Would you shoot your dog?
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St. Gunner
Member
I had my old lab put down about 6yrs ago now, still miss her. Took her to the vet and it went fairly well, then took her home and buried her next to my favorite tree. They called my wife to inform her that her husband was a basket case and they where to because of all my crying and she better be real nice when I got home. We'd spent right at 14yrs growing up together, hunted ducks on every stock tank, creek, and river within walking distance and a few places that really where not.
But i've had to do some myself from time to time, I used to hunt hogs with dogs and when an injury was to bad you had no other option, sometimes the vet is hours away. Tried to take an older dog to the vet one night to have him put down after a fight with a stray, last thing I heard from him was a God awful squalling and he died in the truck. I started a new policy at that point in time. I tell em good bye, put the barrel to the knot on the back of their head and pull the trigger, they don't have a chance to see it coming. Then I place another round through their chest in case the one to the head missed anything vital and simply knocked them out. I've never had one yelp this way, or bolt because they saw it coming. It is one of the most unpleasant things I ever have to do, but I do it if the need arises. My little girls Pug walked out in front of my wife a year or so ago and I was awakened to come do something. She was mangled and was just minutes from death with the amount of blood she was loosing, I did what I think was the right thing at the time, and always will.
I just hope if i'm laying in the road with my back broken and my chest crushed and death moments off somebody does me the favor. Onslaught its not because somebody is Rambo or the man or anything, its called responsibility to those under us and respect for their pain and suffering. I'm about the biggest softie you will ever meet when it comes to animals under my care, but I will not expect them to suffer for 30-40 minutes more to ease my burden by having someone else bring the end around. Granted if it is a terminal disease and the vet can or will do it, they will be allowed to, I don't think anyone here really wants to.
But i've had to do some myself from time to time, I used to hunt hogs with dogs and when an injury was to bad you had no other option, sometimes the vet is hours away. Tried to take an older dog to the vet one night to have him put down after a fight with a stray, last thing I heard from him was a God awful squalling and he died in the truck. I started a new policy at that point in time. I tell em good bye, put the barrel to the knot on the back of their head and pull the trigger, they don't have a chance to see it coming. Then I place another round through their chest in case the one to the head missed anything vital and simply knocked them out. I've never had one yelp this way, or bolt because they saw it coming. It is one of the most unpleasant things I ever have to do, but I do it if the need arises. My little girls Pug walked out in front of my wife a year or so ago and I was awakened to come do something. She was mangled and was just minutes from death with the amount of blood she was loosing, I did what I think was the right thing at the time, and always will.
I just hope if i'm laying in the road with my back broken and my chest crushed and death moments off somebody does me the favor. Onslaught its not because somebody is Rambo or the man or anything, its called responsibility to those under us and respect for their pain and suffering. I'm about the biggest softie you will ever meet when it comes to animals under my care, but I will not expect them to suffer for 30-40 minutes more to ease my burden by having someone else bring the end around. Granted if it is a terminal disease and the vet can or will do it, they will be allowed to, I don't think anyone here really wants to.
tomkatz
Member
It is no fun having to put one down, but St. Gunner is right, it's just something ya gotta step up and do sometimes.
Onslaught...I spent about $400 saving a dog with parvo, I had just got him from a lady I worked with whose husband had bounced him off the fireplace for chewing a shoe, broke his ribs, so she couldn't take him back home. She assured me he had his shots but apparently not, he came down with parvo the next week. I kept him for the next 17 yrs., so yeah it was worth it. Also, I asked my vet about the border collie I described who came unglued while euthenizing her, she said after that she started using a sedative first, it really does help to calm them first, she said she had never seen one react like that. It made me feel awful, she had been my best friend for a long time...tom
Onslaught...I spent about $400 saving a dog with parvo, I had just got him from a lady I worked with whose husband had bounced him off the fireplace for chewing a shoe, broke his ribs, so she couldn't take him back home. She assured me he had his shots but apparently not, he came down with parvo the next week. I kept him for the next 17 yrs., so yeah it was worth it. Also, I asked my vet about the border collie I described who came unglued while euthenizing her, she said after that she started using a sedative first, it really does help to calm them first, she said she had never seen one react like that. It made me feel awful, she had been my best friend for a long time...tom
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Detachment Charlie
Member
All of you tough, gun-totin' dudes got to me.
