We decided Thursday night to have our faithful best friend put to sleep. His name was McBain. He was a chewer, a barker, couldn't even have him on the same floor of the house as any unprotected food, had lousy listening skills and destroyed any number of bits of valuable property...and I feel like I cut my own arm off right now, except that it hurts more than that ever could. He loved his family, he was crazy about our daughter and was always there when you needed him...he just had a bad habit of making his presence known when it was the least convenient.
He was 13 years old, around 70-75lb and never, ever lost that new puppy energy level and playfulness. Unfortunately he was arthritic in all 4 linbs, had developed sclerosis in his eyes, was losing his hearing and was incontinent for about the last 6-8 months or so. While I'm sure he would have held on for another 2-3 years we decided it was best for everyone to give him his dignity and to try and leave us with nothing but happy memories. I've known too many dog owners who let their dogs simply continue to exist long after the poor animal had stopped enjoying life and more than one family member has come home to a deceased pet lying in its own filth in the living room...I couldn't do that to my wife and daughter, and especially couldn't do it to my buddy.
This was an agonizing decision and we opted to sit our 8 year old down and be up front with her about it right away. We all bawled our eyes out and decided to have the best time possible with him in the time we had left. We played ball, had some treats and through some bizzairre luck got probably the best photos we've ever gotten if him, some are attached here. We went to the vet and he walked in there with his head held high and his tail wagging...probably his best physcal health day in a couple months. The vet was really great, he didn't try to tell me my dog was too healthy or get preachy...he explained the process, asked a few questions and just remained quiet and respectful of our pain. I stayed with him through the whole process and held his head in my lap and looked into hs eyes so he would know that his human was right there with him right up to the end of his journey.
Sorry to ramble, but it helps to get some of this out in the open and to share my grief so I can work through the pain. Thanks for listening.
He was 13 years old, around 70-75lb and never, ever lost that new puppy energy level and playfulness. Unfortunately he was arthritic in all 4 linbs, had developed sclerosis in his eyes, was losing his hearing and was incontinent for about the last 6-8 months or so. While I'm sure he would have held on for another 2-3 years we decided it was best for everyone to give him his dignity and to try and leave us with nothing but happy memories. I've known too many dog owners who let their dogs simply continue to exist long after the poor animal had stopped enjoying life and more than one family member has come home to a deceased pet lying in its own filth in the living room...I couldn't do that to my wife and daughter, and especially couldn't do it to my buddy.
This was an agonizing decision and we opted to sit our 8 year old down and be up front with her about it right away. We all bawled our eyes out and decided to have the best time possible with him in the time we had left. We played ball, had some treats and through some bizzairre luck got probably the best photos we've ever gotten if him, some are attached here. We went to the vet and he walked in there with his head held high and his tail wagging...probably his best physcal health day in a couple months. The vet was really great, he didn't try to tell me my dog was too healthy or get preachy...he explained the process, asked a few questions and just remained quiet and respectful of our pain. I stayed with him through the whole process and held his head in my lap and looked into hs eyes so he would know that his human was right there with him right up to the end of his journey.
Sorry to ramble, but it helps to get some of this out in the open and to share my grief so I can work through the pain. Thanks for listening.