A hard thing to discuss as I believe people that have common pets like dogs, cats and birds are more attached to them than any humans around them. We most often have raised our pet since it was weeks old. Ever since it was 6 weeks to 8 weeks old your pet has greeted you at the door the same way no matter if you were gone 5 minutes or 5 days or everyday you come home from work. If you raised your voice and yelled at your pet and they went to lay in the corner sad at disappointing you, a few minutes later it was all forgotten and you are best buddies again. They show understanding, kindness and love back to us. At the end of their life if they have not gone peacefully in their sleep then having to make the decision regarding what is best for your friend is not easy but I think it must be done. Your friend cannot speak to tell you how much pain, anxiety or suffering they are in or to give you some sort of comfort in making that decision by giving you a nod or a paw and letting you know "I'll see you again". This is a very personal decision that varies from owner to owner and pet to pet.
I knew one person with a dog that was 17yrs, blind, deaf, had no teeth, had severe arthritis requiring it to be carried up and down stairs and they still refused to make that decision. I don't know where the line should be drawn between what is right for the owner and what is right for the pet. Hopefully it's a decision those involved have given very careful thought to and can live with. Yesterday I had to make that decision for my 9 1/2 yr old English Bulldog. Before her it was our 14yr old Pitbul mix and a cat of 15yrs that both grew up with all 3 of our daughters since the time our daughters were brought home as babies. All of them we raised and cared for since they were 8 or 9 weeks old. It was never easy as they were my friends.
I knew one person with a dog that was 17yrs, blind, deaf, had no teeth, had severe arthritis requiring it to be carried up and down stairs and they still refused to make that decision. I don't know where the line should be drawn between what is right for the owner and what is right for the pet. Hopefully it's a decision those involved have given very careful thought to and can live with. Yesterday I had to make that decision for my 9 1/2 yr old English Bulldog. Before her it was our 14yr old Pitbul mix and a cat of 15yrs that both grew up with all 3 of our daughters since the time our daughters were brought home as babies. All of them we raised and cared for since they were 8 or 9 weeks old. It was never easy as they were my friends.
