Euthanasia of house pets

[Koshin]

That is right, your heart will know when it is the time to let your little dog rest.... pets are so wonderful

Gassho

[Risho]

I haven't much to add from what has been said. I just wanted to wish you peace John. My wife and I currently have 2 dogs; the one has been through so much, but she is like a tank. She is 13. In 2010, we had to put one our dogs to sleep. She was 8, the middle child (we had 3 at the time). I assumed the oldest (the one who is currently 13) would pass first. It was very hard. It did come down to a combination of monetary limitations and quality of life. She had a rare blood disorder. Even with 6 months of chemo, she would only get another 6 months (if it was cancer; she was being treated for the other possible disease; treatment wasn't working and since that treatment also involved anti-cancer meds, it was very bleak). It was very sudden when she got this. One day she appeared to have a seizure after barking. It turned out she was anemic due to this blood disease or cancer.

It was not easy, I still question what it was, how could it happen, did I make the right decision? But that's just because she was a major part of her family... It's never easy.

Gassho,

Risho

[Jishin]

Thank you all for your kind words.

Gassho,

John

[Entai]

To John and everyone,
I have gone through this as well, a couple of times. I'm nearing it again with one of the cats. She is still relatively comfortable and has a good quality of life (still likes to play and eat and snuggle). Her tumor is pretty bad and her time is short. It's never an easy thing (for us). The choice is really one you are making on your pet's behalf. You'll make the right one when it's time.
Deep bows.
Bill

[Entai]

"I Have No Answer For You Little Lamb
I Can Help You Out / But I Cannot Help You In
Sometimes You Think That Life Is Hard
And This Is Only One Of Them
My Heart Is Breaking For You Little Lamb
I Can Help You Out / But We May Never Meet Again" - Paul McCartney

Gassho

[BrianW]

Much Metta John....it is so hard. Many great answers above and so I just offer my best wishes. For me I found rescue work to be a great help in dealing with the loss of our little Yorkie who stole my heart.

Jundo raises and important issue....

Frankly, and though Buddhist folks can differ on this, I also personally support assisted suicide for folks in terrible, untreatable pain. That means simply in the face of an incurable terminal illness or the like where the person is facing great physical pain that cannot be relieved

PBS Frontline had a great special on assisted suicide a while back and you can watch online. http://video.pbs.org/video/2304058290/
With all of life ...human and animal we must think with compassion and awareness of suffering....there are far worse things in life than death.

All the best John....

Gassho,
Jisen/BrianW