I had to put my dog down yesterday evening. He was getting old and was really losing his mind. Seriously losing his mind. He had a bad problem with ripping things up. Not just ripping things up in the casual sense but literraly destroying things. It’s been going on for about 9 months now. About 3 months ago, we took him into the vet for some doggy prozak and other drugs. These didn’t seem to work at all.
He has also been peeing on the furniture throughout the house even though we have a doggy door that he has complete access too all hours of the day and night.
Yesterday, my wife called me up and told me that â€Ã...“Radarâ€Ã, had destroyed our closet, shoes, the guest room, and the guest bathroom. Also he tore apart a trashcan downstairs and pulled the computer off of the table.
â€Ã...“Radarâ€Ã, has always been a very good dog. We got him when he was a little puppy. We actually found him as a stray. Radar was a German Shepard mix and was very docile. He didn’t bark, wasn’t a very good guard dog, didn’t protect us worth a hill of beans, but he was really good with my daughter. Very loveable and fun to be around. He was extremely obedient and knew many different commands. Almost everybody that met him fell in love with him.
That was the hardest part of this. He was such a good dog but since he has started going into the fits of rage, I have to take my daughter’s safety into consideration. I just don’t know if he would lose it and snap at her.
So, I had to make the decision to take care of what I think is right. I called my friend Erik and we decided we were going to take Radar out to the desert. I don’t want to take the dog to the vet or pound to be euthanized because it’s very impersonal and probably very nerve racking for the pets. If anybody was going to do it, it was going to be me. Nobody else. He is my dog and I’ll take the responsibility for him.
I gave Radar dinner and then followed up with the rest of his treats, bacon stuff and snausages. I put him into the truck and talked to him all the way over to Erik’s house. Erik came out and we drove out to the desert. I let Radar out of the truck and let him run around for a little while. Let him pee and poop and sniff out the area.
Then came the difficult part. I called Radar over to me. I told him to give me some kisses. He proceeded to lick my face. He was such a good dog. I told him to sit and he kind of did but started squirming around. Too many smells and too many new areas to explore. I told him to sit again and I held his snout. I held the .22 handgun about 4 inches away from his head. I said good bye buddy. Then I pulled the trigger. Saw the muzzle flash. Radar was on the ground twitching. Blood was pooling around his head. It was completely surreal.
I realized at that very moment, it was over. Death is so final. It’s completely done. That’s it. No changing your mind. It’s done. Looking at Radar’s lifeless body in the desert next to some sagebrush and rocks, I couldn’t believe what I had done. I knew it had to be done, it just hadn’t hit me yet.
I walked back to the truck to collect myself. I could see Radar just lying there under the glow of my headlights. I wanted to get in the truck and run away. I went into the truck and grabbed the shovel. Radar deserved to be at least covered. I walked back down into the wash and started covering him up.
I was crying as I lifted up every load of dirt and placing it on his little body. I said a prayer and Erik and I walked back to the truck and left. I dropped him off at home and I went home and had a beer. I guess I needed it to help me get to sleep.
I am crying now as I write this. I am sorry I had to be so graphic about it. I guess it’s the only way I can come to grips with what has happened.
I hate to see my dog go, but I have a little 5 year old girl to worry about too.
Rest in Peace Radar. You will always be my buddy.
1997 - 2006
Sorry to read about your friend WSA :'(
My dad had a little dog for 14 years, she died in Maj this year on his arm, She didnt show any thing about having pains or illness what so ever, she always laied on his arms and that day she wanted up to him as usuall, He walked around and talked to some friends, and all of a sudden he felt that she were about to fall off the arm. She died there in her sleep :-\
He said no more dog after that, but i think hes now on the move to get a new friend after all :)
Sorry to hear about your dog.
I don't think I could have shot him them. Yer gonna have a hard time living wih that. I'll pray for you...
It was best to put the dog down though.
Best wishes,
-Xar
I'm so sorry WSA.
I went through about the same thing 4 years back, I can remember it like yesterday..my Dog (Luke) stayed with me 24/7..he was to me more than just a dog, he was my best buddie..he was always there know matter what.
