More Sad Furbaby news

My sister just called :  her dog Scruffy has just finished another round of chemo-
It did not work :  They have just told my sister there is nothing more they can try.
Scruffy is only 7 and has been in treatment for the past 2 years.

They now have to decide if it is more merciful to put her down now or
wait until she is obviously in pain and her quality of life is bad.

My sister is heartbroken :  she was sobbing so hard I could not understand
some of what she said.

So if you have a furbaby:  give them a little extra attention -  you never
know when they will be taken from you.

Oh my, I am in tears at work. I cannot imagine what I'd be like if it was my baby that I had to make this decision for. My hear goes out to your sister and her family.

Doing rescue and fostering, I deal with this all the time.  It's not the same as if you lose your own pet but no matter how long they are in your life they seem to enrich it in so many ways. It's very sad when they get sick or when they pass but in rescue as we say, they know they were loved up until their very last minute with us and unfortunately like so many others, they didn't have to die alone! 

XOXO's to all the furbabies! 

Awww. so sorry to hear that Darla.

I think for me, in my line of thinking, I'm quick to alleviate suffering when nothing will cure them- I never want to see an animal suffer; after all, they don't make ME suffer, so why should I be selfish and keep them going just because I would want them around me?

I learned from an experience that I had with Mom.  After her husband passed away, their dog Bear was just getting worse and worse, and Mom kept trying to hold on to him, and it got to the point that he was just dragging himself if he needed to go anywhere, because of the arthritis he had.  I hated to see him just pleading to be set free, while he was in a body full of pain.  Finally, Mom saw the light, and decided to send him to her husband.  When Bear was still alive, I found it hard to come over and visit with Mom.  I swore from that point on that I'd never let any of my animals suffer.

It's heartbreaking enough to see some of the strays in the neighborhoods, limping, and stuff.  Some people claim I have a softer heart for animals than I do people.  I tell them it's because the animals do not have the same rights or defense capabilities as humans do. 

Oh Darla this is so sad my girlfriend just found a lump under her big Great Pyrenees baby and took him to the vets last week. It was to late it was cancer. They wanted to cut off his leg and she felt at 9 years old and him being so big he would not be able to get around. The cancer had spread to his lungs as well. She made the decision to put him down and his partner Sadie has been so depressed as well as my friend. She told me yesterday she can't wait till Thursday when she goes to pick up his ashes and she can hold him in her arms again. This is heartbreaking. My heart goes out to your sister and her family. These are tough heart wrenching decisions that we all have to make and man is it painful. I still miss my lab I had to put down 9 years ago. This brings all the pain back up when I hear how bad it hurts others. I just cry..

                                                                                                   Julie

Oh Darla!  That just sucks!!  I'm not for any animal suffering needlessly, but if she seems to still be doing well and definitely has quality of life, I would hold off until I knew otherwise.  I was always told that you will know when it's time and I did with Colby, even though she passed on her own several hours before I was going to make that decision for her!

Hugs to your sister, it is not an easy decision to make!

Heather

Oh my goodness Darla,

My heart can't take anymore sad news.  I am so very sorry that your sister and furbaby is going through that. 

((((((hugs))))))

Thanks everyone:  Julie said that the vet said at the most it will be a couple of months:
could be as short as a couple of weeks.  They will be telling my niece this afternoon
and will make the decision together as a family.

The truly sad part is that Scruffy doesn't act like she is sick:  still plays and jumps
around like nothing is wrong.

Darla,

In light of the fact that she isn't acting sick and everything seems fine, it isn't her time to go yet, in my opinion.  If it were me I'd take these last couple of weeks/months, etc to enjoy her as much as possible and then when she shows signs of lessened quality of life, go from there. 

Of course, that's just me, she's not mine, but just offering my .005 cents! 

Heather

Oh, Darla, I'm so sorry to hear this.  I sure know exactly what your sister is going through!  I still miss my ****er spaniel, from 13 yrs. ago, and now the current ****er is senile, has gum disease, TMJ, and is deaf.  She sits and stares at me and I don't know why.  I keep wondering if she's trying to tell me something.  She sleeps all the time and eats very little.  If your sisters dog is still playing and acting good, then she must not be in pain, yet, so maybe they can wait a while.
Ginger