Years ago, my best friend and ramblin' buddy, Fagin was nearing the end and suffering. After 15 years, he'd had a good run, but at that time, he could hardly stand.
I'd had other dogs that I allowed the pound to "put to sleep". But putting a faithful animal into a vacuum chamber always seemed not only cruel, but demeaning to the spirit he had shown. Another time, the vet took three injections to put the animal through convulsions before he faded off. (The vet also took $125 for it).
I packed old Fagin into the car, rolled down the windows and drove to his favorite rabbit chasing field. Carried him out to the middle, sat down with him for a lot longer than I thought I would, said goodbye and thanks. He looked a lot more peaceful than I felt.
One clean shot and was gone with no more pain. Big, tough combat vet sat there and cried over him. Dug his grave, burried him, left him in peace.
Am I proud of this, not really. But, I believe it was the best.
Damn, I miss that dog.
Years ago, my best friend and ramblin' buddy, Fagin was nearing the end and suffering. After 15 years, he'd had a good run, but at that time, he could hardly stand.
I'd had other dogs that I allowed the pound to "put to sleep". But putting a faithful animal into a vacuum chamber always seemed not only cruel, but demeaning to the spirit he had shown. Another time, the vet took three injections to put the animal through convulsions before he faded off. (The vet also took $125 for it).
I packed old Fagin into the car, rolled down the windows and drove to his favorite rabbit chasing field. Carried him out to the middle, sat down with him for a lot longer than I thought I would, said goodbye and thanks. He looked a lot more peaceful than I felt.
One clean shot and was gone with no more pain. Big, tough combat vet sat there and cried over him. Dug his grave, burried him, left him in peace.
Am I proud of this, not really. But, I believe it was the best.
Damn, I miss that dog.
HABU
Member
I'd shoot my dog if it was terminally sick or seriously injured or if it ate up some kid. I'd shoot your dog if it bit me or if I saw it running deer. 
Marshall
Member
I have had to shoot a couple of dogs. 
I have some land up on a mountain (80ft shy of a mountain) down south from where I live. I go down there a couple of times a month to hunt, fish, scout, check on house, etc. People in this small town close to this place have been known to drive up this mountain (dirt road) and drop there old sick dogs off at my gate. It just makes me sick, they won't care for them and then when they get sick they can't take care of that either. So, I do the humane thing and put them out of their misery before the coyotes or mountain lion that lives up on the mountain does it for me. Mountain Lions in Oklahoma? Yep, trust me!
I am a dog owner and have always had dogs. I have two Yellow Labs now. I have had to take my dogs to the Vet before to be put down. So, I suppose I won't shoot my own dogs, but the other situation calls for it.
I have some land up on a mountain (80ft shy of a mountain) down south from where I live. I go down there a couple of times a month to hunt, fish, scout, check on house, etc. People in this small town close to this place have been known to drive up this mountain (dirt road) and drop there old sick dogs off at my gate. It just makes me sick, they won't care for them and then when they get sick they can't take care of that either. So, I do the humane thing and put them out of their misery before the coyotes or mountain lion that lives up on the mountain does it for me. Mountain Lions in Oklahoma? Yep, trust me!
I am a dog owner and have always had dogs. I have two Yellow Labs now. I have had to take my dogs to the Vet before to be put down. So, I suppose I won't shoot my own dogs, but the other situation calls for it.
