Quote: betty landercasp

I have put pets to sleep, healthy pets, at the bedside in the home of people who were dying.
The people seemed to think it was "taking care of things" or "wrapping up loose ends", it seemed to give them peace.

I can imagine being sick and knowing I am dying and thinking my dog/cat/whatever would be better off "with me" than alone... I really can.

Kelly, this sad situation and these two innocent mals may in fact bring to light the importance of having these decisions discussed and planned beforehand. I certainly had this talk with my mom as she neared the end of her life and how to place her mean-as-a-snake cat ( :mad but I have no such plans in place for my pets at this point in my life... Obviously something which needs consideration.

when i go my dogs will be buried with me.

I stewed over this decision for awhile when I was making out my will and living will. I'm not saying one way is more right than another but I have made some decisions concerning my dogs which may involve many of them being PTS if clearly defined acceptable homes cannot be found which did not include placement at rescues or shelters. For me it was peace of mind knowing that they would not be a long term burden on an unhappy family member, that they would never know neglect, be used for profit making purposes in a mill, or worse.

We fostered an airedale back a few years ago. He did have some aggression issues,resource guarding, but was getting better. He had shown aggression toward the grounds keeper. We received a call from a person in another state who was interested in doing the adoption. We talked on the phone for a couple of weeks while waiting for the weather to clear.The plan was to fly the dog across lake michigan in a rescue members plane. She sounded like a good home for him, she understood his issues and was willing to work with him. I drove the dog to the local airport to catch the flight and let the leash go with him with the hope of having it returned to me.

The new owner took a plane down to the Chicago area and met with rescue then drove back home. One day about a week or two later I got a package in the mail. Opened it and there was my leash,and a note explaining how she was unable to handle the dog,took him to the vet who told her to have the dog pts,which she did. Rescue was never contacted who would have taken back the dog, no questions asked.

The original owner,during this time, had moved out of the apartment and bought a house so he could take the dog back. Very heartbreaking.

Holy cow! It's disheartening how easily some folks can end a dog's life. I feel for those two Mals, and for the poor Airedale. The elderly owner of the Mals wasn't even dying, she was just moving.

I used to agonize over what would happen to my animals if anything ever happened to me, especially when I had multiple dogs and horses. I know that some of them (dogs especially) would have been far too much for my family to handle individually, and the numbers alone were overwhelming. I had discussed breed-specific rescue preferences but mostly what I heard in response from my family was a slightly anxious "yeah, NOTHING can happen to you". I'll admit it was a scary feeling.

Now that I only have the one dog, I know he'd find a home with a family member. That would also mean the standard of care would be consistent (okay, maybe he'd be a little fatter and a little less mannerly from being spoiled, but I can live with that) and it's kind of a good thing to know.

I had my dogs cremated as they aged and passed on because I want them buried with me, but I would never euthanize a dog for this specific purpose.

This is a great thread to vent an outrage, but also to get us thinking about "what if?". It's something many of us don't like to think about, but I've seen more than a few dogs in rescue because their owners had passed, no provision had been made for them and the families didn't know what to do.

"This is a great thread to vent an outrage, but also to get us thinking about "what if?". It's something many of us don't like to think about, but I've seen more than a few dogs in rescue because their owners had passed, no provision had been made for them and the families didn't know what to do."

You are so right, Kristel.

But please let me add that "in rescue" is NOT the likelihood. I know how hard it is to picture this, and how painful, but "to a shelter" is the reality for most dogs left homeless. And an older dog, a larger breed, a "scary" breed, a dog with any health issues .... this dog is just about guaranteed not to find a home after he enters that shelter. I know this. I know this from decades of painful experience and from national shelter statistics. And we are right now in an economic climate that has slashed the numbers of people acquiring companion animals and greatly increased the numbers of dogs entering shelters.

If everyone reading this who has not made solid arrangements for their dogs does so now, then something positive comes out of the tragic O.P.

I am fostering a wire fox because the owner passed away. The family would not take her and ended up with the neighbors, They wanted to keep her but are busy raising a family of seven kids under the age of twelve.

 Quote: Cheryl Gee

I am fostering a wire fox because the owner passed away. The family would not take her and ended up with the neighbors, They wanted to keep her but are busy raising a family of seven kids under the age of twelve.

Lucky dog, though, to be fostered and have a home.

Believe me, there are nowhere near enough rescue and foster folks to go around.

One word to all the stories; sad.

I volunteered at a shelter a few years back, and prior to owning my own dog, and boy it was hard. I still have pictures of some of my favorite dogs I worked with, sad thinking that for a number of them this same thing could have been their fate, yet nothing was their fault? I know the world isn't fair, but that still doesn't make it easy.

 Quote: connie sutherland

But please let me add that "in rescue" is NOT the likelihood. .... an older dog, a larger breed, a "scary" breed, a dog with any health issues .... this dog is just about guaranteed not to find a home after he enters that shelter.

Wow, how tragic and sad, both stories.

While many dogs start their lives or end up in unfavorable circumstances and there is a great need for shelters/rescues, my dogs will never see the inside of one.

Should I supersede Bob or him me, it’s a no brainer. I am so thankful to have that loving, life-long partner. Should we both be unavailable to care for our loved ones, I have a brother that is well versed in their needs/care and has agreed to keep them in the manner they are accustomed to. Should he not be capable, I’m afraid they will join us. To some this may sound harsh and a needless ending of life, but I know how cruel this world can be. My boys will never be exposed to one ounce of misunderstanding or concrete cages in some half hearted attempt to see them through to their final days.

While both these stories had potential homes lined up, as Connie mentioned, this is often not the case. Just the thought of any one of my boys being shuffled around and confused for a hour, let alone a life time of someone else’s handling sends chills up my spine and brings tears to my eyes.

Like many of the choices we make in life, they can have an incredible impact on others. We need to think about these things, prepare and do what we feel will have the best possible outcome for all involved.