Mans best friend - shooting vs euthanasia

[Brusso1989]

A lot of interesting replies. I'll say money would never be a deciding factor in what I chose. I am by no means rich but I've paid thousands testing, treating, scanning and providing supplements for him and making sure he has great medical care to live the most comfortable life. As mentioned above this comment, when I said I don't think of him as my "kid", I 110% think of him as my family. There's times I've put him before a family member and put him before a girlfriend I've had for 12 years. I'd say I hold him higher than most hold a dog/pet.

I'm not saying people are wrong and opinions are just that, opinions. The shooting method at first, I thought of as a more intimate gesture and not as cold and cheap. Like I first said as well, I'm not sure I would even be able to pull the trigger but I have weighed it as a possible option. The vet coming to me would for sure be the other option. I wouldn't take him to the vet because as some have said, my boy doesn't get aggressive or lose his mind going but it is safe to say he does not like going to the vet. I'm still leaning towards the vet coming to me. Hopefully it will be some time before this all comes to reality but I'm sure I'll weigh the options until that time comes. It is very helpful to hear all of your personal experiences whether they are good, bad, neutral or just different.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

I would never ever shoot one of my dogs mainly because they have always been part of the family. But I never allow them to suffer. Hopefully you will be able to tell when it's time. Every GSP I have had the pleasure of having as friend let me know in their way, it's time to say goodbye. Just so you know, we have only had one make it past 13 years old, 13 years four months. Do the right think and give them a comfortable goodbye. And be there when they pass, they will need you there. Don't think they don't know what is about to happen, they will need you to hold their paw.

 

[BarCO]

We put our cat down and the vet has a separate entrance/exit room set up nicely. My lab will be 10 soon hopefully he has a long way still.

He loves the vet, literally goes crazy he likes it so much, so certainly won’t be a sad place for him.

 

[SoloWilderness]

Every dog I've put down, I've had the vet come to the house, so they can die peacefully in a place they know and love. Couldn't fathom letting go a best friend in any other way, unless it was remote, they were mortally injured, and I had no other alternative. I want my last memories of them to be of the hugs my family is giving them, not a violent and bloody end.

 

[MallardSX2]

Out of respect for my dog, I’ll never let a stranger kill him.

 

[sneaky]

There's no right or wrong answer to this question, no matter what you think. Do what you feel is right at the moment. That's your decision, no one else's.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[FLATHEAD]

I threatened to assassinate our violent a$$ cat once. Had the shotgun and
shells laid out for the next morning.
Wife said she'd just take him for adoption instead.
I dont think I could ever do it to my dog though.

 

[mtnwrunner]

Hey, I have an idea!! How bout something cheerful!!
Here is my current love......Ginger.
She actually found me and God willing, we will share lots more high country adventures together.

Randy.... and Ginger says howdy.

 

[kickemall]

I've had lots of dogs my whole life. Cattle dogs, hounds, pets. I had one dog put down by the vet when I was in my twenties and swore I would never do it again and haven't. Ever since then I have taken care of it myself. Having the vet do it was harder on me than doing it myself. The money was never an issue but I do find it foolish to spend that kind of money to accomplish something doing it myself that I consider just as humane if not more so. If your you're going to have dogs then be prepared to deal with the tough parts because there is going to be lots of them. You're not wrong either way.

 

[MattB]

Like grieving, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all right way to do it.

 

[Customweld]

Hey, I have an idea!! How bout something cheerful!!
Here is my current love......Ginger.
She actually found me and God willing, we will share lots more high country adventures together.

Randy.... and Ginger says howdy.

View attachment 523041View attachment 523042

That's some hardcore relaxation!

 

[rclouse79]

I have a friend who lives on a farm and dispatches his dogs when it is time. I don't judge him, but just holding my first dog while they gave her the lethal injection was pretty rough on me. If I had shot her, I imagine the money I saved at the vet plus some would end up going to counselor to deal with nightmares.

 

[MNGrouser]

I’ve had 2 dogs that I needed to put down in my lifetime. The first was my birthday present when I turned 10. I was almost 22 years old when I shot him in the head. He had been hit by a car as a younger dog. He recovered but always had issues with his hips. As he got older, and was in obvious pain, he got mean. Snapped at and bit everyone who wasn’t me. My parents had a hell of a time even feeding him when I was away at college. He couldn’t go to the vet without biting , thrashing and getting a muzzle. I decided rather than live a life of neglect and pain I would do it myself. It went cleanly and I don’t think I had an alternative but the memory of him twitching is more vivid than any memory of us happily together. That hurts.