HadEmAll
Member
Well, I shot a neighbor's dog because it had gone vicious and he wouldn't restrain it. Cornered my wife and firstborn at the age of 6 months up against her vehicle. Would have rather dispatched the neighbor and tried to retrain the dog, but did what I had to do. That said, I still get a big lump in my throat while I watch Old Yeller (at least once a year) and doubt I could ever shoot a dog I owned. I'd have to resort to another method. Of course, until the moment arrives, I'm just guessing. Maybe it would seem like the right thing at the time.
U
USMC
Guest
It is a dog! Yes, I would kill it, then I would eat! The same thing goes for a cat!
USMC
USMC
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Wheels 'n' Guns
Member
As a young bloke down on the farm (Lakes Entrance, Victoria, Australia), I had an occassion to shoot my own dog, after he had killed a couple of lambs. My Dad made me do it, sad, I cried, but dog was very old and getting scatty... Some years later I discussed this with my Dad and asked whether I should have got so emotional. He said, "Of Course, no-one likes to kill his own dog, but it had to be done". Then we got to talking about others in his family who had to take such action. He told the story about my two Uncles, Bill and Terry, two of the toughest bushmen I had known. "You may not know", said Dad, "That they have had an agreement for years now, that whenever each had Dog Problems, they always swapped the deed and shot each other's dogs!" Thought long and hard about this and have never forgotten what great mates that made them. (Perhaps one day I'll write a song about it...)
More recently, with Children involved, I've chosen the Vet. option.
More recently, with Children involved, I've chosen the Vet. option.
PaP
Member
I have to agree with Cal4D4> Our vet does it for free and I doubt I could do a better job. If circumstances require it, then you do what you must.
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Malone
Times have changed with gatos. I've had to have three put down in the past year. My wife and I got the cats within months of each other. The first one, Nefertitti, just got old and stopped eating, the second - Samson had kidney failure and the third, Maxi, who was put down this last Saturday, was diabetic, suffered from hypothyroidism and had developed multiple cancer nodes.
Each one was given a sedative while they sat in my lap and minutes later, after goodbyes were said, were injected in their right hind leg. Each passed being petted and fretted over and Maxi purred until the very end. I knew she was gone when she stopped.
For those of you who are bothered by those of us who are willing to put down a beloved pet... I was raised on a ranch in cattle country and animal death is a fact of life for us. Cattle, swine, horses, cats, dogs, coyotes, bobcats, cougars, etc., all die or need to be put down and frankly I've had to put down my fair share. Granted, veterinary medicine has advanced radically in the past few years, but living 50 miles from the nearest soul kinda makes the decision for you. Not easy by any stretch, but unfortunately necessary lest the animal suffer.
There was one instance however when I was told by my mother that my border collie, Speck, had died. I found out shortly thereafter that he had been put down in his prime and having nothing wrong with him. We were dirt poor and it was a matter of the dog eating, or us eating. I've never forgiven my mother for that. Always felt she took the easy way out.
Ya'll remind me to tell you sometime about Thor, my 150+ pound german shepard.
Times have changed with gatos. I've had to have three put down in the past year. My wife and I got the cats within months of each other. The first one, Nefertitti, just got old and stopped eating, the second - Samson had kidney failure and the third, Maxi, who was put down this last Saturday, was diabetic, suffered from hypothyroidism and had developed multiple cancer nodes.
Each one was given a sedative while they sat in my lap and minutes later, after goodbyes were said, were injected in their right hind leg. Each passed being petted and fretted over and Maxi purred until the very end. I knew she was gone when she stopped.
For those of you who are bothered by those of us who are willing to put down a beloved pet... I was raised on a ranch in cattle country and animal death is a fact of life for us. Cattle, swine, horses, cats, dogs, coyotes, bobcats, cougars, etc., all die or need to be put down and frankly I've had to put down my fair share. Granted, veterinary medicine has advanced radically in the past few years, but living 50 miles from the nearest soul kinda makes the decision for you. Not easy by any stretch, but unfortunately necessary lest the animal suffer.
