Putting your dog down.....

[fordmantpw]

Just reading these posts bring back tears and memories from having our beloved little rat terrier put down almost two years ago. She was, and always will be, a member of our family. No way could I have done the deed myself, even though I do hunt. I just could not do that to a family member myself. No way, no how.

 

[hosspuller]

There is wisdom in "Better a week too early than a day too late" Animals live in the moment. They don't worry about retirement or tomorrow. We take the emotional pain on ourselves rather than leave the animal in physical pain.

Best wishes to the OP and others facing their loss.

 

[SpringHollow]

We always agonized whether we were waiting too long since we did not want to make the dogs suffer just because we wanted them around longer. When we would take the dogs to the vet because we were not sure, the vet would always tell us we would know when the time was right and he was correct. We continuously questioned ourselves but when the time came, the dogs always let us know before things got too bad and we were able to end things in a caring manner. It is a shame that in most areas, we do not have the same option. Going off topic but having the option relieves a huge amount of worry. Very very few ever make use of it but most feel much better knowing the option exists.

Ken

 

[dodge man]

I put a stray dog down once. It was half starved and crazed. I was afraid of it and we had young kids at the time, let alone the fact that our cats were going nuts. I probably would have called the local pound but it was the weekend and to say they aren't very responsive an understatement. I put some catfood out and when it came running up I put two round from my 45 acp in it. I still remember the yip it let out and it still bothers me to say the least. I also remember how its ribs were sticking out of its skin.

 

[roadhunter]

I put a stray dog down once. It was half starved and crazed. I was afraid of it and we had young kids at the time, let alone the fact that our cats were going nuts. I probably would have called the local pound but it was the weekend and to say they aren't very responsive an understatement. I put some catfood out and when it came running up I put two round from my 45 acp in it. I still remember the yip it let out and it still bothers me to say the least. I also remember how its ribs were sticking out of its skin.

That's a lot more noble than the people who go drop dogs off in the country with nothing because they won't put the dog down themselves.

 

[teejk]

I put a stray dog down once. It was half starved and crazed. I was afraid of it and we had young kids at the time, let alone the fact that our cats were going nuts. I probably would have called the local pound but it was the weekend and to say they aren't very responsive an understatement. I put some catfood out and when it came running up I put two round from my 45 acp in it. I still remember the yip it let out and it still bothers me to say the least. I also remember how its ribs were sticking out of its skin.

Stray vs. pet are two different issues but you do raise an interesting point...a raccoon or skunk near the house in daylight hours few of us would hesitate to "take care of it". We live amongst native americans that (until recently) would bring home any mutt they could find, tie it up with a cheap piece of rope and then forget about it. Needless to say the rope didn't last long. Two dogs in 2 years bit my wife and my son...our aging cocker was already losing his sight and hearing but after he got pinned against our front door by 2 of those mutts he never barked again (afraid to give away his position I guess). Final straw was my son's dachie (Mollie)...was let out to "do her business" and she never returned. My wife found the blood from the point of kill in our yard the next day. Neighbors were never confronted directly but the "lost dog" flyer in their mailbox triggered something...within hours I heard gun shots and the suspect dog was never seen again. We contacted our county animal control officer after the 2nd bite and she actually told my wife that we should move if we didn't like it. After the Mollie incident I contacted her again and put her on notice that I would shoot to kill...and pray for a sympathetic jury at my trial (me going to jail would be the result in this county with that person). The neighbors apparently got the message also (they still have dogs that they bring home and forget about but I guess they found better rope). All that to say this...there are animals, then some of them step-up to the level of pets. I have no qualms about dispatching the former...I'd get sick about doing it with the latter.

 

[Richard]

Gads, I feel for you guys that have had to do it.

I read these threads, or read about 'Fido' getting ill....and can swell with emotions.

Our dogs are (like most of you I'm sure) like our kids.....except they never sass back!

We had a pair of stray dogs out here once (I live on a tract of land, surrounded 3 sides by a lake and by the time you add up public and private land, the peninusula is probably over 700/900 acres.

So we get these two strays. Put a Have-a-heart trap out and catch one for the dogpound. The other dog is too smart for the cage. I was next door, dark out...I hear a deep gutteral growl behind me as I'm walking outside. It was this dog. I decided on the spot that this dog can't be trusted. He happened to like following the truck so, I grabbed the .22, got in truck and drove to backside of farm.

Got out of truck, he stood his distance away from me, just staring at me.

Raised up....aimed..... fired and he dropped like a stone in place.

Drove home, parked truck, jumped on backhoe, went back and buried him.

This was probably 12 years ago and today, I STILL feel guilty about shooting him however, I felt endangered and felt it was necessary. (we get small kids out and this dog wasn't socializing)

If I felt that bad shooting an aggressive stray.... wow..... I can't fathom what it would be like to shoot my little Chloe.

 

[rekees4300]

Ladybug was euthanized today. She had been nearly blind for a couple years, but managed a decent quality of life, then today everything just fell apart. Stopped eating, heavy panting, vomiting, disoriented, incontinence with bloody urine, near the end she made little howls letting us know she was in pain. It was obviously her time to go. RIP our loyal friend of 10 years, your family will miss you.

View attachment 460199

 

[Citydude]

Ladybug was euthanized today. She had been nearly blind for a couple years, but managed a decent quality of life, then today everything just fell apart. Stopped eating, heavy panting, vomiting, disoriented, incontinence with bloody urine, near the end she made little howls letting us know she was in pain. It was obviously her time to go. RIP our loyal friend of 10 years, your family will miss you.

View attachment 460199

Sorry for your loss of Ladybug.

 

[MF283]

One Caveat. Dig the hole first. It is much easier to see how to dig, and operate the machine when your eyes are not full of tears and you are upset.

Yes Sir, several years back, i had m eyes dilated for testing, came home , dug the hole with FEL, opened the gate to go do the deed, i was already crying on top of dilation, wind blew the gate & i made a perfect "L" out of it with FEL.

RIP Ladybug, dogs are family to us, wouldn't do without one. I can't remember the number of strays i've put down over the years, we live on a dead end road.
As sad as this thread has been, it has been very civil, to which i THANK all of you.

Ronnie