and when to let them go. The pressure of determining the right time, not denying them of one joyful day or making them suffer another, is just too tough to take. Any thoughts or encouragements on the subject would be helpful.

Anyone with the attitude that dogs are just dogs...please don't respond. This animal has been my partner in life for over half of my years and all of hers, and is a beloved and respected member of my family.

Here's my thing... if they're in pain, with no hope of recovery, it's better for them to go quietly with you there rather than them struggling painfully. It helps you be able to plan exactly how they're going to go, so you can do things to help get through it. You can even take the day off to pamper, or just cuddle with your pet, and then take them to the vet so they can go peacefully. My family has had to go through this a couple of times. It is hard to say goodbye, but this way, you can choose when and how, which can help you let go.

Jilly~ You have to ask your vet, really. I'd say it is when you know they are in pain more than not, when they can't eat or enjoy your love.

It was the most difficult decision I have ever had to make. You will know when the time is right I believe. Good luck and I'm sorry.

awww Jill, i'm sorry... And its one of the hardest things I ever had to do. Putting my German Shepherd to sleep. He was only 6 but had severe arthritis, hip dysplasia to the point when it snowed and was really cold out we had to carry him. No small feat for a 125 pound dog... He also had a thyroid disorder and started having grandmal (sp? ) seizures. I cried for weeks afterwards. But he was in a much better place... And everytime he came out of a seizure.. he would hang his head and look really upset.. He knew he had pee'd or pooped on the floor and it was like he was ashamed...
Our vet came out to my van.. Let me hold him in my lap and show him ( Sarge ) I loved him till he was gone.. It was the longest drive home I ever made but he was buried in the families pet cemetary..

Sometimes its a matter of loving them enough to let them go.

i feel for ya


it 's very sad when your best friend is ill

Hey sweetie, I know what you're going through and it's the hardest decision, but once your friend isn't enjoying life and is in pain it's time to let them go. Ask your veterinarian if he or she believes your friend is in pain. They'll let you know when it's time

it's a hard decision to make but if a dog or cat is suffering,you pretty much have to let them go

Thank you guys. I may see another vet as hers is not helping much. He says that on her good days she's still a puppy, but on her bad days, he might recommend it. I think the hard part is in not knowing how much the good days mean to her...or if they just mean so much to me. The last thing I want is to cling selfishly to her life for my own purposes.

Jill the dog in the picture was my beloved Simba of 14 years that I lost last September. she had fought cancer for 2 years but stayed fairly active till the end, In fact, she had a stroke after our regular walk and I had to put her to sleep!!! I had her creamated and still take her for walks and cry most everyday for her but u have to do whats best for them!!! I just got a new pup this weekend but she will never take the place of Simba!!!!

I may just cry! I know it's tough stuff. My Mom let her dog stay too long, too sick, and her sweet dog passed away at home, but while my Mother was sleeping. She regretted not helping Taffy out sooner by letting her go to the vet and for not getting to comfort her in her goodbye.

If u need to talk to someone thats just been there write me ANY time

i had 2 rots that i loved very much i had them since i was like 11 and i would play with them real ruff and they new that i was little and would not hurt me. threw all my family they only listend tome and would never bark or growl at me i loved them very much them being sisters i called them fina 1 and fina 2.
and then one day when i was about 17 they had broken in to our house and stole one of my dogs fina 2 and fina 1 was badly hurt.
sad that i had lots one of the family i took care of fina1 and she finally got better but right after that she got parvo if i spelled that right. their was nothing i could do at the time my father told me that she was going to put her down and i said on i wont let anybody put her down so i stay with her for the last min left and i saw how she was suffering and see her that way was to hard so i was the on who put her down cuz she was my dog i did it not saying u should be the one but in my case i would not let some else do it. so its hard and what ever choice u make he or she will always luv u no mater what remember that take care

You have to walk a fine line between "The right time for you" and "The right time for your pet." Anyone with a bit of empathy can tell when your long-time companion is really having a rough time, even if they can't speak. If they can live comfortably, then you don't need to do it. If they can't live without being miserable, then you consider doing the right thing.

I worked as a vet tech for a few months in College. The way animals are put to sleep is (as far as I can tell) painless. We should treat other humans as well as we do our pets.

Putting a pet to sleep is really not an easy decision, but sometimes it's the most compassionate thing to do.

I have had to do it. Sh got hit by a car and I had to pay 1500 getting his spine fussed back together, then a few years later it breaks again and the docs say they cant fuse it again, but he is still sort of crawling around on the front two legs and acting happy. I would carry him to wherever I was becasue if I didnt he would crawl there even if it was like 2 or 3 hundred yards. All was still good, but then as he got older I could tell he was in pain and then he became incontenent. He absolutely hated to be inside the house. Anyway, one winter I could tell he was going to be mizerable from then on. He was mizer able outside and mizerable inside. He wasnt crawling around anymore and he only lifted his head or wag his tail if I was petting him. I decided it was time to let him go.

I just spent 2500 on another dog that got stomped by a cow. This one is in better shape though and is doing good.

Yeah, we had a corgi with back problems. Dogs with long backs sometimes have that happen. He also ended up breaking his leg, and he just got more and more miserable, but my stepmother still didn't want to put him down. It made me feel bad seeing the dog that way. I think in the end the vet pretty much insisted on it as the only thing left to do. I just can't stand to see anything suffer.

I finally found a picture from albums my mother emailed me this morning. There she is...my Precious Fay. She is 17 years old and only started aging much over the last year. That is a long and healthy lifetime of watching sea turtles on the beach, chasing lizards and cuddling with cats...she really loves cats. And, you would not believe how smart and human she is. I think she even has my sense of humor.

Thank you so much for your stories and support. I knew others have lived through these times before, and as much as I hated asking you to drudge up your memories of it...It means so much to me that you were here with me during this miserable time. Thank you all soooo much.

I will absolutely have to be with her til the last. She has never left my bedside when I've been sick, and I call in sick when she's ill too...she is my everything and I want to make sure I don't let her down in anyway...she's never let me down once.

Thank you Lilith...love ya hon!

Thank you so much...I know I won't let her linger in pain...it would kill me even more than saying good bye.