There was one instance however when I was told by my mother that my border collie, Speck, had died. I found out shortly thereafter that he had been put down in his prime and having nothing wrong with him. We were dirt poor and it was a matter of the dog eating, or us eating. I've never forgiven my mother for that. Always felt she took the easy way out.
Ya'll remind me to tell you sometime about Thor, my 150+ pound german shepard.
IdahoFarmer
Member
If no vet available and euthanization was warranted I would do the honorable thing and put him down.
MLH
Member
Have had vet do it and have done it myself. It's not easy but sometimes nessesary. Hardest was putting a horse down for a friend because she couldn't afford a vet.
Hardest was putting a horse down for a friend because she couldn't afford a vet.
Sometimes love means doing the hard things, so I'd guess it might depend on the circumstances.
I've already extracted promises from most of my squad mates to put me down if I'm badly hit (missing half body, etc), and have no chance. Whether that means a burst from their M4 or multiple hits with Morphine, only matters to me insomuch as they keep themselves out of trouble afterwards.
I've already extracted promises from most of my squad mates to put me down if I'm badly hit (missing half body, etc), and have no chance. Whether that means a burst from their M4 or multiple hits with Morphine, only matters to me insomuch as they keep themselves out of trouble afterwards.
The quick answer would be yes, but then again, I dunno...
Funny Story:
When I was about 15 my Dad told me to take one of the cats out and put it down. It was always scratching and biting my Mom when she tried to feed the cats.
My choices were limited to firearms & I didn't want to deal with 12ga. So, I went out and dug the hole, put the cat near it and shot him between the eyes with a powerful Sheridan 20cal pellet rifle. The pellet flattened out and went up and around and exited.
The cat ran way back to the house and hid in the bushes. We didn't see him for awhile. A week or two later my Dad said, "forget about the cat, he's OK now". I don't know if he aquired an attitude adjusment or a frontal labotomy, but he was a good cat after that.
Funny Story:
When I was about 15 my Dad told me to take one of the cats out and put it down. It was always scratching and biting my Mom when she tried to feed the cats.
My choices were limited to firearms & I didn't want to deal with 12ga. So, I went out and dug the hole, put the cat near it and shot him between the eyes with a powerful Sheridan 20cal pellet rifle. The pellet flattened out and went up and around and exited.
The cat ran way back to the house and hid in the bushes. We didn't see him for awhile. A week or two later my Dad said, "forget about the cat, he's OK now". I don't know if he aquired an attitude adjusment or a frontal labotomy, but he was a good cat after that.
Owen
Moderator Emeritus
This thread reminds me of one of the toughest decisions i didn't have to make.
I got my dog Parker, from a crazy lady down the street during my senior year in high school. She was some sort of terrier/goldenretreiver/whoknows mutt. A general pain in the bum, but my bud nevertheless.
I had been laid off from my job almost 7 months earlier when I received a job offer from the other side of the country. However one of the conditions was I had to be down there in two weeks. I couldn't say no, because I had $0 in the bank, and had been living on credit cards, and the grace of my mother for the last 4 months. The problem was that I couldn't find a place to live that allowed dogs, and the job I had to take was a minimum of 25% travel. IOW, I could no longer provide a good home
I went to the MSPCA (Massachusetts, if you were wondering) to see if to try to find a home for her. The problem was they were putting dogs down after two weeks in the shelter, and if I left her there, I couldn't get her back. She was 9 years old, so I didn't think she had a good chance of being placed in that short time frame. I couldn't abandon her to strangers, and have her put down anyways. That would have been 2x as bad. I spoke to my vet and he agreed to put her down if I couldn't find a place for her.
I thought the receptionist was gonna kill me for sure. I was crying while making the arrangements and the 17 yo blissninny working there thought I was being a cruel bastard.
I found a place for her tho, and the last time I spoke to her new family, she was the best dog they ever had
If the vet hadn't agreed, and I hadn't found a place for her, I probably would have shot her.
Kinda off topic, but not too bad.
