Where do we say "Goodbye"?

[Chris & Boys]

It seems that Boomer is getting more frail everyday, but he is still smiling when we luv him up! A while ago, I asked my vet if she could come to our home when it was time. She said she would. She said she has a friend who put down her dog and home, and now regrets it because every time she goes into that room, all she can think about is losing him there. I am wondering what other people's experiences have been?

[Sine]

I agree with Margaret: "Sometimes the decision is made for you." It has been almost a year since I had to say goodbye to a dear doggie friend and it was really hard knowing when was the right time. I struggled, tried new meds hoping for the best, made countless sobbing phone calls to the vet that whole summer. But, when I saw Romie's body was shutting down, when he wasn't interested in the things he loved, and wasn't even afraid of the things he used to be terrified of, I just knew. It was crazy but he made the ultimate decision. He told me. People always said that I would just know. You too will also just know. Afterall, you know him better than any vet or outsider. It is your personal decision whether or not to say your final goodbyes at home or at the vet. I was thinking about doing it at home since he was very scared of the hospital but when I saw he was no longer afraid, I took him in. The only thing I regret is not staying with him longer afterwards... even though my vet checked in on us twice... My thought are with you - I feel so sad for you...

[Margaret Erwin]

We were wondering how to decide the time for Sadie, our 10 years old pyrenees. A year ago she was having alot of trouble on the hardwood floors. When running outside, her back end would suddenly collapse. How do you know? One night she went outside and came back in shaking and trembling. She had bloat and there was no decision to make. Sometimes the decision is made for you.

[Kyoko]

I hope boomer will have many more great days.....

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

We have had a combination of putting pets to sleep and passing naturally. Our last was our 14 year old cat this past January. I found Pokie curled up in her box; she had drifted off in her sleep. She is buried beneath her favorite 'sleeping' tree and we have a statue of a sitting cat on top of her grave.

We did not keep the ashes of our pets that we had put to sleep, but we have a special memory stone in the garden for each one.

[Ann W]

Letting go of the things you love the most is very hard.Where and when is a tough process and each of us are
very different. I would like to share this with you. It's from "A Dog's Plea"

" And ,my friend, when I am very old, and I no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having any fun. Please see that my trusting life is taken gently. I shall leave this Earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands."

[Kevin Poole, Penny & Ozzy]

I'm not into keeping the ashes or burying them, prefer a clean break, that way my memories are always the good ones.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

I have been throught losing a dog to cancer and needing to be put down. But I can give you no advice. I just could not bring myself to take her to the vet. I stayed home and balled my pregnant belly off. My husband and then 13 yr old son took her. I assume they would go in and hold her into eternal slumber. But they couldnt bring themselves to do that. They stayed in the waiting room. Her final moments were alone with a compassionate vet and his assistant. But to this day I feel guilty. I feel like I was too much of a wimp to give her the appropriate send off she deserved. :o(

[Kevin Poole, Penny & Ozzy]

Through my experience with dogs and cats, we took them to our vets, they were great, they did what they had to do, and left us alone while the drug takes effect and we could say our goodbyes. When all done, the vet deals with the rest...we find it easier to walk away that way...it's never easy, and even when you know you're doing the right thing it's still so tough. As for doing it at home, I couldn't cope with that, my mother died at my house in England, it was never the same again...we moved within the year. I know there should be a big difference between mom and pets, but you give 'em all love.

[Adina P]

Chris I have no advice, I've never gone through this myself. But I'm sorry you have to deal with this and will be thinking of you and hope you find the right place.

[Chris & Boys]

Oh, thank you all so much. I haven't been able to reply because every time I start to read all the great comments I start bawling my eyes out. And, unfortunately, my computer at home is in the shop getting repaired, so I only have time to read during my breaks at work.

My vets office told me they just stopped doing it at people's homes because of something bad happening (?) Hmm. So, I am in the process of trying to find a vet in my area that will come to my home. Every phone call I make I end up in tears.

Now, I am trying to decide whether I should have him cremated at a private crematorium, where you go and if you want, you can put him in the drawer and be present throughout the whole process and have him back within 2 hours, or if I should just have the vet take him and wait 2 weeks to get him back.

My youngest son specifically asked if we could get his ashes put in an urn to keep. So, I know that is what I am going to do.

BTW, yesterday Boomer had a REALLY good day. YEA!