Sort of a side note, but I thought I'd add it....

We have very good friends who are a young couple that are getting married in June. Last year they got a beautiful little lynx point siamese kitten named Lexi.

About a month ago Liz asked if we would be willing to be Lexi's "godparents". She wanted to be sure that if anything were to happen to them that she knew Lexi would have a wonderful home and be well cared for.

It brought tears to my eyes to think someone would entrust their beloved pet to me. It is one of the highest compliments I think I've ever been paid.

 Quote: Kristel Smart

I'm also not a huge proponent of 'life at all costs' thinking. I know people who have had very old dogs that could barely move, were in pain, going blind, and essentially not enjoying their lives at all, but the owners just kept medicating them and taking them to the vet to keep them alive. For what? So they wouldn't have to feel the pain of losing them? To me, that's not fair.

I met a woman whose dog fits this description exactly and in talking to her she mentioned how people thought she was crazy for not euthanizing her (I agreed in my mind) This woman's life revolves around this dog because she needs to be expressed to urinate has to be held up for twenty minutes on her back legs while and after she eats; has paralysis and thyroid issues. Is she crazy and selfish? NO! I met the dog and yes she does have all these issues and is 16 years old but her spirit is so strong she throws herself into everything half the time her back end doesn't work but she pulls herself along with great joy to greet her family. She devours every bite of her food and gets excited about going out or seeing squirrels. This is one happy dog who in no way is indicating she wants to go; quite the opposite and I respect the decision of this woman for taking the heat and doing right by her dog. Maybe engagement in life should be considered over health or even pain..... I don't know...I don't think there is a right answer for everyone.

 Quote: Kristel Smart

I'm like Ingrid: I have a dog that I spend all my time with, and no husband

I have a husband but spend all my time with my dog....perhaps thats why he's still my husband; he understands.

Caring for the four dogs I have now comes as close as anything to my "reason for being." It gives me immense comfort to know that no matter what else is going on in the world there are four lives that are are lived as fully and with as much happiness and health as is possible because of me.

A few years ago, when Luca bloated and things did not look good for a week or so at the vet ER, I was, of course, overwhelmed by emotion (which I tried to hide when he was around.) But the one emotion that kind of surprised even me in the whole ordeal was a real sense of pride. Sad as I was at the idea of losing him, I was so proud of the life I had given this dog up to that point. Losing him at a young age would have been devastating. But I had no regrets. Thankfully he survived.

Even thought I do spend a lot of money on my dogs (as we all do)--I think for me the more important measure of worth is the time, commitment, interest, emotional investment that I give them. Because the feeling of pride and accomplishment I get back from that is, as they say in the MasterCard commercial, priceless.

Last October when Sierra went downhill so fast, I was prepared to help her in any way I could. I was very fortunate that although it was heartbreaking and devastating, I didn't have to make the hard decision of when to keep trying and when to let my girl go. In the space of two weeks, she was in so much pain, I just couldn't let her go on.

Although she was alive for only a little over 2 1/2 years, I'm convinced we packed more "living" into that short time than the average person and their dog. I still miss her terribly, but I have no regrets because I know I did right by her.

I, too, have a husband who understands - and definitely is a keeper. He understood when he came home from scuba diving and I was standing in the driveway with an 8 wk old rottie puppy (Callie) saying "but how could you resist this face????" (we already had two large dogs).

He also understood when his mother gave me my horse and when I got JD. And got me my bengal kitty....

He has his motorcycles and once I explained to him that I felt about my animals the way he does about his bikes it sort of made sense to him. I try to provide the funds for all the care of my animals, but he will definitely shell out $$ if it's needed.

I love my husband, but yes, my animals do come first.

