Pet Bereavement Support Group
The loss of a pet or animal to which one has become emotionally bonded can be an intense loss, comparable with the death of a loved one. Whilst there is strong evidence that animals can feel such loss for other animals, this community focuses on human feelings, when an animal is lost, dies or otherwise is departed.
it will be one year ago on feb 22 that i had my Suzie put to sleep. at the time i had it done i felt tremendously guilty for it. part of me kept telling myself that it was too early eventhough i knew it wasnt. that same part of me kept telling myself that if i would have just gone through with the surgery to remove half of the lower part of her jaw that she would still be with me today. but the logical part of me tells me that the surgery would not have made any improvement and that the tumors would have continued to grow and she would continue to be in pain and making any effort to prolong her life would have just been selfish on my part. but i just cant help feeling guilty eventhough i knew that her kidneys were failing and that the tumor in her mouth was pushing her teeth out and causing her to bleed every time she ate and durring her final days she developed tumors on her legs and along her sids. the tumors on her legs also started to bleed. eventhough i know it was the right thing to do i still cant help but feel guilty.
deleted_user
I know how you feel. My Roxie was having problems too. Her last day and night she was having trouble breathing. She could barely get up and down by herself and was having bladder control problems. I know it was no longer a good, healthy life for her. She wasn't happy at all. That last night she even gave me that "make it stop" or "help me" look along with a wimper. I know I helped her. I know she's not hurting anymore, but I still feel so guilty sometimes. Like maybe I didn't try hard enough to find a way to help her. I just couldn't stand to see her suffer like that. I still apologize to her in my prayers and pray that I did the right thing. So just know you are not alone. She's been gone a little over a month and I still can't believe she's gone. I miss her so much.
deleted_user
No matter the reason for the decision to put an animal down, we all often wonder if there was another way. Your guilt is a very normal reaction. That being said, please try not to blame yourself; cancer is insidious, and you probably saved your angel from a great deal more suffering. I am so sorry for your loss.
deleted_user
Please don't beat yourself up with guilt over what you did out of love. I went through the same emotions and sometimes still do. I think, for me, it's because my kitty loved me unconditionally. He trusted me, I was his mommy, he believed I would take care of him no matter what. I feel sometimes like I destroyed the innocence by putting him to sleep. But when I think of the other side of the coin, because I was his mommy, because he trusted me to take care of him, to make the best decision for him, I did exactly that. I couldn't stand to see him suffer any longer. Letting him go was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but now I know he isn't in pain anymore.
deleted_user
It is a difficult decision to make but you have to consider your' pets quality of life. I think you did the right thing.
deleted_user
IO agree with what everyone else has said. Just remember our pets rely on us to keep them safe and pain free. You did the right thing and you baby knows that
deleted_user
My dear friend. I have heard this many times and you are not alone. You were a true friend to take care of your little one as you did. That is part of being a friend is being their till the end. I just do not have the words to say to take away the pain but I wished I could. You know my friend I have learned that guilt is a part of the grieving process. Your friend most likely would have not lived and if she had, it would not have been a good life. She depended on you to keep her safe and the greatest act of a friend is what you did when you handed her over to the Lord. She now waits on you by the streets of gold to usher you into Heaven. So, let your heart lift up knowing that one day you will be reunited in the Land of Glory... I will be praying for you and many more tonight. if you need to talk please let me know....your friend...Chaplain Turner
deleted_user
Today is a week since I had to put her down. The guilt over comes me at times because it seemed to happen so fast even though I learned 4 months ago that she had a lung tumor the size of her lung and a couple others on the other lung. She wasn't eating and was throwing up blood but I still can't help feeling that I didn't try hard enough to save her and that she counted on me to make her better.
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