This is dedicated to all the moms/dads that have had to make that very tough decision to help their child cross the Rainbow Bridge. Maybe it will help to ease the pain.

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
and pain should keep me from my sleep
Then you must do what must be done,
For this-the last battle-can't be won.

You will be sad I understand
Don't let grief then stay your hand
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years
What is to come can hold no fears
You'd not want me to suffer so,
when the time comes, please let me go.

Take me to where my needs they'll tend
Only stay with me till the end.
And hold me firm and speak to me,
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time you will agree
it is a kindness you do for me
Although my tail it's last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.

Don't grieve that it must be you
Whom has to decide this thing to do.
We've been so close, we two, these years,
Please don't let your heart hold any tears.

Anonymous

I have yet to be in that situation, but my heart goes out to all those who have. :hug:

That made me cry - euthanasia is a very sensitive subject for me.Thank you posting it.

You're welcome. It is especially for me as well. One can't understand until they've been in the situation. It's very hard and I don't wish it on my worst enemy. :(

THANK YOU! Yes, having been there more than once, it is THE hardest decision(s) I have had to make and such heartbreaking ones. Very nice poem - I copied it and printed it off.

*sigh* I had to put my male cat to sleep 7 years ago when he came back from escaping outside unable to use his back legs. He was so active and looked in so much pain that I made the desicion to put him to sleep. I knew this cat, he was my first boy furrbaby and I KNEW he wouldn't have been happy strapped to a kitty cart having to rely on us to help him do anything. He just wasn't that kind of cat.

Still..It haunts me to this day. I think about him all the time and my 2nd furrbaby boy is named Billy Thomas in memory of him (his name was Scotch Thomas)

My little Scootchermerouch, mama loves you...

Dammit. I swore I wasn't going to cry this morning.

Anything that has to do with putting companion animals to sleep just makes me feel so sad.

Now I'm all teared up :sick:

i still haven't gotten over having to put my 5 month kitten to sleep a few years ago at an emergency clinic. she had to be put to sleep at the fault of the vets at the regular office and people that worked there.

Thank you for posting the poem. Indeed a tear jerker.

I love that poem. Someone sent that to me a few years back when I had to have a cat put to sleep. It didn't bring him back, but it helped me a lot. Thanks for posting it, TS! :)

You're welcome. It's helped me tremendously.

Very nice poem. I'll have to print it out for my room mate. She lost her 14 year old dog about 1 1/2 years ago. He had a stroke and had to be euthanized. However, we have had the unfortunate opportunity to view this topic from both sides:euthanasia or a sudden death. About a month after her dog Trey was euthanized, my German Shepherd Durango collapsed and died in about 20 minutes time at about 1:30 am (he died on the way to the hospital). So the question we ask is, is it worse to have to make the decision to end your pet's life but at least you know the reasons for it (ending suffering) and you get to say your good byes or is it worse to have them suddenly leave this life with no signs or clues to the end coming, no good byes said but you are saved the guilt of making this horrible decision? This is a very personal question (I personally appreciate Durango saving me the task of scheduling his death) and there is no right or wrong answer to it. Just curious as to what everyone else thought.

PS- We do believe in things happening for a reason and our pets' crossings have allowed our home to be opened up for FOUR more dogs rescued from shelters. We miss our angels terribly but now couldn't see our home without the new guys!

Just curious as to what everyone else thought.



I'm sorry for your loss. I'd rather not have discussions regarding peoples opinions on euthanasia in this thead if possible. I don't want it to turn ugly. I'd love for the thread just to be about the poem and trying to help people through a very difficult time.

There are threads in the Heap on euthanasia I believe.

[QUOTE=SotallyTober]I'd rather not have discussions regarding peoples opinions on euthanasia in this thead if possible. I don't want it to turn ugly.
QUOTE]

Well then I'll retract the question. The last thing I want to do is start a rumble on the boards with an innocent inquiry. I'll just leave this thread where it is.

Thank you. I know it was innocent and not meant to stir up any conflict. :)

:up: No problem

well, i got a call today from my bro-in-law. He had stopped at the corner to get a pop and saw that someone had dumped their dog! They had just left it there, carrier and all next to the dumpster- just like it was some piece of trash!!!

so i ran down the rode to help him get her(little chihuahua, spell?) back in the carrier - boy was she a mess - covered in fleas and mange and scared to death....

he took her to the vet and they (the vet) opted to euthanize her. Evidently she was around 13 or 14 yrs old, no teeth, had a huge worm problem, plus what I listed above- they said they could try to treat her for everything , but that given her age and how far gone her problems were, he was not sure she'd make it through.

Grrr - the whole thing just makes me soo made.
First, how do you let a dog get in that kind of shape???
Second, how can you have a dog that long and then just drop em' like nothing???
Thirdly, if you do not have the money to treat the animal and the life quality is poor, drop at the vet.......

Good God! People amaze me!!!! :no:

Thnks for this. I am browsing using my wife's account, and we had to release our friend Pepper today. Pepper got cancer of the liver, and she faded fast, and seemed to be suffering. We let her go today.....

In tears, reading this, but thanks................

:hug: :hug: :hug: Sorry for your loss Mr. Lorilye. :hug: :hug: :hug: