And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
i've had to do it several times. i'm not so sure that the shot from a vet is any more humane than a shot from my gun. either way, at least they quit suffering. very hard on me too.
Was reviewing the files from my fitness watch from last winter/spring. I always had it recording the walks with our dog. As his kidney failure progressed the walks got fewer and shorter, though there were a couple heroic efforts where he insisted on getting back down to his favorite river trail. At hunting camp, which he loved, he barely made it barely a hundred yards before turning around and looking back telling me he wanted to go back to the porch. It was time.
I've had too many last walks. I let them live longer than the vet recemends, but the wife and I are of the mind set, that if they are "comfortable" enough, they stay with us. They will let you know when it's time. While I was in the hospital with a very broken back, one Doberman, Maxine, died from poisoning or twisted gut. She waited till Mom got home after protecting me from DEI staff, then gave Mom a loving look and took her last breath in Moms arms. That was a very bad week for the Mrs. and I. July, 1995. All the rest had the Last Walk, then we'd go lounge at some favorite place in the yard until they would relax, then a 22 to the back of the head where they just slump, no twitching out (that would wreck me). I've gone with other folks to support them when they went to the vet for the shot. The dogs did NOT want to be there, it wasn't calm. To me it bordered on tragic. My dogs care and passing is my responsibility, I'll handle it. Then I cry some more.
There are vets that specialize in providing painless and peaceful euthanasia at home. This is what i.plan, loving final embrace at home on their bed, peaceful sleep. Ask your vets.
We did that with our previous dog. She passed away peacefully, curled up against my leg while we were sitting in the yard - one of her favorite things to do. Still brings me to tears thinking about it.
At 70, I have had a dog almost continuously my adult life. Four, in total , and they, all, learned to hate going to the Vet. The last two, I had the Vet come here. I could not bear having them become highly agitated/terribly frightened on ‘check out day’. The last time was a rainy fall day. In the barn, I put a packing blanket on my tailgate, and my girl was hoping for a ride. She wasn’t frightened and that was the most I could hope for…..
Ah, damn.
ReplyDeleteyeah
DeleteIf Izzy is that close to the end, that is way too far to be walking.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, I understand what you mean Dan. damn
"Every dog is a love story that ends in grief."
i've had to do it several times. i'm not so sure that the shot from a vet is any more humane than a shot from my gun. either way, at least they quit suffering. very hard on me too.
ReplyDeleteIf the vet does it, no chance they'll miss and cause agony rather than release. That right there is a good enough reason, I'd say.
DeleteWas reviewing the files from my fitness watch from last winter/spring. I always had it recording the walks with our dog. As his kidney failure progressed the walks got fewer and shorter, though there were a couple heroic efforts where he insisted on getting back down to his favorite river trail. At hunting camp, which he loved, he barely made it barely a hundred yards before turning around and looking back telling me he wanted to go back to the porch. It was time.
ReplyDeleteI've had too many last walks. I let them live longer than the vet recemends, but the wife and I are of the mind set, that if they are "comfortable" enough, they stay with us. They will let you know when it's time.
ReplyDeleteWhile I was in the hospital with a very broken back, one Doberman, Maxine, died from poisoning or twisted gut. She waited till Mom got home after protecting me from DEI staff, then gave Mom a loving look and took her last breath in Moms arms. That was a very bad week for the Mrs. and I. July, 1995.
All the rest had the Last Walk, then we'd go lounge at some favorite place in the yard until they would relax, then a 22 to the back of the head where they just slump, no twitching out (that would wreck me).
I've gone with other folks to support them when they went to the vet for the shot. The dogs did NOT want to be there, it wasn't calm. To me it bordered on tragic.
My dogs care and passing is my responsibility, I'll handle it. Then I cry some more.
A real man shoots his own Dog and makes his own Dates. Both are to important to leave to a third party that might botch it.
Delete@ anon 060725 1046am
DeleteYou might be confused about the nature of manhood,Too.
You guys are tearing me up today. But better to have loved and lost…
ReplyDeleteLosing my dogs is this worst thing about being human
ReplyDeleteThere are vets that specialize in providing painless and peaceful euthanasia at home. This is what i.plan, loving final embrace at home on their bed, peaceful sleep. Ask your vets.
ReplyDeleteWe did that with our previous dog. She passed away peacefully, curled up against my leg while we were sitting in the yard - one of her favorite things to do. Still brings me to tears thinking about it.
DeleteWe assume its the dog that's leaving the story but maybe its the man going where the dog can't follow.
ReplyDeleteAt 70, I have had a dog almost continuously my adult life. Four, in total , and they, all, learned to hate going to the Vet. The last two, I had the Vet come here. I could not bear having them become highly agitated/terribly frightened on ‘check out day’. The last time was a rainy fall day. In the barn, I put a packing blanket on my tailgate, and my girl was hoping for a ride. She wasn’t frightened and that was the most I could hope for…..
ReplyDelete