Years ago, I had a Paint gelding 6yrs old, I had had since he was a yearling. I broke and trained him myself and we were having a very successful show career. I had a bond with this horse like none of the 20 plus others I had owned in my life. We were attached at the hip. My husband talked me out of selling him when I was offered over 5 figures for him cuz he knew my heart would break if I did. 1 day he coliced. My vet and I treated him for 5 days. On the 5th day he seemed to get worse. He was diagnosed with gastroenteritis and I was referred to a specialist over 1 1/2 hours away. They confirmed the diagnosis and he was promptly started on meds. 1:30 am I got a call and was told they had to do emergency surgery to the tune of $10,000. I didn't blink an eye. I loved this horse. He lived for 7 more days then became impacted at the surgical center. Another $10,000 was quoted. I had to put him down. Part of his intestine had died. I won't put another horse thru that again or me.

3 yrs ago, my reiner somehow broke a hind leg and tore a ligament in the pasture. Off to the vet. Again, a $10,000 quote. Nope, couldn't do it, but Traci offered to try to do what she could. Even if this mare couldn't be ridden, I still wanted to do what I could. Long story short, Traci is the world's greatest vet. My mare is very rideable altho can't compete in reining - you'd never know anything happened.

I think there are many pros and cons to any decision we make - mostly made on emotion and financial health at the time. I do whatever I can but have to draw the line sometimes.

When Sandy(my first dog) got cancer we took him to the vet not knowing what was wrong. He had started to limp and wine about his back end. We were told he had cancer and that we could do kemo but he was already 8 and the chances of him making it were slim and next would be old age if he did. It was so hard to let him go and my whole family cried. We didn´t even speak of getting another dog for 2 years. (I still did rescue dogs) We tried keeping one of the rescues but she was a collie and I had not had any experience with a high energy dog so I found her a home.

If I had to do things over with Sandy I would not have waited quite so long to put him down because we were holding on for ourselves I think more than anything. He could still walk a little but life had nothing in it for him anymore. Live and learn I guess. It is always hard to let go to someone or something you love.

I agree, we live and learn. The hardest thing sometimes can be NOT kicking ourselves for past decisions.

The first dog that I had full responsibility for the decision to euthanize or not suffered more than she should have. She was an 11 year old Greyhound who had developed an immune disorder; her body was attacking it's own organs (this was many years ago, and this illness came within two weeks of vaccinations, but that's a whole 'nother subject).

Her choices were to live on a high-ish dose of prednisone and be crazy (she was peeing EVERYWHERE, couldn't relax, panting and pacing non-stop, acting like she was STARVING) or we could lower the dose and she would get sick again. There was no in between. After lowering the dose again in the hopes that it would work this time, she got so sick it hurt her to move and it happened really fast. I finally said enough was enough and let her go. As much as I knew it was the right decision, it still felt like I killed my dog. It took me a long time to get over that feeling, but I still look back in horror at what she went through.

Years later when another one of my Greyhounds developed osteosarcoma, it was another emotional dilemma. I could amputate his leg and do chemo, or I could just keep him comfortable and pain-free as long as possible, knowing that if he broke his leg it was the end for him. Most Greyhounds do really well with limb amputation, but this hound couldn't handle it if I rearranged the furniture. He was 10 years old and I knew amputation would stress him beyond what he could tolerate, so I opted for pain meds. It was expected that he would be okay for three months or so, but he lived happily and comfortably for almost another year. Some hounds who go through the amputation and chemo don't get that much time, so as hard as that decision was I felt it was right, even though I didn't do "everything" I could.

Like anything, sometimes it's just a matter of experience providing perspective. Even so, I don't think it's ever easy to make major life decisions for someone you love.

This is an interesting topic, Phaedra.
I often ask myself if my dog is happy to live with me. Indeed, I choose him but he did not have the choice.
To me, it is really a high responsibility to take care of a dog.
I try to do the best for him.
He lives in a good pack structure where everything is really clear and constant: black or white.
He receives love from me and my wife.
I do a lot of exercise with him in different area.
In control area, he can play with other dogs that I know well.
I give the best raw diet that I found even if I always tried to improve it.
I do not really make sacrifice for him because it was my choice. Thus I could not even think to go in holiday without him. Kenji is my buddy :-) I certainly receive more from him than I give to him.