How to deal with letting go...

[Rhanna]

My heart goes out to you and your little Chelsie.

[Yorkie 3]

Thank you all...,your support and compassion for Chelsie
and myself is so appreciated.
Not sure how the night will go, today has been so different.
Chelsie can't stand to clear her lungs, her energy is so low...
I'll keep you posted.
Warm regards, Kara

[SnowWa]

I put a little dog to sleep last October - and it did break my heart.

My dog could have been kept alive (perhaps for a long time - I'll never know.) But she needed extensive testing, MRIs, CT scans, and perhaps surgery. All of this would have been $5000 or $6000 - and, after putting her through all of this, we knew it still might not have helped her. She was so uncomfortable, I couldn't imagine putting her through all the tests she needed and surgery knowing she may have ended up no better - and would have been uncomfortable all that time. My dog - different from your dog - had hurt her back and could not longer lie down for more than a minute few minutes at a time. It has reached the point that I was holding and carrying her most of the time trying to keep her comfortable.

Anyway - after a final episode of walking around and carrying her for more than 30 hours, I took her in and had her put to sleep.

There is nothing I can say - except that I did it because her little life had become so uncomfortable - and I couldn't bear to have her suffer anymore.

I think this is the toughest decision any of us ever have to make. And, your little dog, like mine is getting by. I think this makes it so much worse and harder to do. We know they can make it another day, another week, or another month - or maybe longer. I could have kept putting my dog on more medicine and steroids, but she really didn't tolerate these well - and they weren't curing her problem.

I had to have my sister take me to the vet because I knew that I would have turned around and come back home. I made her promise she wouldn't let me do that.

It took me weeks to get over total shattering grief (I was a bad case).... and a day won't go by the rest of my life that I won't think of her, miss her, and shed some tears. So, I certainly know how you feel and what you're facing.

I had another dog and a few months later I also got a new little puppy. They are both wonderful and a lot to love, but nothing will ever replace Dutchess. I had her for ten years and still feel that she would probably end up being the dog that I loved most during my life.

You just do what you need to do - and do whatever you feel is best for your little dog. My vet cried with me when we put Dutchess to sleep. She said that I was very brave. I didn't feel very brave. I felt heartbroken - but now that I look back, it did take a lot of courage for me to do what I needed to do.

You just do whatever you know you need to do - whatever is best for your little dog.

Carol Jean

[YorkieShadow]

Im so sorry and its so hard. Do what you feel is right for her. Ill keep you both in my prayers.

[Connie]

I am so sorry to read about Chelsie and my heart aches for you! *HUGGGGG* I will pray for you and your precious baby. Maddie sends kisses!

[babel]

perhaps this may comfort you

http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html

i'm so very sorry for your situation -- and pray for you and your loved one Chelsie

babel

[Raven]

I am so sorry for what you and Chelsie are going through. My thoughts are truly with you both.

[Tophersmom]

I'm so sorry that you're having to go through this...and that your little one is having such a rough time.

As many above have said, your heart will tell you when and if the time comes for you to make the decision. It's one of the most difficult decisions you will ever have to make, no question about it. I've had to go through it with many pets throughout the years, the most painful being in January when my sweet terrier mix came down with pancreatitis. She was in severe pain so I made the decision swiftly. I don't regret it for a moment because I knew if I held on to her, that it would be only because of me and my not wanting to let go.

Here's a poem that's helped me so much throughout the years, when dealing with loss. I pray with all my heart that your little one rallies and gets well, but if you find yourself having to ease her way, this may help you a bit.

The Rose Beyond the Wall
Near a shady wall a rose once grew,
Budded and blossomed in God's free light,
Watered and fed by the morning dew,
Shedding it's sweetness day and night.

As it grew and blossomed fair and tall,
Slowly rising to loftier height,
It came to a crevice in the wall
Through which there shone a beam of light.

Onward it crept with added strength
With never a thought of fear or pride,
It followed the light through the crevice's length
And unfolded itself on the other side.

The light, the dew, the broadening view
Were found the same as they were before,
And it lost itself in beauties new,
Breathing it's fragrance more and more.

Shall claim of death cause us to grieve
And make our courage faint and fall?
Nay! Let us faith and hope receive--
The rose still grows beyond the wall,
Scattering fragrance far and wide
Just as it did in days of yore,
Just as it did on the other side,
Just as it will forevermore.
~ A. L. Frink ~ (I hope it's okay to print this.)

[Gingergirlsmom]

Has anyone heard? How is Chelsie doing?

My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family...

[SnowWa]

I sure hope that Yorkie3 gets back with us. It is so hard to hear these circumstances - and then never know what happened.....

Carol Jean