Dog PTS - is it always worse the 1st time?

hethmar · 8 April 2011 at 10:10PM

Im afraid its the price of the love we get and give and you must think of the years of happiness for both you and your dog.

Ive always had the vet home when that dreadful day came - I couldnt leave my babes in a vet surgery. If/when the time comes again, let them go to sleep in their home.

Please dont think that getting a new friend is disloyal to your old friend. It is a tribute to the love you shared.

Jen151 · 15 April 2011 at 8:48PM

Hi there just wanted to say sorry about your dog. My first dog was PTS last August too and it was heartbreaking, was cut up about it for a long time. It still brings tears sometimes thinking about her. She was 2 months short of her fifteenth birthday. I was there with her right til the very end as well and its a hard thing to watch but don't regret being there for her. Good luck with getting your new dog, it will so be worth it. You wouldnt have been so upset if your dog wasn't so amazing right? when the time is right & my lifestyle allows it i'll be getting another one too. xx

catkins · 16 April 2011 at 8:39AM

So sorry to hear about your dog. I have had a number of dogs and cats over the years and I agree with other posters that, no, it doesn't get any easier.

Each time both me and OH have said "no more" but we do go one to get another dog or cat. Most of the dogs have been rescues but the one before the one I have now we got as a puppy. I don't know if it was because we had him for longer than the rescues (they were all at least 5 before they came to us) or that we watched him grow from a baby but when his time came (and he lived to a good age) we were both affected more. I honestly think I cried for weeks and I have never ever seen OH so upset. He said he could not go through that again and could not bear to see me so distraught.

Three years went by (by far the longest we had been without a dog) and one day we both looked at each other and said "shall we get another dog?" We missed the dog walking and the companionship a dog gives. So we did get another who is now just over 10. Hopefully he has a good few years left but we already know that as upset as we will be we will definitely be getting another dog some time after he goes. We both say our house is not home without a dog - when we go on holiday and he has to go to kennels the day before the house seems so empty for that day!

meritaten · 16 April 2011 at 7:32PM

this is a difficult question - the first time it is rather a shock - they go so quickly! but on reflection that is rather comforting!
only you can decide whether the joys of owning your pet for so many years outweigh the distress on parting with them. and not ALL pets are PTS, many die naturally.
Personally, I believe the love and laughter and fun they give us far outwiegh the sadness - so would always be prepared to own (or be owned by) another pet. My OH is another matter though - after our last much loved pet was PTS he really cannot face it again.

chucknorris · 16 April 2011 at 9:17PM

I'm really sorry about your dog. I'm on my first dog (as an adult) so I haven't gone through that yet (but I know it will be very bad). I think deep down inside you will know when you are ready for another one.

Our Mills will be 10 this September and we have had him for just over 5 years. Everytime I think about things like this it reinforces my resolve to give him the best days of his life, which to be honest isn't that hard as he loves going out jogging and cycling (off road) with me.

tankgirl1 · 16 April 2011 at 11:23PM

The Legacy

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]When humans die, they make a will
To leave their homes and all they have
To those they love.
I, too, would make a will if I could write.

[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]To some poor wistful, lonely stray
I leave my happy home.
My dish, my cosy bed, my cushioned chair, my toy.
The well loved lap, the gentle stroking hand,
The loving voice.
The place I made in someone's heart.
The love that at last could help me to
A peaceful, painless end,
Held in loving arms.

[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If I should die, Oh do not say,
"No more a pet I'll have,
To grieve me by it's loss"
Seek out some lonely, unloved dog
And give my place to him.
This is the legacy I leave behind -
Tis all I have to give.[/FONT]

--author unknown

Kimitatsu · 17 April 2011 at 10:16AM

I am so sorry to hear about your dog, its never easy if its the first or the tenth time. All of my dogs and cats that have walked the path with me have a special place in my heart and will never be forgotten.

Would I forgoe having another pet though because I cant face the heartache - never! Currently you are concentrating on the heartache but when you start to come through the other side you will remember the good times, the little furry face that made you laugh, the kisses to make you feel better, the comforting presence that was always there.

Its always hard to make the decision to have them pts but as a responsible owner you KNOW you did the right thing. You prevented their suffering because you loved them and you put yourself through the heartache because of it.

Get photos of your beautiful furface out and remember the good times - you did what you needed to do when it was needed.

paulsad · 17 April 2011 at 10:30AM

Had my lovely dalmation Lucy pts yesterday - it was horrible - big bloke sobbing like a baby all day - took her for a last walk in the sunshine; was ok till my son turned up at the park (another tough 21 yr old bloke) and started getting upset - he walked with us to the vets door then he couldn't come in. You are right it is awful no matter how people say you are doing the best for them I couldn't help but feel rotten having to make the dreaded decision and maybe should have given her a few more weeks. But as the vet said she was 13+ and very sore with degenerative arthritis - stumbling/falling over and soiling herself for the past year or so. The pts was mercifully quick and she just slipped away in seconds with me holding her head and saying a tearful sorry.
My son bought a puppy a few weeks ago and it has been a mixed blessing he was causing the old dog some extra pain trying to play with her - but on my return from the vets yesterday he licked my tear ridden face for ages.
So I am glad we've got the new pup (I wouldn't personally have got another one) in the house it has helped ease some of the pain. Pets do at least teach us to love and prepare us maybe a little for saying goodbye.

hethmar · 17 April 2011 at 12:13PM

So sorry to hear your very sad news paul. Its heartbreaking and my OH has stood crying each and every time we have had to make the decision (the only times I have ever seen him cry). Even worse for him as we have buried our dogs in our garden each time and he has had to dig the graves. Every time we have said never again - we cant take this pain - but then some little soul finds us and off we go again .

I hope your sons puppy will give you some comfort and one day you will feel able to take on another dog who so desperately needs the love you gave Lucy. xxx

jackomdj · 17 April 2011 at 10:04PM

Our old man was PTS last May & we have said once we move we will get a puppy as we are ready now (as are our young children). I doubt it will be any easier as in my mind it isn't the fact they are PTS but the fact that you have lost part of your family. When Chester was PTS we knew it was the right day but he was our boy, we had him before we had children, he had been an integral part of our childrens lives....we still think of him every day, but now it is with fond memories rather than sadness. In fact just yesterday when counting our family DD said if Chester was here that would be 5!

Dog PTS - is it always worse the 1st time?

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