I got my dog Parker, from a crazy lady down the street during my senior year in high school. She was some sort of terrier/goldenretreiver/whoknows mutt. A general pain in the bum, but my bud nevertheless.
I had been laid off from my job almost 7 months earlier when I received a job offer from the other side of the country. However one of the conditions was I had to be down there in two weeks. I couldn't say no, because I had $0 in the bank, and had been living on credit cards, and the grace of my mother for the last 4 months. The problem was that I couldn't find a place to live that allowed dogs, and the job I had to take was a minimum of 25% travel. IOW, I could no longer provide a good home
I went to the MSPCA (Massachusetts, if you were wondering) to see if to try to find a home for her. The problem was they were putting dogs down after two weeks in the shelter, and if I left her there, I couldn't get her back. She was 9 years old, so I didn't think she had a good chance of being placed in that short time frame. I couldn't abandon her to strangers, and have her put down anyways. That would have been 2x as bad. I spoke to my vet and he agreed to put her down if I couldn't find a place for her.
I thought the receptionist was gonna kill me for sure. I was crying while making the arrangements and the 17 yo blissninny working there thought I was being a cruel bastard.
I found a place for her tho, and the last time I spoke to her new family, she was the best dog they ever had
If the vet hadn't agreed, and I hadn't found a place for her, I probably would have shot her.
Kinda off topic, but not too bad.
I had to shoot our kitten a few years back. Darn thing had spinabifida. I walked crooked too. I was going to take it to the vet to get put to sleep, but when it raked my hand that morning just before I woke up (it found my arm dangling off the bed), I felt like taking care of it myself. So after I cleaned my wounds and stopped the bleeding, I dug a deep hole, put it down into the hole and shot it. Saved myself from having to pay a vet bill, and I didn't have to miss any work that morning, which made up for the unpleasantness of it all.
As for my dog, I'm not sure. If he got rabies, I would.
Saved myself from having to pay a vet bill, and I didn't have to miss any work that morning, which made up for the unpleasantness of it all.As for my dog, I'm not sure. If he got rabies, I would.
Yes.
I've shot a couple feral dogs that were fighting with my dog. I have had to shoot a couple of our cats when they were ill beyond recovery. The saddest was my dog of 17 years. She suffered a stroke and was unable to move at all. I put her out of her misery and cried like a baby for the rest of the afternoon. buried her in the garden. Its suprising how much you can love an animal.
I've shot a couple feral dogs that were fighting with my dog. I have had to shoot a couple of our cats when they were ill beyond recovery. The saddest was my dog of 17 years. She suffered a stroke and was unable to move at all. I put her out of her misery and cried like a baby for the rest of the afternoon. buried her in the garden. Its suprising how much you can love an animal.
bfox
Member
I worked with an older Gentleman.
When he was a young boy his dog was old and sick.
his father told him and his brother to take him out in the
woods and shoot and bury him.
The next morning his father asks them if they shot and buried the dog.
They said yes they did it.
Their dad said well his ghost is on the back porch
They had taken him they thought far enough out in the woods
that he couldn't find his way back.
The dog lived for a while after that
And no I couldn't shoot my dog either.
When he was a young boy his dog was old and sick.
his father told him and his brother to take him out in the
woods and shoot and bury him.
The next morning his father asks them if they shot and buried the dog.
They said yes they did it.
Their dad said well his ghost is on the back porch
They had taken him they thought far enough out in the woods
that he couldn't find his way back.
The dog lived for a while after that
And no I couldn't shoot my dog either.
joeislove
Member
Damn it. You guys have me all choked up.
I've never had to do the deed. I haven't had a dog since I was a kid. I'm more of a cat person. When it was necessary, my dad was the one to do it.
I remember one time in particular. I had a new puppy, maybe four months old. Cute little mutt, still fuzzy, but it looked like it would be a nice big dog with long hair. Anyway, one day it decided to chase my dad's tire as he was coming home. When I got up to it, it was hollering its head off, just yelping and crying, and trying to drag himself off the driveway with just his front legs. His hips didn't look right, sort of squashed, and one of his legs was broken so badly that the bone was sticking way up out of the fur.
