Hard time saying goodbye

[Jyssyca]

There is never a good time to say goodbye to a dear old friend. My Bonnie has been such an awesome companion to me over the years and I will soon have to make the decision to end her suffering. She is very old and I'm having a hard time letting her go. I know that me wanting her to stay with me can't take priority over her need to be free from her pain, but it's just never easy to give up on an animal that has given every bit of herself to me. I know I'm not the only one out there dealing with this type of grief.. Can anyone offer some type of peace of mind for my situation? Right now it's hard to see the light through my tears.

 

[flaglady]

It is hard. There's not a lot one can offer by way of consolation. I personally think the answer is in your attitude in the long term almost as soon as you get an animal friend. We know they're short lived and yet we still go on as if we've got them for life - well, we have, but it's their life not ours. I've had 10 cats over my lifetime and most of them have been unique and precious companions. Most of them I've had to have put down because of terminal illness and that's the worst bit - knowing you've made the decision to end their life. God bless them, I think that in the end, most of them would have thanked me for doing it and helping them out of their pain. But they still live within and always will.

God bless you in your situation and give you the strength to do what's right for your precious one.

 

[IvoryRain]

Sometimes, the greatest act of love you can show your pet is by letting them go when it is time.

 

[country woman]

Last year a very close friend of mine had to make this decision also , to put down her dog she has had since he was young, he was 14 or 15 .He was having sezures more and more so they put him down and when I heard this I cried because I knew the dog very well. His name was Keiko

 

[kellyc]

i'm so sorry you are facing this hard decision. there is a really good site called petloss.com that might comfort you.

 

[Jyssyca]

Thank you all for your extending your support to me during this time. God bless you!

 

[Phil413]

I'm sorry you are going through this. Me and my wife(Tweety) had to let our beloved little Daisy dog(15 year old dachshund) go a little over three years ago. She was sick for months and there was nothing more the vet could do, so we had to think of her, and end her suffering. I even held her while they gave her the shot. That's something I wouldn't recommend because that was hard and if I had it all to do over again I wouldn't have been in the room for that.Saying a prayer for you, and again I am truly sorry.

 

[Jyssyca]

I help direct a no-kill animal shelter and I have been through this a number of times, but it just never gets easier. The dog that I am going to have to put down came to me as a stray, and she had with so many health problems that I told my vet to just make her comfortable for a while and that I would have her euthanized after a couple of weeks of really good care. I made this decision because at the time, I didn't think I had the ability to take on another pet, but I didn't want her to go without knowing what it was like to REALLY be loved. I also didn't know at the time if her medical conditions were ever going to improve to the point that she would be able to live a happy life, but they did.. and sure enough, years later.. she is still with us and she has made this place her home. I find it ironic, that I let her live because I knew that noone else had loved her, and now her life will be ended because I love her too much to let her stay. Pet ownership is bittersweet, but I'd have to say that forming a bond with one of God's precious creatures is worth every ounce of sadness that goes along with saying goodbye.

 

[SpokenFor2005]

I'm so sorry that you're going through this, Jyssyca... My sheltie is almost 12 and I think way to often of the time when I'll have to be without him.

I wanted to suggest http://www.rainbowbridge.com if you haven't been there already. There's wonderful support there from people who have gone through the same thing. They all light a candle once a week, too, for all of the furbabies that have gone to Rainbow Bridge that week...

It's a beautiful site. Please let us know how you're doing...

 

[fieldlily]

It's always hard to say good-bye to these pets who have shared our lives. I have lost some good kitty friends these past few years and have one who is 16 now and can't live much longer. I cherish every moment we have had since we first became connected. A beautiful Norwegian Forest Cat who had become lost and abandoned. She had a litter of three lively and pretty male kitties before we had her spayed. We kept one, gave one to a friend, and my daughter took one when she went out on her own. Only hers survives..ours dies some years ago..He would be 15 now. He had lymphona. That was hard, but soon another came to us...not taking his place...but helping us heal. They do that almost like they know.

My prayers that you can say good-bye to her when the time comes and I know you will never forget your Bonnie. God bless.

birdfriend...