Nikki M New York, NY 2/29/2012 7:09:30 PM @Cara - Pepper had eye cancer. The natural thought was to remove the eye. Then he got it in his other eye. Of course, I wanted to have that removed too so that he could live. He never acted like a geriatric dog. He was eating, barking, being himself until the last couple of days. I had no reason to believe that he wasn't going to get better. The vet said that we were just buying time, and I thought, OK, I'll buy that time for him since he doesn't seem to be suffering. Many dogs live blind and are fine. It wasn't until the last couple of days that I should have known he wasn't going to be OK, but I didn't want to believe it. The thought of "putting down" my best friend was out of the question for me at the time. In the future, I will muster all of the courage I have and choose euthanasia. I am currently very ill with Lyme Disease, and making any kind of decision is difficult, much less a life and death decision. Saving Pepper was my #1 priority. Sometimes it just doesn't work out that way.
Maura New York, NY 2/29/2012 6:45:55 PM Nikki, I am so sorry for your loss. You are such a great animal lover and advocate. I totally understand how you would be in denial and hold onto Pepper as long as possible. I don't consider it selfish at all--obviously you have changed you mind on how to handle the situation because you are so caring. I have only had to deal with this once--with my cat. I let her go and said goodbye to her as she got the injection. It was very hard, of course.
Cara Wantagh, NY 2/29/2012 6:14:52 PM This article was the horror. I really hope the writer of it learned her lesson and is sticking to it. The fact that she let a poor geriatric dog get both of his eyes removed is inhumane. Selfish. Quality of life is the key. Please never do anything like that to a poor dog again.
Amy Sunkle Strongsville, OH 2/29/2012 5:27:18 PM We just put our loved dog, Brownie, to sleep less than 2 weeks ago, she would have been 14 yesterday. We had her since she was 8 weeks old and she became such a part of our family. Brownie was a loving and wonderful addition to our family and I knew with her around that no one would dare hurt myself or my children, she was ever so protective of us around people that she did not know. She hadn't been herself for a couple of days and when she went all day with not wanting to eat and just lying around we knew something was not right with her...taking her to the vets was hard as I just had a feeling she would not be coming back home. After checking her out and monitoring her overnight we were told that she would not get better, that she most likely had pancreatic or stomach cancer and as she had been such a healthy dog all her life and was going downhill fast nothing they could do would help her, only prolong her suffering. The vets we used knew Brownie from her first days with us and we could not have asked for a more loving staff to help us through this sad time. Whenever we traveled she would board with them and we always knew she was in good hands, they treated her as they would her own. We also have a 5 year old puggle who is feeling her absence, he wanders around looking for her in all her favorite places. Putting Brownie to sleep was hard, but the right decision, she went with no pain, surrounded by hugs and kisses and words from all who loved her...and we would not have wanted it any other way.
Jennifer Port Charlotte, FL 2/29/2012 4:30:26 PM I was raised to never let an animal suffer. My father would take me hunting and I have worked on a cattle ranch. Growing up, my parents would handle this issue. We were always aware that our pets had passed, but we never had to actually do it. It wasn't until I was on my own and my cat Bruiser suddenly became sick. He developed a liver disorder, and was staying at the vet's office to be observed and for treatment. I fought putting him down and was willing to take him to a specialist to be treated. I wanted to keep him forever. He was my precious orange kitty, who would watch me sleep and rub my head at night while he purred. Hours before he was to go to the specialist, the vet called me at work and told me I needed to come see him. I left immediately. When I saw him and he was having seizures and would fade in and out and did not always recognize me. I was heart broken and I knew that very moment what I needed to do. I put my beloved Bruiser in my lap and held him while they gave him a shot of Valium. He stopped seizing and for a acknowledged me like he always would. He started to purr and dozed off to sleep. They gave him the final shot and my baby was gone. I held him and petted him all while sitting in the middle of the vet's kennel room floor. I finally got up and they prepped him to be sent to the crematory. I went back to work and it did not quite hit me he was gone until a few days later when I picked up his ashes. I cried and cried and just couldn't believe he was gone. I am now proud fur mommy to an 11 year old cat, a 7 year old cat, a 6 year old dachshund, a 5 year old pitbull and a 3 year old pitbull. My parent's beagle Penny - my 4 legged sister - she's been a part of the family for 14 years. We know that they cannot be with us forever, and eventually they will all join Bruiser on the mantle and will be patiently waiting to see me at the end of the Rainbow Bridge. Until then, I enjoy every waking moment that I have with them.
