We have just lost our 14yr old lab

foreign_correspondent

Loz01 wrote: »

We had to have our 14 year old golden retriever put to sleep this time last year I was absolutely devastated, crying for hours and hours afterwards, we got her when I just 6. Bloody pets I want a new puppy now but Im actually considering not doing it, dont wanna go through the pain again in 14 yrs time!

If you do decide to get a new pup, please do look at getting a rescue - loads of pups in rescue at the moment, as well of lots of nice healty adult dogs!!

The numbers of healthy, sound dogs at risk of being put to sleep is rapidly increasing due to the credit crunch.

MrsE_2

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

If you do decide to get a new pup, please do look at getting a rescue - loads of pups in rescue at the moment, as well of lots of nice healty adult dogs!!

The numbers of healthy, sound dogs at risk of being put to sleep is rapidly increasing due to the credit crunch.

Do you mean being PTS because rehoming places can't find homes?

Or people asking the vet to PTS?

A vet wouldn't put a healthy animal to sleep would they?

foreign_correspondent

MrsE wrote: »

Do you mean being PTS because rehoming places can't find homes?

Or people asking the vet to PTS?

A vet wouldn't put a healthy animal to sleep would they?

Both. Sadly some vets have to put healthy (but unwanted) dogs to sleep regularly- one of the vets who posts on here occasionally was saying its the worst part of the job a while ago.

8000 healthy dogs put to sleep in 2007 and its likely the figures for 2008 will be much worse (no idea of the numbers of cats, or whether its the same sort of problem)

Hethmar is trying to raise money to save some of the dogs on 'death row' - (ie. those who are already booked in to be put to sleep) in this thread - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1382685

Some people take their dogs to be put to sleep if they cannot keep them/no longer want them - its very sad, but probably kinder than dumping them on the streets.

foreign_correspondent

Here it is - from Simontheiceman on a thread from october:

our country is awash with the unwanted and massive numbers of stray dogs are euthanased each week in the UK. I euthanased 3 unwanted pound dogs this week and I hate doing it.

it is truly and utterly "rotten" both for me and the dogs concerned, it is also disgraceful that we have such a throwaway attitude to dogs. Awful but true story (from yesterday):

A new client with a new puppy. All well you might think, except this client has had several new puppies which never make it to adulthood, they are sold on and new pups bought. So far you might not have a problem with this but... one of their dogs was taken in as a stray to the pound and they could not "afford" the release fee of £38. They declined to take the dog back, leaving it to the mercies of a potential rehome or if that fails then euthanasia. They promptly went out and bought this new pup for £60. Hands up all who think this acceptable?

Recently I have had far fewer dogs to euthanase at the pound but this has reached 6 or 7 in an individual week. I would estimate that only a very small percentage are unsuitable for rehoming, the rest are victims of a society which fails to value animals.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=15461171#post15461171

I wish people would think about giving one of these dogs a home, rather than encouraging breeders - I know I bang on about it, but I cannot see why they are any less important than my own lovely dog (who is a rescue) - I will be gutted when she dies, and I cannot see these poor dogs lives and deaths as any less worthy of our concern.

Hopefully, my dog will have a good life, and will be with me till the end, and if she has to be put to sleep I will be there.

As for the strays and abandoned dogs - It's a sad end for a lovely healthy dog to be euthanised by a vet they dont know, with no one familiar to reassure or stroke them in their final moments.

red_arrow_2

Such an important point-please, people, always go for a rescue dog- the love they give you is second to none- it`s as if they know.....When I`m ready, it`ll be another rescue one for me.

GonzoAston

Just wanted to raise this, as especially at the moment so many more animals going into rescues with the resession

Sorry if it upsets the OP bringing it back up. Watched a programme on the ammount of animals in rescues at the moment with people unable to afford to keep them.

Oh, if I had the room for any more I would.

foreign_correspondent

For anyone who has lost a dog and it thinking of getting another, there is a poem I love which is in post #27 on this thread; it sums up so much for me. When my last little dog died the only positive in the situation was that it meant I could offer a home to another little unwanted and unloved dog!