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How To Know When It’s Time To Say Goodbye To Your Pet
There never is a best time, but there can be a right time.
Eleanor was only six when she died.
Six years was not long enough for us; I’m certain it was not long enough for her. Six years is definitely not long enough for a cat. She loved us and we loved her. We were tight.
In a previous article, I wrote about Eleanor’s passing and how heart wrenching it was. She moved from room to room to say goodbye to each of us hours before she died. Did I mention she could barely walk? And had to climb 20 stairs to get to us? If that sort of thing doesn’t stomp on your heart, I don’t know what does. (You can read that article here.)
We made the call the day before her trek. Shortly after she made her rounds, the vet came; we had chosen an in-home euthanasia service for her. I couldn’t imagine her last moments lying on a frigid steel table in the vet’s office. She deserved to die in her own home with the people she loved.
I know that making the decision of WHEN is one of the biggest struggles as a pet owner. You don’t want to say goodbye to the girl that shares Cheetos with you or likes neck snuggles at night. Maybe she’s the first dog that your son ever had. Or maybe he’s the cat that kept you company after you got divorced. It’s not an exaggeration to say that a…