I sat there with that little puppy in my lap for about five minutes. It stopped hollering when I picked it up; it was just sort of panting and whimpering. Then my dad came walking up the driveway carrying his pistol. His voice sounded all strange and he told me to "put that damn dog down and get back to the house" so I did (disobeying my dad was just not done). I started walking and he told me to keep going till I got inside and not to look back. This time I disobeyed him, though; I turned around just in time to see him lining up the sights on that little puppy. So I turned back around and started running, but I didn't make it inside before I heard the shot, and I just burst into tears right there on the front yard.
My dad buried him, and I just sat on the porch and watched him, but he didn't tell me to go inside again. After he got done burying the dog, he walked past me without a word and went back to his room and stayed in there by himself for a long, long time. I didn't figure out until many years later why that was.
One time, when I was a teenager, a deer made a kamikaze run at my car. I stopped to see if I had killed it, and I hadn't. The collision had, however, broken at least three of its legs and I guess it had caused internal hemorrhaging, because it was making this awful coughing, spitting noise, and blood was coming out of its mouth. I wished that night I had had a gun on me, and I think I would have ended it gladly. As it was, I went and got the tire iron out of my trunk, intending on trying to knock it unconscious.
When I got back, I stood there convincing myself that I could do it for about ten minutes, and trying to come up with reasons why I shouldn't, while that deer looked at me with this pitiful look, a look that I think that only an animal that is used to jumping twenty feet at a bound, and who is now immobilized, can give you. It wasn't struggling anymore, just looking at me, and coughing every few seconds. Then it died.
I had been on my way out, but I just drove back home. This time it was me sitting in a room by myself for several hours.
I now have a pet cat. She is my baby. I am devoted to this cat, even though she is a terrible pain in the ***. I can't think of five people I love more than this cat. I keep her inside, because I'm not willing to risk letting her get hit by a car. I know that one day she will die. I only hope that I have the option to ease her passing. I hope she dies in her sleep one day, many years in the future (she's only about six). However, if, God forbid and heavens forfend, she were to run out and get clobbered by a truck or something, and she was suffering, and I knew that she had about another twenty extremely painful minutes of life left....would I do it?
I don't know. I hope I would.
Crap. Now I'm crying. Don't tell my friends. I have a reputation as a big, tough guy. Just keep this between us, k?
I've never had to do the deed. I haven't had a dog since I was a kid. I'm more of a cat person. When it was necessary, my dad was the one to do it.
I remember one time in particular. I had a new puppy, maybe four months old. Cute little mutt, still fuzzy, but it looked like it would be a nice big dog with long hair. Anyway, one day it decided to chase my dad's tire as he was coming home. When I got up to it, it was hollering its head off, just yelping and crying, and trying to drag himself off the driveway with just his front legs. His hips didn't look right, sort of squashed, and one of his legs was broken so badly that the bone was sticking way up out of the fur.
I sat there with that little puppy in my lap for about five minutes. It stopped hollering when I picked it up; it was just sort of panting and whimpering. Then my dad came walking up the driveway carrying his pistol. His voice sounded all strange and he told me to "put that damn dog down and get back to the house" so I did (disobeying my dad was just not done). I started walking and he told me to keep going till I got inside and not to look back. This time I disobeyed him, though; I turned around just in time to see him lining up the sights on that little puppy. So I turned back around and started running, but I didn't make it inside before I heard the shot, and I just burst into tears right there on the front yard.
My dad buried him, and I just sat on the porch and watched him, but he didn't tell me to go inside again. After he got done burying the dog, he walked past me without a word and went back to his room and stayed in there by himself for a long, long time. I didn't figure out until many years later why that was.
