I have her because wft became overwhelmed with dogs in need of foster homes.

 Quote: CJ Barrett

.... Just the thought of any one of my boys being shuffled around and confused .... 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.

The thought of my guys driving away from their home in confusion, without me -- I plan for that to be their only frightened time if I die before they do. Because soon they will be at the home of my daughter (a dog person) with a Border Terrier they know and like and people they know very well.

And I have to say that if I had no possibility of arranging a permanent loving home and knew that their fate would be a one-way trip to the shelter, I would make one tough but (in my mind) necessary decision -- ahead of time. They won't spend their last days in a concrete cell to be euthanized en masse on the day they round up those whose time is up and assembly-line PTS them.

And believe me, I am saying nothing negative about shelter workers, whose work is so horribly difficult and so vitally necessary. I know how it is just to be there, and I admire them enormously.

eta
And we have gone full circle to Dr. Betty whose actions probably kept someone else's beloved animals from ending up in a cell for a few days before the needle.


Edited by Connie Sutherland (11/15/2010 11:46 AM)
Edit reason: eta

"And I have to say that if I had no possibility of arranging a permanent loving home and knew that their fate would be a one-way trip to the shelter, I would make one tough but (in my mind) necessary decision -- ahead of time. They won't spend their last days in a concrete cell to be euthanized en masse on the day they round up those whose time is up and assembly-line PTS them."

That's where my thinking was going when I had the group. I'm so glad that I don't need to think that way anymore, but that would still be what I would do if I didn't have family. I know Murphy would be comfortable with my sister OR my parents (I think my step-dad really digs him, actually) and he knows and likes all the family dogs. It would be confusing for him, but he would be in good hands and would adjust. I can't even think of him in a shelter kennel.

I think it helps the family ENORMOUSLY to have a discussion around decisions, and even the reasons for them if it's pertinent, prior to it ever becoming necessary. Even if they find it difficult to euthanize the dog, they can feel better knowing it was your well thought out wish and in the best interest of everybody, dog included.

We of course have multiple dogs and some of them are a handful. If something happened to my husband I would be able to handle the dogs by myself as I do all the training and am the primary caretaker. If something happened to me, the dogs would way too much for him and he knows who to contact in order to figure things out.

And most importantly (and something that is sometimes forgotten) our contact person knows that he has been so designated and is on board with it. Additionally him and I have had discussions on what would be best.

I want to add that my husband is extremely supportive of our dogs and while he enjoys them and is helpful, they are not his passion as they are mine. He also has physical limitations which would make it very difficult for him to manage multiple working line dogs by himself.

And the person that would help him properly place the dogs is very familiar with my bloodlines and individual dogs. His input would ensure proper placements.

This is such an important topic to discuss.

Being an only child I have been pushing my parents towards this discussion with me, I do not want to find myself making important decisions without a plan that was put into place before the crisis hits.

I have been watching my parents struggle somewhat helplessly to get the proper care for my grandparents. Nothing was discussed in advance, there is no agreement about when to hire full time help, or move into an assisted living facility, or find better doctors etc.

On one side there is little to no discussion, and a lot of pissy old man to deal with, resulting in a lot of resentment, anger, and frustration.
Because of that the person who needs the care the most is not getting the best she could be getting.

On the other side my grandmother is open with us, routinely calls us from the walgreens parking lot just to vent. We are currently house hunting to move them closer to us in order to be able to help, her wishes are known and everyone feels like there is a course of action.

It does not make watching the slide into dementia any easier but removing the unknown and making logical decisions makes the rest of life go much more smoothly.

That being said even as young as I am I have felt the need to make sure I have everything clearly spelled out.

It is written into our will what we wish to happen to both our son and our dogs/cats if anything should happen to me.

We of course discussed this with the other people involved before hand and can change it if their circumstances change.

I also do agree that a peaceful end surrounded in love is so much better than a future filled with confusion and fear in a shelter.

As a single dog owner, living alone, I realized early into my responsibilities to my dog that I had to have arrangements made in case something happened to me. I also carry a card in my wallet next to my driver's license asking emergency workers to contact a friend who will take care of my pets in case I am injured or dead.