I had him since he was 6 weeks old, got the pick of the litter..I picked (Luke..my boy)..He had the best of everything, regular Vet visits, waaay to much attention..he thought he was a human and acted like one too..9 years where ever I was He was..took him camping, me and him had our own tent..I'd bought him a big soft thick comfy bed..he loved it.
He was a full bred Golden Retriever, he was fast as lightning, very intelligent, obedient, and ever well behaved around strangers..he caught a inherited disease in the Golden bloodline..call Mega-Esophagus, his food and water tried to digest in his enlarged throat, and he started losing weight fast, but when I 1st got him I promised him he'd never suffer..there wasn't any cure for what he had..I cried my tears, mom tried chicken soup and said she could get him better again, but my vet said it's only going to get worse.. but I gave my mom a chance for about a week, but he would just throw up anything we feed him and his huge appetite that he'd always had.
I made my mind up and took him to the vet, he hated that place..but I made a promise and wasn't going to break it. They told me how they were going to administer the lethal dose to put him down, ask me if I wanted to go in the room with him and I said yes..he laid down beside me like he always did, they put an IV in his arm and made the injection..he just peacefully went to sleep beside me.
I rolled out of that room very sad, but felt good I'd honoured my promise to him..I still miss him 4 years later, but I try to remember all the good times we had together and that does help some.
I will also pray for you to be strong during this time; and the seasons to come.
Please meet my buddie Luke!
(https://www.tinyportal.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.81x.com%2FAuthors%2Fsits%2FLuke%2520003.jpg&hash=95cb08cbbf9480c2abf6cc237837191a00eb4cdf)
Looks like a good dog crip. You are right to be proud of him.
Got a pic of your dog wsa?
This is for WSA! Rainbow Bridge (http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm)
Sorry about your dog WSA , i agree with Xarcell though , i wouldnt have been able to shoot him it would have been too painfull......
This is my dog , Shadow
(https://www.tinyportal.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg526.imageshack.us%2Fimg526%2F7431%2Fshadowuq6.jpg&hash=627a76b618df29bceb2f05e0285d1ed54c4d392a)
I got him for my birthday 4 years ago , he was 3 months old when i got him , he's a German Shepard /Sheepdog .Im going to be devestated when he dies but hopefully he has another 10 or 11 years left to live.....
Thanks guys for the kind words. I do have pictures of him somewhere. I'll try to find him.
The next difficult part is coming up. I have to head home for lunch and tell my daughter what happened to "her" dog. She thinks he is hers but she knows he was mine.
I guess that best thing you can do is know that your dog had a good life. That you did the best you could for him. I know that I did. He wasn't hungry or beat or tied up. He always had a full bowl, cuddled and scratched constantly, and had full rein over the house and back yard.
There is no easy way to tell things like that, When something is gone and it was loved and a family member, it will hurt a lot for every one.
A way to ease the pain is to get her a new "friend" or a "friend" for you all. It wont be the same, but if you give it time, he/she will be the new pet to put all the love in :)
I got another dog, a Border Collie named Starr, but she ant Luke and never could be..
Give it time Crip, and she will show you every bit of her and you the same for her.
Cheer up folks .. life do go on.. :)
http://www.dogduty.us/poop_doggy_dog.swf
Sad to read that, WSA. And crip also. Pets are the hardest to say goodbye too.
Well I did find some pictures of him.
(https://www.tinyportal.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi3.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy54%2Fcoloradofj60%2FIMG_0665.jpg&hash=ea2ddf66c42ed3bb3e3b50592f2b88cb988c644d)
(https://www.tinyportal.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi3.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy54%2Fcoloradofj60%2FIMG_0666.jpg&hash=c8084b6c0383506ec48c8a6f0d9168fb456f8385)
Here he is dancing with my wife and daughter.
(https://www.tinyportal.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi3.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy54%2Fcoloradofj60%2FIMG_0051.jpg&hash=2d919596900a73f4378c0c50885e167ea6d00929)
Sorry to hear that, it's never really easy to get over an animal that is like a part of the family and is so affectionate.
I've had to do this, myself. Unfortunately, I've known some that really suffered before being put down.
:(