How do you get past the guilt of putting your beloved dog down?
He wagged his tail as the vet was injecting him and I was holding him, singing and crying telling him he’s my good boy. I feel like a traitor and murderer.
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Mamapolo2016 · F
Very rough. My late husband had three Corgis when we met. A couple of years later, we lost both of the parents (I suspect because we didn’t learn in time that grapes are dangerous for dogs.)
He was career military, master sergeant, pilot, sailor. He was tough. He made it through the first but the second time he called me crying and said, “You have to come. I can’t do this. Not alone.”
I think dogs understand death far better than we do. They know life is limited while we are always surprised.
Of course we grieve, as we do for human companions, but guilt should not be part of it. They knew long before we did that they’d die soon and in distress.
Ending their distress and pain is the only loving thing there is left to do.
He was career military, master sergeant, pilot, sailor. He was tough. He made it through the first but the second time he called me crying and said, “You have to come. I can’t do this. Not alone.”
I think dogs understand death far better than we do. They know life is limited while we are always surprised.
Of course we grieve, as we do for human companions, but guilt should not be part of it. They knew long before we did that they’d die soon and in distress.
Ending their distress and pain is the only loving thing there is left to do.
SomeMichGuy · M
@Mamapolo2016 Yes. Great reply.
TangledUpInBlue · F
@Mamapolo2016 I lost a sister and both parents in the last couple of years., during that time I lost some pets but I was kinda numb. This guy however and perhaps because I’ve had time, hit me harder …so so hard. It was all part of an end of an era, sounds silly but it was the last dog I had that they all knew. So I get you. Thank you for this response.
Mamapolo2016 · F
@TangledUpInBlue I understand, better than you know. Loss is so hard … but not once have I regretted the love given and accepted.
TangledUpInBlue · F
@Mamapolo2016 you know what? Same. Thank you