Shot my neighbors dog

[rtimgray]

My vet does the service free of charge. More should. Better than shooting a loyal family pet.

Our vet has also let us know that this is his policy, simply because he said that he has seen people put off euthanizing an animal for too long, several times because they can't bring themselves to shoot it and don't have the money to have it put down humanely. He will even get rid of the carcass.

One of my least favorite tasks around the farm is taking care of old cows. I've mentioned before that I am a really bad farmer, because I treat most of my cows as pets. We tend to keep the old girls around far after they need to be kept. I am usually of the opinion that if the cow has been good and had pushed out 10 to 12 calves, I'll let them ride out their last few years in peace. It only costs me a little hay and a little medicine, and alot of time I'll end up getting one more calf out of them that basically makes more money than I would have gotten had I sold an old cow. I know that from a business perspective, I should sell them. But I also get to see them enjoying the pretty days and chewing their cud, and basically doing nothing. The real downside is that eventually they will get sick or injured, and usually can't stand up anymore. At that point, I'll have to do my duty and put them down. It's just part and parcel of farm living. I don't like it, but I do get the satisfaction of knowing that they had more good days than bad, and in the end I did my part to limit their suffering.

 

[clemsonfor]

In Oregon they would charge you with animal cruelty. But the people who run the state are nuts. Supposed to take the critter to a vet, I guess.

Don't try to put down an animal with car exhaust. Cars run so clean these days it doesn't work very well. When is the last time you heard of someone committing suicide that way? Been a very long time I'll bet. Used to be fairly common.

There was like a 10 or 12 year old boy who died from fumes while his dad tried to clear the snow around the car in the last snow storm up there in new england.

 

[pennwalk]

You guys are being kind of hard of the neighbors. Most of us understand that end of life decisions are very hard. Many people really love their pets. I just hope they gain some wisdom before they have to make end of life decisions for people they love. As hard is it is taking pets to the vet I can tell you from personal experience that it is quick for your pet and as far as I could tell it was painless.

Chris

 

[cqaigy2]

It is terribly difficult for some people to make that final decision for a pet. I know my parents waited way too long for their beloved dog.

As for vet vs doing it yourself, we had the vet put down a horse. Never again. The poor girl ran off 50 feet and stood there in pain, shuddering for a moment before she finally went down. I still hurt for her. Never again. I've put down dogs and horses very quickly and apparently with a lot less pain (if any) than the vet. Even the UC Davis vet school site suggests that a gun shot is at least as good as injections (and they show the proper technique.)

My Father is a retire veterinarian and we put down large animals typically with a gun. Some years there was a change to the formulation used for injection that my Dad objected to, the reason was it cause a lot of pain before killing the animal. He believed one of the reasons was cost. A large animal would require a large amount to be injected in a relatively short period of time to quickly put the animal down, which is difficult. He would make up his own formulation for injection that had a sedative, pain killer and anesthetic components added, as far as i can remember. Not easy for him or myself to put animals down. Sometimes managing the pain and letting nature take it's course is a viable option, sometimes not.

 

[Trkrd]

I'm in that same situation now. Dug a grave for him 2 months ago, but can't get myself to put down my best friend. Vet is out of the question, charges too much and just can't afford it right now.

 

[Deere Dude]

I'm in that same situation now. Dug a grave for him 2 months ago, but can't get myself to put down my best friend. Vet is out of the question, charges too much and just can't afford it right now.

Don't do it. Let somebody else do it. There are plenty of people where that stuff doesn't bother him.

I was about 14 years old and my uncle wanted his dog shot and wanted to know if I would do it. Trying to be a he-man I took the job. My cousin and I took the farm dog out in the back 40 near a marsh of some sort. The dog kind of sat there so I eyeballed him through the scope and shot the 22. I sort of winged him in the head and he start yelping. I did the same thing again and winged him again. I finally figured out that scopes don't work well at 4 feet because the scope is 3" above the barrel. Finally, feeling terrible I put the barrel by his head and that took care of it. I felt bad for 20 years, and still do.

When I was in my 20s to 30s I had an older golden retriever that was a pretty dog, but would growl menacingly to little 2-4 kids. A day or two after that happened, and not one to take dogs to vets to find the cure for the problem and not wanting to take a chance of him biting kids later, I went out back and dug the hole and coaxed him in. I shot him and buried him.

Even though I was a he-man and that's what he-men do, I thought, it bothered be and brought me to almost tears. It bothers me even today and that is 35 years later. So, Never again. Now it is off to a vet and scrape the money together somehow, maybe with the money I would save by not feeding the dog anymore, and let him do it.
Good luck

 

[TripleR]

I sure hate you had to do this.

I no longer keep pets of any kind for a variety of reasons, but have had to put pets and farm animals down in the past. No one else in my immediate or extended family could stand to do it until my sons grew up. While I do hunt, there is just something different about putting a pet down no matter how it is done. I have shot them and taken them to the vet; can't say which is best.

Irresponsible pet owners really burn me up.

 

[CBW1999]

You guys are being kind of hard of the neighbors. Most of us understand that end of life decisions are very hard. Many people really love their pets. I just hope they gain some wisdom before they have to make end of life decisions for people they love. As hard is it is taking pets to the vet I can tell you from personal experience that it is quick for your pet and as far as I could tell it was painless.

Chris

I don't think it is the end of life decision that is the issues with the neighbors- it was they way they allowed him to live his life. Limited space and socialization, lack of vet care when ill. This situation may have been avoided if they had taken care of the dog.

I do understand that money is a huge factor. We had to put one of our cats (2 years old) down the day after Christmas. She was acutley ill, treatment was not going to do anything but prolong her condition and was expensive. The merciful thing to do was Euthanize her.

More people ned to realize that sometimes surrenduring their animal is an option if they cannot afford the care (routine or othewrwise) that they deserve.

Regarding the procedure, our vet now sedates the animal before giving the "medicine". That way they are "sleeping" when they go- no struggle when injecting it. Much nicer and in our situation- allowed us to be present and holding her.

Never an easy thing. I'm sorry the OP had to deal with this.

 

[MoKelly]

A very sad story. It reminds me of a great book I bet we all read in school --- Of Mice And Men by Steinbeck. I may go back and read it again.

MoKelly

 

[TripleR]

A very sad story. It reminds me of a great book I bet we all read in school --- Of Mice And Men by Steinbeck. I may go back and read it again.

MoKelly

One of my all time favorite books; Candy's dog.