The vet said that it's time to let Brando go.

How do I decide when? How do I pick the day and time? How can I do this again, I'm not over the decision with Callaway.

Oh Dear Rhapsedy
I'm so sorry to hear that. Is Brando quite comfortable and not suffering? I do hope so. It is such a terrible decision for you to have to make, especially so soon after your precious Callaway. Follow your heart, and I'm sure you will know when it's time. I'm thinking of you and sending hugs and prayers.

Love
Jan and My Angels and Pixie xx

Awww, Rhapsedy, I'm so so sorry. Words escape me at the moment; I really don't know what to say.

I always found that having it done sooner rather than later was better for me, but that was ME. Obviously, you'll have to make this sad decision for yourself.

My heart is with you. I'm just so darned sorry!

Big hugs from Margi, Spiritwolf and Leopold

Rhapsedy, I'm so very very sorry. I hate this for you. I know each minute is killing you on the inside as you anguish over this decision. I agree with Margi, sooner is often better than later because you risk getting into a bad situation. I know how horribly hard this is, sweetie. You know I do. But I so regret not being able to put Niles to sleep. He died while we were trying to hold out for the vet to get to our home. I am comforted beyond words that I was able to have Frasier and Buck put to sleep before they got into distress. Waiting, in their cases, would have been painful and stressful for them and probably fatal for me as well.
I won't be able to post later today because my computer at home is in the shop so I'm posting from work. But please please know that my thoughts are with you every step of the way and I am thinking about you. I'll be back on the computer tomorrow so I'll check in with you then if I'm not able to later today from work.
You'll do the right thing and you will find the strength to do it. I promise. I never thought I'd survive going through 3 times but I'm still here, for the most part. Hold on to us - we're here to get you through this.
-Donna

Dear Buck, please help Brando get to where you are. I love you, big guy!

Rhapsedy,
I am so so deeply sorry. I am sending prayers to you because I know how hard this must be for you. I actually had a talk with my Mom about this issue last night and we both were crying. The vets have a way of pressuring people into putting their animals down (I think) far before it is time. It happened to my Mom and she said she now knows that her dog was not ready, by his reaction. She lives in guilt everyday no matter what I have tried to say. She kept telling me not to let the vets convince me to do it too soon with Baden. I followed her advice and listened to myself. I have read a lot of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross who was a death specialist and highly renowned. She says that we all have inherent karma to live out, even to our death. I was so confused when Baden was dying as the vet (although I liked him and he was very nice), he kept telling me that Baden did not have quality of life and would not want to live this way. However, he was not in pain that was noticeable and was obviously going through his own stages of death. I ended up calling my friend who dealt with a lot of dying individuals and she told me 'F&CK the vet....there IS a quality of life but there is also a quality of death'. She told me to be patient with Baden and have courage, the courage to sit with him and be 100% present. I did exactly that and Baden died naturally and in my arms. I had a pain shot on hand that I gave him about 10 mins before. I am so thankful for the words of my friend at that time. She was completely right.

When it comes down to it, I think only you can make that decision for your animal. But, follow your gut. Some animals are in excruciating pain and perhaps if they can get a little push to avoid the suffering and meet the other side, this helps. I dont know. The ethics are hard to determine as none of us are God. But, I really do think that people can put their pets down way too soon; maybe its to avoid our own pain/suffering. My Mom is proof of that. I would say give your dog some time...the time needed to transition. Its so hard but in the end, I really felt strong for having stayed with him. It also gave me the time that I needed to be wtih him, tell him everything that I wanted to and say goodbye. It is sooo sooo hard-I am tearing up just thinking about you. We are here for you, and my heart goes out to you during this very tough time.
Hugs,
~Amy

Hi, Rhapsedy, I'm so sorry about Brando. Only you can make the decision about the time to send Brando home to the angels. As the other wonderful responses have already questioned: Is Brando in pain? Can he eat anything? Can he take care of his personal needs? If the answers to these and other quality of life questions confirm that Brando's quality of life no longer exists, then for his sake - - as hard as it is - - how well I know - - it will be up to you to make the proper arrangements.

Rhapsedy, please know you and your precious Brando are in my thoughts and prayers. I truly wish there was an easier way through this heart wrenching situation. Just know you are not alone in this journey, Rhapsedy. I hope you can feel our collective arms embracing you and Brando. Please let us know how things are going, okay?

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

oh no Rhapsedy I am so sorry...that's all I can say right now...I am crying for you, your hubby, and Brando. You gave him such a good life...as you did with Callaway. I'm so sorry. Please take care of yourself. I am praying for peace for you all.

