This has been a rough week for my husband and me. Our cat had to be put to sleep last Saturday (4/24) because of aggressive bone cancer. Then on Thursday I learned that my beloved Mikey Dog was in Stage 4 renal failure. He went to a better place this afternoon.
It was a hard decision in both cases but neither pet was ever getting better. I’d rather let them go than see them suffer. Bobo Kitty was 12 and Mikey was 14. Both were rescues. Bobo, properly Miss Kubota, was found under construction equipment in a work zone (hence her name) and I got Mikey from someone who had gotten him from the pound.
They had long, good lives with us but I will forever miss them.
I’m really, really sorry. I’ve had to put a cat down and I cried my eyes out the entire afternoon and night. My cat had feline leukemia and was emaciated. We’d put him up at the vet for 24-48 until the figured out what was wrong with him. When we came back for a final visit, he was emaciated and seemed scared of being in the environment of loud barking dogs and hissing cats. We came in and started petting his fading, frail body and he began purring loudly. He just wanted love. My mother and I, who aren’t outwardly emotional, teared up good that day.
Sorry to hear about this. Two in such a sort period has to be tough. We had to put our wonderful dog down suddenly the day after Easter, a month ago tomorrow. I feel your pain and I am still missing him.
You did right by your pets, and they did have great lives with you.
Years ago, I had to have my favorite cat put to sleep. I’ve had to put other cats down since then, but this cat was my kitty in a way no other cat has been. He was only 7.
A couple of weeks later, I got a card that told me my vet had made a donation to a local school of veterinary medicine in memory of my cat. I was really touched. Since then, whenever a friend or family member loses a pet, I make a similar donation.
So sorry for your loss, it’s hard enough to lose one, but two at a time is extra rough. A couple years back I lost 3 in the space of 2 months and it left me pretty numb for awhile.
It’s nice that you got their pawprints from the vet, that was a nice touch.
That’s always heartbreaking, even when you know you’ve made the right choice. It’s so sweet that you got the little pawprints. When my dog was put to sleep, the vet school sent us a card signed by everyone who had been involved with her care…it was quite a list, because even when she was too weak to walk she refused to relieve herself inside, so groups of people would carry her outside to a patch of grass.
Aww. It’s nice to see when people who care for animals really do care and don’t see it as a 9-5 job. Looks like your team went above and beyond for you.
Feeling your pain here. Had to euthanize my 17 year old cat Sailor, that I’d adopted two years ago, just two weeks ago when his long-term spinal spondylosis degenerated too far. This Friday I’ll be taking in Buster, the 14 year old cat I also adopted two years ago, knowing he had renal, thyroid, cardiac, dental, and arthritic issues; but as it turns out it’s bladder cancer that’s taking him down.
My three remaining cats are also midteens, two with chronic renal disease, one with borderline anorexia. They’re doing well so far, but long term, there’s probably no long term.
So we go on, me giving them the best life I can for as long as I can, and knowing I’ll have to let them go when that life is no longer good. It sucks, it hurts, I broke down sobbing Saturday after I made the appointment for Buster, but it’s part of the price we pay for the joy of their love and companionship.
Forgot to mention that my vets and staff send a sympathy card afterwards with handwritten notes from them when I’ve had to euthanize one of my critters. Dr. Nicole for one is going to take it hard, having to give Buster his release; she’s very fond of the old boy, even though he knocked her glasses off once when she was clipping his claws.
I’m so sorry. It just sucks that the best thing we can do for them hurts like hell for for those that who them.