we, as humans, could have that
> option!
>
> So for all you pet owners in this group who probably wrestle with the notion
> of putting pets down - please know, it's not a bad way to go.
>
> Went home and cooked liver for my family. Now that was bad -- I usually
> love liver but the meal just didn't taste the same, as I suppose any meal
> would under the circumstances.
>
> Elaine

Elaine,
Sorry for your loss. It's always hard to let go, even
when they're really old or really sick, but it *is* the best
thing to do.

I've had to do the same with various of my cats over
the years. Luckily I now have a vet who will come
to the house, although they don't normally make house
calls, but they will for euthanasia. It's so much
less stressful on the animal than dragging it to
the vet's office when it's sick and miserable. Hopefully
my next experience of that sort is still many years off -
my 2 cats now are 10 and 7 and in excellent health. Anyway,
the whole process with my last one made me feel so much
less pain at her death knowing that she was as comfortable
and relaxed as possible, dying in her own home. I would
suggest to anyone that has this sort of think come up,
especially if their regular vet has been seeing the animal
for an ongoing illness, that you ask about a house call.
You never know! I never really thought mine would do it
but I asked anyway and was amazed that they said yes.
My motto is that it never hurts to ask for what you want.
You just might get it.

Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?