Much Love,
Sonya

Dear Brando,

Please let your loved ones know, by the look in your eyes, your energy level and the amount of pain you are in, when the time is right. It is such a shame to have to say good-bye, and yet you will see your best friend, Callaway someday in the future. I know your family is really hurting about the decision of when to say good-bye to you. You were there when Callaway had to help them make the same decision and you saw and felt the heartbreak that went along with it. I pray that whatever is going on with you in the present, you are not in a lot of pain. The cycle of life only gives us a short time, much too short, to be together with the ones we love. Be as present as you can with your family, they too need your love and support to help you with your transition, when the time is apparent. I can feel the love you all have for each other, and I am crying as I write this. I know that you have that ancestral, primal, instinctual understanding of needing to let go, when the time comes. Not so with us humans, especially with the family that loves you so dearly. Help to lick away the tears of salt and despair that your family is crying for you, comfort them as you would want to be comforted. May your days left here in this incarnation be lived in the moment, combining your love with the love of your family. I know that this life for you, with the family that you picked, has been more of a paradise than anything or anywhere that you'll end up. From all of the postings that your family has done, I know that you have been beyond special, an entity of light, love and companionship that has far surpassed that of all human to human relationships. You are deservedly well-loved and will be sorely missed. Everyone out here on this site is thinking of you and your family. You will never be forgotten, if any, you will be forever living on in the hearts of those dear to you. Peace to you and your family.

Dennis and Kota

Rhapsedy

I am so sorry. The decision you have to make and then the aftermath you have to live through. But as you know you will get through it. As Margi has said it is up to you to decide; just remember that what you are doing you are doing out of love and neccesity. It is not an easy decision but that in itself is testimony to your love for Brando. I will say a prayer for you, my thoughts are with you and my heart goes out to you.

I am so so sorry
John

I read over my original post and I realize that I'm thinking more about myself than about Brando. I'm so worry about how I'm going to feel afterward that I wasn't considering how Brando feels. I am going to a different vet today for a second opinion. If I can't make him comfortable I'm going to have to let him go.

Thank so much to everyone for your support, this website is a lifesaver.

Love,
Rhapsedy

I'm so sorry Rhapsedy -- my heart goes out to you -- it's a hard decision - but you already know that -- I wish I could give you a big hug. I wish you peace and I know that all of our pets will greet Brando when he goes to Rainbow bridge....

I think it's normal to think more about yourself than about Brando. You can't really know how Brando feels, but you know how you feel. I went through this when I had to make the big decision about my Flo four weeks ago. I didn't know if she wanted to spend a few more days or weeks blind and sick and not eating, but I knew what I felt like.

I remember I kept saying "This is too much for me. I want to hand it all over to somebody else, but there's nobody else to hand it over to. There's just me." I think I felt that way because I didn't know what Flo wanted, or what the best outcome would be for her. Another day of treatment? Another trip to the specialist? One more diagnostic procedure? Wait for her to die on her own? Euthanize her before she suffers any more?

I think what I learned is that every decision I made was the right decision because I made it out of love. That's what was important for Flo, the love. That's what's important for Brando, not the details of how his life ends, but that he spends his whole life, right up until the very end, surrounded by your love.

Rhapsedy, I'm thinking of you today. I just read Kurt T's reply and I couldn't put it any better myself. Including the overwhelming feeling of just wanting to hand it over to someone else.
I echo his thoughts on the details of the end. It's the love that matters and it's only the love that will comfort you later when you think back on these possible last moments.
You LOVE Brando and he knows that oh so well. You won't make a mistake.
-Donna

P.S. And by the way, it's totally ok to make this about you right now. We understand.

Oh, Rhapsedy, this is so hard, isn't it? My heart really goes out to you during this painful, painful time. I'm sorry that you are having to make such an irrevocable decision. Of COURSE you're thinking of yourself--how could you not be? Brando will eventually be out of pain, but you're is only just beginning. He won't know the difference anymore, but YOU will.

Trust your heart. We've all said it in different ways. Don't let your mind play tricks on you--trust your heart. Somehow, we do have a way of knowing when the time is right, although we don't always follow that guidance, and that's part of what leads to guilt--when you KNOW one thing, but you DO something else. Listen to Brando, too--I'm sure he's sending out signals of one kind or another.

Our hearts are with you during this oh, so difficult time. Be gentle with yourself. Pets don't come with instructions!

Big big hugs from Margi, Spiritwolf, and Leopold the Bold