The second dog was just over 13 years old when I had the vet put him down for me. I don’t have any kids. Gus got me through my divorce. It was just he and I for a lot of years. It was clear on a Saturday morning that it was time. I brought him in to the vet and scratched behind his ears as they set up the IV. He was sitting up and the vet had me hold him while they administered the drugs. The last thing Gus heard was me thanking him for everything as he went limp in my arms.

Neither was easy. I believe I did right by both of them. I have two more dogs now. Maggie is 13 and Sherman is 3. If they don’t die of natural causes, I will use the vet. But they won’t be alone and the last thing they hear will be my voice telling them what good dogs they are.

 

[JP100]

Pretty weird question...and thread

I have shot a couple of dogs. They were not mine, but work/family dogs.
It is a weird feeling
I grew up on a farm so have killed all manner of animals, in all manner of ways.
But a pet/working animal you have a connection with is different

I don't think it is wrong or right either way, and only you can know what do to in your situation

Death is as much a part of life as birth. We should not be afraid to be involved with it

 

[mt100gr.]

I've been down this road...it's heavy and hard.

I was 20 when our family dog, a beautiful German shepherd that we'd had since I was 10, started to go downhill quickly.

Our vet assured us that when it was time, all we needed to do was call. Day or night, she promised that she'd come over and help Eva pass comfortably.

I wasn't living at my folks house anymore and my dad was out of town. We had my mother over for her birthday that evening and when she got home, she discovered that Eva had had a major episode of some kind, I suspect a stroke?? She made the call and the vet said "No, we could bring her in the next afternoon."

Mom called me and it was obvious that there was only one option - Eva was a mess, but she knew it was time when I got there.

Every situation is different, but as dogs get closer to that point, I'd recommend not necessarily counting on someone else when life gets hard.... Shit happens and people are flaky.

 

[4rcgoat]

I have had to take two of my dogs in and sit with them while they fell asleep. There is no way in hell i would be able to shoot them hell i could barley see i was crying so much. I sat there for some time after they were gone. Hell just thinking about it i get choked up.

You and me both brother

 

[3forks]

We’ve lost 3 dogs in 5 years.

One of our dogs started a quick decline, and we were facing a hard decision, but the old guy passed away in his sleep one evening.

We had a vet come to our house for the other two.

If available as an option, I would highly encourage anyone facing having to put their dog down to have a vet come to the house.

*In the Denver area (and I would assume a lot of other cities) there is a vet service that specializes in this process. It was a very peaceful process at an obviously incredibly difficult time.

I’m not criticizing anyone who believes that they should be the person to put their dog down. However, maybe consider that you and your whole family being able to hold your dog, and being there for them as a calm and reassuring presence while the vet quietly administers the drug is as much of responsibility as it would be to pull the trigger or push the plunger. Also, a spouse and children can be there, and the kids can learn about the end of life from the process.

I won’t argue with anyone if you don’t feel the same as me and respect your views, but I can’t imagine how I’d ever get over it if something went wrong if I were trying to do it myself.

As a side note, our previous vet in another state didn’t charge any of his clients to put an animal down. The vet just figured that if you had brought your animal to him while it was in good health, he should preside over the animal’s death and made it a policy not to charge for that final service.

 

[LoggerDan]

I do find it interesting that a lot of these folks think nothing about shooting a deer or an elk at 600 yard or even farther, but are afraid of botching a shot at a stationary animal at one foot.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

My close friend put down a great dog a couple years ago. One last ride into the mountains, bullet to the back of the head. Said it was the hardest thing he has ever had to do, but doesn’t regret it one minute. My GSP turned 8, I know I only have a few good years left. Hope I have the balls to do it myself.

 

[sram9102]

Hey, I have an idea!! How bout something cheerful!!
Here is my current love......Ginger.
She actually found me and God willing, we will share lots more high country adventures together.

Randy.... and Ginger says howdy.

View attachment 523041View attachment 523042

Maverick and Charlie agree. Lets have more dog pictures!!!