One time, when I was a teenager, a deer made a kamikaze run at my car. I stopped to see if I had killed it, and I hadn't. The collision had, however, broken at least three of its legs and I guess it had caused internal hemorrhaging, because it was making this awful coughing, spitting noise, and blood was coming out of its mouth. I wished that night I had had a gun on me, and I think I would have ended it gladly. As it was, I went and got the tire iron out of my trunk, intending on trying to knock it unconscious.
When I got back, I stood there convincing myself that I could do it for about ten minutes, and trying to come up with reasons why I shouldn't, while that deer looked at me with this pitiful look, a look that I think that only an animal that is used to jumping twenty feet at a bound, and who is now immobilized, can give you. It wasn't struggling anymore, just looking at me, and coughing every few seconds. Then it died.
I had been on my way out, but I just drove back home. This time it was me sitting in a room by myself for several hours.
I now have a pet cat. She is my baby. I am devoted to this cat, even though she is a terrible pain in the ***. I can't think of five people I love more than this cat. I keep her inside, because I'm not willing to risk letting her get hit by a car. I know that one day she will die. I only hope that I have the option to ease her passing. I hope she dies in her sleep one day, many years in the future (she's only about six). However, if, God forbid and heavens forfend, she were to run out and get clobbered by a truck or something, and she was suffering, and I knew that she had about another twenty extremely painful minutes of life left....would I do it?
I don't know. I hope I would.
Crap. Now I'm crying. Don't tell my friends. I have a reputation as a big, tough guy. Just keep this between us, k?
jmbg29
member
I've been lucky enough to only have to do it a couple of times. I'm one of those people that gets along with dogs better than I do with people. The pain I get in my heart for having to do the humane thing stays with me. Reading some of these posts, brings a lot back...
I grew up AgroAmerican, so it is my nature to be unable to ask others to do what I know I must do.
I also know that Vets know what they are letting themselves in for when they choose their profession, but I'm not going to add to the number of grieving people and suffering dogs that they need to deal with.
Heaven forbid that I ever have to do it again, but if I do, we'll go to a quiet place that we both know, and the pup will be at peace.
If you ever need proof that God loves human beings, pat a dog on the head and look at the love in its eyes.
I grew up AgroAmerican, so it is my nature to be unable to ask others to do what I know I must do.
I also know that Vets know what they are letting themselves in for when they choose their profession, but I'm not going to add to the number of grieving people and suffering dogs that they need to deal with.
Heaven forbid that I ever have to do it again, but if I do, we'll go to a quiet place that we both know, and the pup will be at peace.
If you ever need proof that God loves human beings, pat a dog on the head and look at the love in its eyes.
I think I could/would only do it if the pet had been injured and was in acute agony.
If it was a case of old age and chronic pain I would go to the vet.
As a nurse, I have seen lots of folks die, and that's tough, but there's something different about a pet's eyes looking up at you, knowing you can't fully explain to them what's happening to them.
(Not like you can fully explain to a dying human what is going on either. But, it is a bit different.)
I did once accidentally run over someone's cat (I know it was a pet due to the collar) and afterwards I saw it flipping around in the road, obviously gravely injured.
Being in town, I couldn't shoot it, so I pulled a u-turn, aimed carefully and drove over its head.
It was nasty, and my wife was kinda shocked, but I felt that it needed to be done to shorten further agony.
-Kframe
If it was a case of old age and chronic pain I would go to the vet.
As a nurse, I have seen lots of folks die, and that's tough, but there's something different about a pet's eyes looking up at you, knowing you can't fully explain to them what's happening to them.
(Not like you can fully explain to a dying human what is going on either. But, it is a bit different.)
I did once accidentally run over someone's cat (I know it was a pet due to the collar) and afterwards I saw it flipping around in the road, obviously gravely injured.
Being in town, I couldn't shoot it, so I pulled a u-turn, aimed carefully and drove over its head.
It was nasty, and my wife was kinda shocked, but I felt that it needed to be done to shorten further agony.
-Kframe
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