Ryn

When they are in pain all the time and have no quality of life left - in their terms not ours - is the right time. I still find this hard to believe - but my lovely Sophie who had a very nasty cancer and was having lots of treatment - did me one last favour. My vet said to me that she is only hanging on because she loves you, tell her its alright to go, and I did. And she died, five minutes after a last pat, at home but with just one big sigh. I wasn't really expecting it to be like that and I was gearing myself up to have her pts. WHereas my beautiful setter, had such a love of life, but his back legs kept giving out on him all the time. And he just didn't understand why they wouldn't carry him all the time, and after a final attack when both legs went, he was pts at home with us all around him. It was harder with him because he was such a vital dog. I think there is no right answer but you shouldn't be pressured by anyone else. You shouldn't feel guilty later that you were hurried or it was too early or too late. I think the vet can only advise, it's your choice. You know your dog.

It was a decision made with a lot of love. Flynn knows that. :rolleyes:

Hi Katey, Having gone thru the same grief, and still going through it, I feel for you. But can I suggest the best way around it is to get another older male dog, a needy affectionate dog, who won't replace your lost pet, but will worm his way into your heart as well. I got a wolfhound cross before I felt ready, and he is so needy and affectionate there is no way I can not respond to him. It's not disloyal to my other lost dog, I've just made room for another one. I know you thought of getting a dog needing a home from interstate but you are probably betting going to Save a Dog, Aaps and Blue Cross and seeing and petting the dogs there There will be one that comes and sticks his head under your arm and looks at you and you will know he is the right dog. And if the right one is not there on the day one will turn up soon. Good luck. We all go through the loss because their lives are so short compared to ours. This is a poem that was at my vet's office that was written by Irving Townsend in memory of his greyhound 'Sheba'. "We who choose to surround ourselves With lives even more Temporary than our own Live within a fragile circle Easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, We still would live no other way." Irving Townsend