Lucy has passed away

zaksmum

Thanks to you all. I know people say "You'll know when it's time" - and it's true. I spent months trying to help Lucy and would've done anything to save her. But last weekend - I just knew. I saw fear in her eyes when I offered her a very short walk...saw her legs shaking with the effort of trying to stay on them long enough to eat her dinner or drink some water and saw her putting a massive and unsuccessful effort to get up from lying down. And I really did just know.

I felt like I was being selfish trying to keep her with me...like as if I was doing it to save ME the pain, not her. So I knew there was nothing else I could do for her and it was time to stop her suffering.

I'm glad we were allowed to stay with her at the end...she passed away amidst kisses, cuddles and words of love.

Rest in peace Lucy, my darling girl

Froglet

You sum it up very well,Zak's mum.It is selfish to keep a dog alive just so we don't suffer the loss,and yet let them suffer more.Of course it's hard,harder than with humans because we sadly don't have a choice with our loved ones.


Yet precisely because we can with our beloved pets,it makes it harder.Truly loving and caring for any animal,comes with the unspoken knowledge that one day we all are faced with that decision.


The day one of my pets died,of old age so I couldn't foresee it,i actually felt a lot worse than I have done when taking them on the one way journey to the vets.It wasn't a dog or cat, just a little furry creature but I loved him,and thought in some way I had let him down by maybe not noticing he was struggling and it was his time to go.


But it does get easier and with time we can smile and remember the good times.Mine are buried in the garden with a rose bush for each,and I have paintings of them on the wall and a large multi photo frame dedicated to all my animals I have loved and cared for.

zaksmum

Thank you Froglet. There is no way on earth I could've buried Lucy in the back garden although I know it does help some people.

It would've sent me over the edge altogether to think of her down there.

Paradigm

@zaksmum....


We've all been there & I'll bet we've all felt exactly the same..."I could have done more, I should have known, I let it go too long" etc etc


The reality is that you couldn't have done anything more, as soon as you knew it was time to act...you did & that's all anyone can ask or expect!


You did what was best for Lucy throughout her life & you did the best for her at the end, don't beat yourself up... I have too many times!


Take care

jrtfan

Zaksmum, I'm so sorry for your loss. Went there myself earlier this year with the loss of my beloved JRT after a short illness. I know what you mean, about judging when it's time - one of the hardest decisions to make.

Run free, Lucy xxx

zaksmum

I hope she is indeed running free somewhere now. I'd like to think she has no more pain and suffering, no more struggling.

Running on a beach somewhere, swimming in the sea, digging in the sand, chasing the birds...all the things she loved to do and just couldn't any more.

Wherever she is, she's taken a huge part of me with her.

elsien

zaksmum wrote: »

Wherever she is, she's taken a huge part of me with her.

Sadly, they do. And there's nothing can make it better right now.
But they also leave a huge part of themselves behind in the joy and the memories they gave you. And in time those will start to fill the gap. Take care.

zaksmum

Thanks elsien. I know you have been through this with your Mutt and like many of us on here, you totally understand.

Dollardog

I'm so sorry to read that you have lost Lucy, I know how much you loved her and how special she was to you. Its true that you do know when the day has come and you did the best thing for her in letting her go when she was telling you she had had enough. Its not easy at all, its the hardest thing we have to do but we do it because we love them and because we can ease their troubles. You did everything you could for her when she was alive. She was a very good age and had a lifetime of love and happiness, much more than some dogs get. She knew how much you loved her and will have taken that love with her. I do believe that although they are not there in the 'flesh', they stay with us in spirit and that one day we will be reunited again, I certainly hope so.
Don't beat yourself up with thoughts that you 'killed' her, you didn't, you did what was best for her, as you have always done and it was lovely for her to be able to go with family round, you were the last person she saw as she passed on and she was surrounded by love, what could be a better ending for her than that? She would have gone on her way peacefully, just like going to sleep.
RIP Lucy, go and play in those golden meadows over the bridge until your family join you.
Bless you Lucy and also you zaksmum for doing the right thing xx

zaksmum

Thanks so much to all of you. Although I still feel totally heartbroken, your kind words have been a tremendous comfort to me.

You are all such lovely people and I appreciate it so much.