Quote:
Originally Posted by 450knotOffice
Deep down inside I know I did the right thing because she was basically an invalid these past few weeks. It was so sad to see her succumb to the ravages of old age like this and become but a shadow of her former self. The really bad part was her mind still seemed sharp, all the way to the end. She was just...tired.
My wife and I were both crying at the end. She went peacefully and with my face against her face all the way through it, eye to eye, kissing her muzzle and rubbing her chin.
The sadness just goes to my soul. I know we did the right thing but I miss her so badly.
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Scott,
You're tearing me up.
I'm certain you will relate, I can LITERALLY feel Dudley's fur under my fingers as I stroked his head and told him he was a good boy, etc. I stayed with him to the end; as you did, so he wouldn't feel fear or unfamiliarity. It kills me just to write this - he was as you say about Lucy, mentally keen to the end. But he was falling down, he couldn't rise by himself, he didn't have any dignity anymore. He had consistent diarrehea (sic?) and couldn't clean himself when he had always been fastidious.
I can't recall if I posted this. What finally made me do it was memories of the beautiful female Norwegian Elkhound I had years ago. She was very old and struggling but I couldn't bring myself to put her down. I came home one day to find she'd had a stroke during the day and was out in the sun in the heat, couldn't walk and ants had gotten to her privates and she couldn't move to get them off.
TO THIS DAY, I am ashamed of myself for letting her come to that end. No living thing should ever come to that. The thought of something like that for my Dudley was simply repugnant and the only thing that could make me let him go... to make sure it was peaceful and kind. If Lucy could have understood she probably would have licked your hand and said, "It's okay, I have to go now." Peace to you Scott, and to your wife. You did the hard, but right and loving thing.