We have to say goodbye

[briggsy's girl]

it's time

we have to say goodbye to one of our dogs. well, technically two, but one has been staying with my bro for a while now, so it's not quite so bad. they're getting old (11 and 12), they're going blind, deaf. they're not well. so we have to do it. but it's damn hard!

we made the decision yesterday. been talking about it for a while. Jack is the 12 year old. he's a working dog but he's been stuck at home since DH lost his job a month ago. even before this, we'd talked about the fact he couldn't jump into the truck anymore, he'd take off and not come back cos he couldn't hear us call him. he couldn't find his way home because he was blind and his sense of smell was going. it was getting really hard on him

yesterday, Whisky (11 year old) got out of my bro's backyard. she was just out the front with him. she's a gentle dog, but when a small dog came near my bro, she went into protection mode, and attacked to protect my bro. the little old lady walking her dog was very distressed, and my bro called and asked us if it was best to have her put down (she has been unwell) or to bring her here again cos she couldn't stay there (the kids leave gates open all the time)

yesterday, Jack jumped up at me to get at the baby. it wasn't a nasty gesture - but it was enough to remind me that he doesn't know his limits anymore

so yesterday, DH and I talked it over with bro and SIL - and we're having both dogs put to sleep. neither couple can keep the dogs because of the risk with kids. as much as there is little chance of anything happening, it's not a risk we can take. neither couple wants to see the dogs in pain either. so in their best interests, we're having them put to sleep

i'm heartbroken - i had to talk to DH about it last night. i felt terrible. Whisky was his brothers dog. he passed in 2005. my bro took her on last year so his kids could have a dog and i was too crook while pg to give her the attention she deserved. Jack is DH's dog. has been his "son" for 12 years. his companion while away in the truck for all that time. when his other boy died a couple of years ago, he was heartbroken. this is going to devastate him - but he's doing it in the best interests of Jack and his new DD

i just feel awful.

Bro is making an appt with the vet and he and DH will take both dogs together - they'll then bury them out here.

so sad

just needed to get this out - i feel really bad. i know DH wants to keep Jack til he goes naturally, so i feel like he's doing this because i asked him too - but i know it's not fair to Jack to be here like this....

sigh

life sucks sometimes...

[LionsandBears]

I'm so sorry you're going through that. That's a devastating decision to make and to lose both of them at once must be gut-wrenching.

Is there anyway they could be rehoused? Some shelters try to rehouse older dogs. Or are they really unwell? I hate the thought of animals being in pain.

[NaeNae]

ohhh hun big massive hugs to you

its such a hard decision when we have to let go of a beloved pet, I know its difficult but really you are doing the kindest thing for both the dogs, even if that helps a teeny weeny little bit.

It is really heartbreaking though nonetheless.


Nae x x x x

[nic]

Oh BG, that truly does suck I imagine it would be a horribly hard decision to come to, our pets are a part of our families, so having to say goodbye hurts big time..
Lots of hugs for you and DH

[ss_storm]

it's never easy to say goodbye...but hun you know deep down you are doing the right thing, it isn't fair on your families and it's not fair on the dog's either. I'm sure it would be worse if the dog's did do something and someone got hurt... at least this way the dog's won't be suffering anymore and your DH can say goodbye properly.

[christy]

oh hun. Its so hard and awful to have to make those huge decisions for our furbabies.

There comes a time when quality of life comes into question... you can't rehome them, it would be fair on anyone, you can't keep them, so what can you do for them?

We had a dog we got when we were first married. We loved him dearly. We took him to training every week, we walked him twice a day, we did behaviour courses with him because he was... well... a loon. I studied behaviour because of him, I spent 2 hours a day working on his behaviour. 2 HOURS a day. When he was nearly 6 years old, I had him on a walk and he attacked a fence where a child was on the other side because the child scared him. I took him straight into work and had him put to sleep.

Its a matter of being responsible with your children and your furbabies.

[Manhattan]

Oh BG sweetie, massive hugs to you I'm sitting here at work, with tears streaming down my face, and from your words I can tell this decision is ripping your heart out It is such a hard call to make, but you are doing the right thing by your families, and the dogs themselves.

xx

[briggsy's girl]

DH and my bro are taking Jack and Whisk to the vet on Thursday morning. they'll bring both of them back here to be buried.

DH has started preparing to be buried. he has picked a place and started to build a garden bed around it. has chosen a rose to bury them under (double delight) - they will be buried only metres from their dad (Bundy), grandad (Max) and great grandad (Patch)

both boys are a wreck. DH spent time with Jack today while in the garden. and he's already told me i won't see him much after work tomorrow night. My bro is sitting on his deck with Whisk having a couple of beers. Thursday is going to be hard on both of them.

DH used to breed the dogs and kept the best workers and best natured dogs for himself. Jack and Whisk are the last of their bloodline....

[rufalina]

sorry to hear this, what a heartbreaking decision... But I understand where you are coming from. for DH and his bro too. xo

[Ellie]

Oh hun...I am so sorry...I know your dogs have been such a big part of your life...I think you are being very responsible and acting in the best interests of the dogs as well as all the 'humans' involved...it will be hard but you have given them 11/12 wonderful years...will be thinking of you...here if you need a shoulder to cry on xxx

[onthefly]

So sorry you have to say goodbye

[Kazbah]

I'm sorry to hear this BG, I wish you and your "boys" the strength to get through this. Enjoy the time you have with them.

Dogs have their own way off telling us its time - they have no sense of the future, just of the here and now, and they know when its getting too hard for their here and now.

I wish them well over the rainbow bridge.

[MantaRay]

Oh how sad You are doing the right thing hun, but I know that doesn't make it any easier

[AnyDream]

Just want to let you know I'm thinking of you and will be tomorrow too. I remember losing my old girl Beags and yours is a double loss

[LionsandBears]

Thinking about you, your DH, brother and your babies as they go to sleep today. There will be no more pain for Jack and Whiskey.

Today will be rough. Be gentle of yourself and each other and remember the pleasure and love they brought to your lives.

[*charmalea*]

sending a little prayer for you and your family and your lovely dogs XXX

[briggsy's girl]

the boys have just left. both feeling pretty ordinary. we stood out the front and again talked through why it was the "right" thing to do. none of us want to - but we have no choice in the matter. DH spent the last hour or so down the back with Jack. they're going in now to get Whisky and from there they are heading to the vet

my brother told his eldest DD (9) what happened the other day and that Whisk would have to be put down. he told the younger two (DS 7 and DD 5) this morning that she was going to the vet and may not come home. he explained what it meant for a dog to be put to sleep. they know Whisk hasn't been herself. she didn't eat for 8 days last week. all the kids got a chance to say goodbye to her, which was probably hard on them, but easier than coming home from school/kinder and being told it had happened (this happened to us as a kid)

not having a great morning - but it's happening so we have to suck it up. it's the fairest thing for the dogs and that is what's most important. our hearts hurting a while because we miss them is far better than them continuing to hurt physically.

sigh - it's going to be a long afternoon

[onthefly]

it's the fairest thing for the dogs and that is what's most important. our hearts hurting a while because we miss them is far better than them continuing to hurt physically.

That's right, but very sad though