Meg Fall River, MA 2/29/2012 3:26:46 PM Nikki, First let me say that I'm sorry for your losses. I recently your blog about Pepper traveling on the QM2 and loved the whole experience. We're planning a similar journey for my fiance's cat when he immigrates to the US later this year. Because of that blog, I feel like I sort of knew you and Pepper. I gasped when I recognized the pic and knew the topic of the blog. We've had lots of animals through the years and it is never an easy decision to make when the time comes. I've also let dogs,cats,rats,mice and other critters pass naturally and hoped that it would be peaceful and quiet. Sometimes it has been quick and as if they fell asleep, but a few of my experiences have been like yours with Pepper. We went through 2 days of hell with my 17 yr old cat, Nick,when he had multiple strokes last year. We finally had to have him put down in the end. I've also had to have some pets put to sleep and see that it really is peaceful. I will never let another animal go through that pain that my Nick endured. When I know that the time is near, and the bad greatly outweighs the good, I am at peace with letting them slip off to the rainbow bridge with a little aid from the vet and the family there to comfort them.
Luann Graham, WA 2/29/2012 2:39:03 PM I can assure you and everyone else that allowing your beloved pet to go naturally is NOT only inhumane but selfish. Our dogs rely on us with every ounce of their being from the moment they come into our lives until the moment we HUMANELY make the hardest decision of our adult lives. I have been in the field of Veterinary medicine for over 22 years and can with confidence say that it is whats best for your loyal and trustworthy member of the family. P.S.....please dont just drop off your pets either, stay with them,comfort them until the last breath is taken no matter how hard it may be.
Brenda Glendale, AZ 2/29/2012 2:35:05 PM I have always put my beloved "children" down to sleep. I feel it is the only humane thing to do, when their time comes. I loveD them all beyond and the last thing I wanted was for them to suffer. Of course, I would have given anything to have them one more day, but not at their expense. A hard decision...yes...but the only one if you truly love and want the very best for your beloved. WOOF.
Chris Rancho Mirage, CA 2/29/2012 12:41:07 PM I've had to put a number of my dogs down due to old age and being ill. I'd prayed to please let them go In their sleep but it never happened. Some couldn't walk without me holding their hind quarters up. Some would lay there and defecate and urinate on them selves. Some were in heart failure and every breath was an effort. They would stare at me. I'd look Into to their eyes and it seemed they were telling me. If you love me don't let me suffer. I knew they had no quality of life left. I knew it had to be done. I would hold them and keep telling them how much I loved them until they fell asleep. Then I would beat myself up and wondered if I waited too long.
Chris Rancho Mirage, CA 2/29/2012 12:39:35 PM I've had to put a number of my dogs down due to old age and being ill. I'd prayed to please let them go In their sleep but it never happened. Some couldn't walk without me holding their hind quarters up. Some would lay there and defecate and urinate on them selves. Some were in heart failure and every breath was an effort. They would stare at me. I'd look Into to their eyes and it seemed they were telling me. If you love me don't let me suffer. I knew they had no quality of life left. I knew it had to be done. I would hold them and keep telling them how much I loved them until they fell asleep. Then I would beat myself up and wondered if I waited too long.
Christine Saint Paul, MN 2/29/2012 12:27:32 PM If there was any chance of them suffering....I would put them to sleep the humane way....I couldnt take knowing she suffered just so I wouldnt have the guilt of having to make the "decision".
christi madison, AL 2/29/2012 12:18:36 PM I had to put my 18 year old kitty down recently and i would do it again in a heartbeat. I will never ever let them suffer if there is any way i can prevent it.