April 1995 - Feb 2009
RIP
Posted on 04/04/2009 6:26:36 PM PDT by Califreak
First of all, it is legitimate to put an animal out of its misery; it’s a different case from human beings, much as we may love them.
We are not cat people, but we have had many, many dogs over the course of our lives. Almost all of them died natural deaths when it was time, but we had to put down two of them.
One because he seriously bit a young friend who was just walking by the house along the road, minding her own business. This was a pound dog who must have been badly brought up or traumatized, and just couldn’t be cured of a tendency to bite, no matter how hard we tried.
The other was a wonderful dog who became deaf, blind, and lame, and was just suffering too much to let him go on. Earlier we had him operated on for a hernia, but nothing more could be done to cure him at that stage. I held him while the vet gave him a shot. He reached out and licked my wrist as his last act, and died painlessly.
Give yourself some time to realize it was the right decision. I'm so sorry for your loss.
sw
So sorry. It’s so hard when a pet dies, no matter the cause.
OTOH, we have a friend who spent thousands trying to keep a dog alive, who then died when his heart gave out from the stress on the day he was going to get to go home. Our friend never did recoup the loss—in many ways.
Ah, I understand.
Once, a friend and I had to kill a kitten because it was dying from a spider-bite. It was not enjoyable.
I’m confident you would not have done it if it were not the right thing for your pet. Unfortunately they can’t tell us directly when their quality of life deteriorates into excessive suffering, but when it becomes obvious, putting them down is the loving thing to do.
Your girl is at peace.
You said — I’m pro-life, but I feel like such a hypocrite.
—
Ummm..., the “pro-life political battle” that we’re fighting in this country has nothing to do with animals. No matter how beloved a pet is — it’s not a “pro-life” issue — for what is *known* as “pro-life”...
So, this has nothing to do with how beloved the pet is, it’s a very well accepted procedure that if a pet continues to suffer, being that it is simply an animal and not a human being, then it is put out of its misery. The same “application” does *not* apply to a human being because God put humans in a totally different category and has said that we are not to take life, except for capital crimes (one who takes another life themselves).
However, God has said that we can take animals lives, in the Bible. He has given animals for food for humans, too (which does require taking their lives, of course).
To put this in the context of the “pro-life” argument is to totally confuse the entire issue of “pro-life,” making people like animals (or animals like people), and totally ignore what the Bible says about human life as being totally distinct and different from animal life.
I hope you do understand that — and like I said, this has absolutely nothing to do with how one feels about their beloved pets, because I have some, too...
Don’t beat yourself up. A person understands why he is in pain. Our pets have no idea why they hurt.
Keeping a pet that is in pain is crueler than putting them down.
April 1995 - Feb 2009
RIP
I couldn’t bring myself to be in the room when the vet put our guy down. I just couldn’t do it. Like you, I hope he forgives me. I’ve had a hard time forgiving myself.
I’m sorry for your pain, but keeping a pet alive who is suffering is putting your own feelings ahead of those of your pet. Your kitty was lucky to have been so loved!
Thank you for the recommendation of Mark’s book. His Sprite sounds physically and mix wise like my first dog Lady. She was such an amazing and good dog. Now I am a cat girl, but love so many dogs I am not sure which one to pick. I guess when the time is right God will place another in my husband and I’s life.
I don’t believe animals have any concept of time, but they do recognize joy and happiness, if you provided her with love I am SURE her life was full and you have nothing to feel guilty about..absolutely nothing..
I am so very sorry for your loss. It’s a hard decision to make and you did the right and humane thing.
I felt like I was betraying her.
But it would have been worse to me to just leave the room and let everyone else deal with it.
I hope she forgives me.
I am hoping that faint little purr was her knowing that I didn’t want her to suffer anymore.
Would you please just STFU!!!
I feel your pain- we lost our beloved 14 1/2YO Pomeranian in January: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2175570/posts
not a day goes by I don’t think of her- you did the right thing and your cat is in a much better place...God Bless...
Make the thread a “religious caucus” then...
Otherwise, it’s “open”...
Large diff between people and animals in the pro-life area though.
Thak you.
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