Losing a Pet

[ShelleBink]

<p>My cat who I've had since I was in third grade is going to be put to sleep on Tuesday.&nbsp; He's about 17 or 18 years old, and its gotten to the point where he has extensive nerve damage and internal issues; and the vet recommended he be put down.&nbsp; Its really bittersweet since I got him when I was about 9 years old around this time of year, and now we're getting ready to say goodbye.&nbsp; It hurts a bit more since this is the first time I've understood about a pet dying ((last time we had a pet die I was about 3 and it was my brother's bird)).&nbsp; It sucks, but my sister is taking this especially hard.&nbsp; I've come to terms with the fact he's lived a long life and has had a lot of medical problems in the last few years.&nbsp; I'd rather the lil guy not suffer.</p><p>You guys don't need to give me sympathy and all that, just kind of needed to get this off my chest and its just going to make this weekend suck a bit.&nbsp; Hoo-fuckin-ray.</p><p><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/shellebink/shadowcat.jpg" border="0" />&nbsp;</p>

[FUNKMAN]

still sad though. i'm sure he couldn't have had a better home or have been taken better care of.

[TheVHD]

I lost my dog last June 14 he was born on July 7, 1994.&nbsp; I say dog but he was more like my son.&nbsp;He meant EVERYTHING to me. His name was Rip and he was a Pitbull. I had a picture of him tattooed on my leg when he was 2 years old (1996)... There's not 1 day I don't think about him and miss him. I got him when I was 20 so he was with me most of my adult life. He died naturally and didn't suffer at all.&nbsp;I came home from work one day and he was sleeping on the couch as he always did... but he didn't jump off like he usually would when I opened the door. I knew right there he was gone... I grabbed his leash and shook it hoping I was wrong but he was gone. It took me a few weeks to be able to think about him and not tear up... but after some time I would think about him and smile. Like I am right now. You just have to know that the time you spent together how happy both of you were. I still love him and that's never going to go away...

[Snacks]

<p>I'm currently going through something similar. My dog who will be 14 on January 1 just seems to not be able to walk. He barks and if you look at him he so cute and when hes sitting or leying down he seems fine. But when he tries to walk he is in pain. Last night I let him out&nbsp;to go to the bathroom and he kinda fell down, instead of getting up he just laid there and peed side ways on the ground. I almost lost it. The reason its&nbsp; even harder is my dad loved this dog and&nbsp;my&nbsp;father died 2 years ago, so I feel everytime I look at the dog I can still see and hear my dad playing with him. So my brother and I need to make a decision soon.&nbsp;</p><p>We also have another dog, 3 years younger, but diabetic and blind. She has done well since living with my dog. Now my mother is nervous that keno&nbsp; (blind dog) will deteriorate (SP?) if and when we put Ebony to sleep.</p>

[lintpit]

<p><font face="impact,chicago" size="2">ShelleBink, So sorry about the cat. I have had to bury more pets and family members than I can even get in to. It never gets easier .&nbsp; Wishing you Better times this holiday. Again... sorry about your kitty.</font></p>

[CofyCrakCocaine]

<p>Poor kitty. :(&nbsp;&nbsp; I wish there was something that could be done to make this easier for you or for the kitty. I feel for your sister. I will be devastated when my kitty goes. </p><p>My cat was close to being put down recently due to renal failure, and the prospect of losing him had me upset. He got better, but only with daily injections of some liquid to flush his kidneys...some would argue we're being immoral by keeping him alive...but he seems happy and is still very sweet, and still has a hell of an appetite, so I think he's still happy to be here. I guess he agrees with Warren Zevon's words: &quot;Enjoy every sandwhich.&quot; My condolences. :( The timing sucks ass. </p>

[Jughead]

Animals have love thats the same every day....My girls ( 2 Minature Pinchers Murph and Kate) mean the world to me and my wife...I just got my first cat that stays in my garage with me(Long story but have my xm a tv and a couch out there where i drink beer and smoke cigs....)... I must say I had forgotten how much ya can get attached to a cat.... Im sorry for anyone who is going through the loss of a animal I think quite often how we are gonna feel when we lose ours pets someday.... But Im convienced (Shelly)that all the great times and years of love are worth way more than a few months,,, or even years in some cases of a torn out heart....Heal Quick&nbsp; Jug

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by jughead46041 on 12-23-06 @ 3:25 PM</span>

[ShelleBink]

Its just surreal knowing in a few days I won't hear him meowing or purring anymore.&nbsp; Ugh.&nbsp; Right now he's on one of my baby blankets just hanging out while I type this and its making me cry a lil bit.&nbsp; But, he most definately had a good life and was spoiled rotten.&nbsp;

[reillyluck]

Shelle, i am so sorry to hear this.&nbsp; i know from experience what it is to lose a pet.&nbsp; If there's anything i can do, just let me know. im here for ya girl!

