Tomorrow morning I have to put my 4 year old Golden Retriever to sleep because he's suffering from a brain tumor. I know it's the right thing to do but I still cannot imagine putting him in the car, driving to the vet, and sitting in the waiting room know that that I'm only minutes from the last time I'll ever see him.

He has been the perfect dog. He hasn't misbehaved since he was around a year old. Never ate things he shouldn't, was perfectly house trained, and he was as lovable and as playful as could be. Until the tumor started affecting him that is. The tumor robbed him, and us, of every bit of his personality and left us with just the shell of our dog. He basically became an eating machine. He ate and slept and that's all. He started going to the bathroom in the house, didn't want to go for walks anymore, stopped playing with his toys, stopped eating for awhile and lost 15 lbs., and became aggressive, something that he never was before. Now he's also become incontinent and he falls down frequently. Basically it's like he's ages 10 years in 4 months.

So here I sit, unable to sleep because of what I must do tomorrow, and I wonder how I'm possibly going to bring myself to take him, but when I think about how he used to be, I think, how can I not? I owe it to him. But still, I can't imagine life without him.

Dear Louiesdad,
I am so sorry that this has happened to you and your Louie. It is so difficult to understand something like this. At least you have found this board and we can offer you our friendship. I can't think of many things as emotionally taxing as what is facing you. But you, Louiesdad--you are first and foremost your Louie's champion. You will be there just as he has been there for you. Many people would shrink from this. Lots of people would find ways to keep Louie around for them and allow him to suffer because this is so hard! You have resolve to do what is best for your friend. Not for you, but for him. It is the ultimate in friendship, stewardship and love.
Certainly there is a place, a very special place in the next dimension for our animals who are so perfect and innocent. Please know that your beautiful buddy is going to be romping and playing, young and healthy--chasing tennis balls and kitty cats--at the rainbow bridge. He will be restored to his old self and he will play and frolic in perfect bliss until that day when he sees you again. I know in my heart I will see my Ginger one day again. My boyfriend ran over him with his truck in our driveway a year ago. He was a supremely feisty big and wonderful cat, unlike any other. It was very hard for me, Louiesdad. I cried and cried and cried. But they are healing tears. Know that you will smile again --really, you will. Please try to think now of your life as a book with chapters. You had the Louie chapters and tomorrow a chapter will close but a new one will begin. Just like in a book one chapter leads to another and your story builds upon itself. For the rest of your book your Louie will be missing, but only in physicality. You will find he is not missing from your heart or mind. Be on the lookout for messages from Louie. I know I would have never dreamt I could accept these things...I have heard that your friend will stay "with you" until he knows that you are alright. Perhaps you can tell us about your experience. Those who are remembered in the hearts of their "families" never truly die.
This is a hug for you. {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{louiesdad}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Louies is beautiful.

So many of us have been here, and some power beyond our knowledge helps us to do what has to be done.

I nursed Jude for months and her body went, but her mind was still so active, i pray that nothing will be so hard in my life again.

I will send you love all day today and Louies will be ok, you will need lots of tender loving care.

Love Sue

Iam so sorry that you have to make this decision. Remember why you are doing this, because he is your friend and you don,t want to see him suffer. When I had to make the same decision, I asked myself what I would want done to me if I was in the same situation. When quality of life is no longer there, the most caring thing we can do is to help them along. I know it hurts, and it will hurt for alongtime, but you are doing whats best for him. Peace to you.

Kerry

Thank you all for your kind replies. Louie is gone. He went very calmly and peacefully. He seemed to know what was going on and that it was what he wanted. I'm grateful to him for that. He will be greatly missed here.

Best wishes to all.

I am so sorry that you have had to make this decision... It's been 5 days since I carried thru with the decision to put my dog down as a tumor was making it nearly impossible for him to breathe, eat, or sleep. I truly believe it is one of the most painful decisions we will ever have to make - but also one of the most important. I know that nothing can heal the hurt you feel right now, and I won't even pretend to say "it gets better" because I am not at the point where it feels better yet. The pain this decision causes us is undescribable... But the pain of watching our sweet furbabies suffer, in the long run, would have been worse. You have made the right decision, and your dog will thank you for it.. it's not goodbye.. I still feel Freeway with me.. I know it sounds strange but I do. I sleep with his favorite toy... and everytime I've ever slept with anything before, it ends up on the floor.. NOT this toy.. it stays right by my side, no matter how much I toss and turn and roll around. Even when all the covers end up on the floor and each and every pillow (I toss and turn a lot when I'm upset) it never leaves my side.. much like Freeway never did in life... He is still with me.. and I choose to believe keeping this toy close is how he is letting me know. I take comfort in it...
Take heart in knowing you've done the right thing, and that there are many of us here who completely understand your pain.. Euthenasia is something no one can understand unless they've been there.
My prayers are with you in the difficult days and weeks ahead..

Louie is a gorgeous baby, and I'm very sorry you had to say goodbye to him...for now. I broke down into tears looking at that sweet face and knowing how unhappy he was right now,but knew that he would soon be at the bridge playing and running with joy again. I'm glad you were able to find the strength within yourself to release him to a better place, he thanks you now for that. My prayers are with you at such a difficult time..it is difficult anytime we lose a baby, but just so unfair when they leave us at such young ages.
God Bless you and your beautiful Louie..he is truly the most beautiful golden I have ever seen.
Kim

[FONT=Impact][COLOR=blue] One of the things I was told when I was on here for the first time, is that we love our furbabies so much that when their time comes to sleep, we takes their pain on as our own. Truer words were never spoken. I had to put my Xian kitty to sleep 3 months ago yesterday, and sometimes its everything I can do to get through the day without him.

LouiesDad, I'm so sorry. From everything you said about Louie, I know that, in his right mind, Louie would be unhappy at what he has inadvertantly put you through. It is very hard and there is really no comfort I can offer other than the knowledge that you are not alone and that you will get through. I know you will get through because your love for Louie is strong enough to make you see the right thing to do for him. And you will keep that love with you always as will Louie. Stay strong for him, love, Karen

Louie is such a handsome fellow. I'm so sorry for your loss.

I know making the decision to have your friend put to sleep is a very difficult one, but it's one that is made with love. You knew that Louie was suffering and you freed him from that pain and suffering. You really did give him a great gift...you took on his pain so he could be pain free.

You're in my thoughts.
Kathleen

{{{{{{{{{{{louiesdad}}}}}}}}}}} those of us who have been where you are now are feeling your heartache right along with you. Louie knows it is an act of total love. Just as he would have done anything for you, you did the most painful but most responsible and loving thing for your Louie.
My heart goes out to you!

Dear Louie's Dad-

It is terrifying and heart breaking to put down a beloved companion. We put our 5 year old lab Lucy down in February when she really began suffering from her lymphoma. You are giving Louie a precious gift, to pass in peace. He will be forever grateful to you for that. Thinking of you during this incredibly difficult time...

Caroline

Louies Dad, He was absolutely beautiful. It is so hard when they are young, and how tragic for them to have to go through what they were. As you stated, he aged 10 years in such a short span of time.

He knew he was loved, and the selfless act that you gave to him proved that.

I can only say I am sorry. You lost a beautiful friend.

Louie is absolutely gorgeous. I know how hard it must have been for you to let him go.

To make such a hard decision, shows just how much you loved him, and I think Louie knew that. You gave him freedom from a body that was failing him.

Wishing you all the best.