I'm putting my dog down

[ShinyGreenApple]

**BIG HUGS**

My Murray left us unexpectedly 10 months ago, and a few years back, we had to put down a pregnant pet sheep. Tears are normal and in most cases, healthy. As a lover of animals, I commend you for doing the right thing for your baby when he started to tell you. My thoughts will be with you during this bittersweet time.

P.S. Someone is going to start thinking I work for this site since I plug it all the time, but it helped me a lot when Murray died last year. You can put Corduroy's name on the Bridgelist and write him a tribute if you like. petloss.com

[BookstoreEscapee]

But, I feel extremely relieved and very content right now. I mean, I'm sad, but it feels okay. I'm actually surprised at how relieved I feel.

It was so damn difficult, but I feel okay now.

You'll have your moments...it's a weird feeling knowing you did the right thing even though it's the last thing in the world you want to do. It's a relief to know they're not suffering any more, but then you miss them so much. When we put Pablo down we weren't expecting it, but when it came down to it we knew it was the right decision. There was lots of crying, and the next two days I cried on and off whenever I had more than 2 seconds to think too much. Then I was OK for a few days until the next time I went to my parents' house and saw the chair without him in it. Then I cried some more. I've been OK since then, but even three months later, if I talk about that day too much I'll start up again.

[Sonoma]

Sometimes the right thing to do is the hardest thing in the world. Know that you did everything for him. They have a way of letting you know when it's time.

There's a poem called "The Rainbow Bridge" out there, that may help. It is a tear-jerker, but I find it comforting to go back & read from time to time.

[Kagato]

I'm sorry to hear about your loss, losing a loved pet after so many years is never an easy thing, but when it comes down to it, he did lead a long life. *hugs* The family dog my parents got the day I was born lasted around 15 years before he finally had to be put down due to chronic arthritis in his hips, he could barely cross the living room without pain. It still didn't make it any easier when I saw him leave in my parents car for the last time, knowing he would not be coming back...

What breed of dog was your pet? I did a bit of browsing, and found most larger dogs tend to live around 13 years or so (the bigger they are, the shorter their life it seems )

[Rine]

Corduroy was a German Shepherd mix. He was the ultimate mutt, I think. The vet thought maybe he had some chow in him and lab in him, too. He usually weighed in around 70 to 75 pounds. Towards the end, he weighed 61 pounds, so that was a significant weight loss.

I know he had a long life and 13 years is good for a big dog. I've heard they don't live as long because their body has to do so much growing when they are little or something like that...

It was a difficult night for me since he usually sleeps in my room. I didn't get much sleep but I woke up this morning feeling better.

But it didn't help when I heard my sister's boxer dog romping around. He sort of sounded like Corduroy clicking on the tiles.

[Rine]

Um...bit of an update. A closing of the story, if you will.

Today I picked up Corduroy's ashes from the vet. So now he's home.

The only bad this is that my sister wanted to go with me and I welcomed that.

Then she said she wanted to drive her car and I told her I was driving my own. She got so mad at me, flipped out basically, saying my car is a piece of crap, etc and then she was like, "fine go pick up your damn dog by yourself!" and stormed off.

I mean, really? The ONLY reason I wanted to take my car was it was the ONLY one Corduroy's ever been in and I would have liked his FINAL ride home to be in the same car I always used to take him back and forth and wherever.

So, emotional day and my sister made it worse.

That's all. Thanks everyone.