[undressa]

<p>You poor thing, you are in my prayers.&nbsp; I know alot of people think it is silly to feel that a pet is part of your family but they are.&nbsp; I am glad that at least you will get tosay good bye and wisper in the cats ears how much he ment to you, I know that it was a little conforting to me when I said good bye to king tut.&nbsp; </p><p>Keep your chin up and think of all the good times</p><p>V</p>

[CofyCrakCocaine]

<strong>ShelleBink</strong> wrote:<br />Its just surreal knowing in a few days I won't hear him meowing or purring anymore. Ugh. Right now he's on one of my baby blankets just hanging out while I type this and its making me cry a lil bit. But, he most definately had a good life and was spoiled rotten. <p>&nbsp;Goddamn, I hate euthanasia. But if that's the best thing for the fella, I guess that's all there is to it. I'm very sorry you're going through this. Maybe you could write something about it. (besides on a messageboard). Might help you out a little.&nbsp;</p>

[jetdog]

It hasn't been a year yet, I miss my buddy so much.....
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t92/jetdog29/jet1.jpg

[jetdog]

<p>.</p><p><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/shellebink/shadowcat.jpg" border="0" />&nbsp;</p>
He looks like a king of cats. Now I'm really sad.

[Bulldogcakes]

It hasn't been a year yet, I miss my buddy so much.....
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t92/jetdog29/jet1.jpg

I'll miss my buddy Jake as long as I live.

Did you ever get another dog?

[AgnosticJihad]

I had to put my old cat to sleep a few years ago, because she had diabetes and I couldn't afford the shots; it was one of the only times I have openly wept. My current cat (who I call Poo, because she used to shit on my bitch ex-girlfriend's carpet almost everyday, but has not once shit on mine in 5 years) got very sick from a really bad urinary tract infection, to the point that I had to put her in a pet hospital; she was hooked up to IVs and everything, but she pulled through, much to my releif. My point is that I understand completely how you feel, Shellebinks. I'd pray for you and your cat, but.....

[jetdog]

I'll miss my buddy Jake as long as I live.

Did you ever get another dog?
My brother has Ruby, she's adorable, but I've been living on the go, we plan to get a dog when we move to Georgia next month.

[yeti]

Losing a pet sucks, but it opens up for that one you always wanted to get....

[cupcakelove]

I'm so sorry Shelle.

[furie]

it's always tough to put a pet down. i'm very sorry.

[ShelleBink]

Its kinda weird to see this thread.

We ended up not putting him to sleep that Tuesday, or at all, for that matter. Every time we ((sis and I)) felt that we could make the call, he'd improve a little, or nuzzle us and cuddle, and we didn't have the heart to take that away from him. He wasn't in pain, and we weren't having him suffer, it was just old age finally catching up to him ((he was 19)).

The last Thursday in March was his last day hangin out with us. He went to hide behind the dryer and my dog kept finding him and having us make sure he didn't get wedged back there. Then the dog just kept licking the cat ((heartbreaking)) and eventually Shadow went away.

While losing a pet sucks regardless, I felt I had a lot of time to really say goodbye, and I can tell it helped considerably. I'm at peace that he didn't suffer, and he went on his own terms...

But it is weird when I'm home and he's not around. I'm sure once I am back there more often after school ends I'm going to notice it a lot more. We'll see.

PS, Im sorry jetdog :(

[Skarhead]

Know what you're going through man... Had to put my 15 year old cat to sleep a few weeks ago. Had him since he was 3 months old. Was really sad espeially since he just started getting so weak and just basically dying of old age totally out of the blue. Really hurt the last day when he started having seizures about every 20 minutes and started happening more frequent as the day went on. Luckily for the last 30 minutes before he was put to sleep that same day he didn't have a single seizure and i got to stay with him til he passed.


From the Vets that day
http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/9585/photo0078ey8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/9878/photo0077dd2.th.jpg (http://img131.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0077dd2.jpg)