Recently, my family dog has been really sick. It’s been really rough on everyone. This was the dog that my siblings and I grew up with, and he was a real comfort for everyone when my dad passed away years ago. My dad was always kind of the one in charge of dog-related stuff (my mom never had a dog growing up), but we all got really close to the dog after he passed.
Now I’m not sure what to do. I want to help my mom make a decision about when to put the dog down, but I don’t know how to tell when the time is right, especially since I’m not around the dog every day (because I’m at school). And I don’t know what happens next--how do you respectfully (and legally) put a dead dog to rest? Experts, please help.
Dogs bring a lot of joy into our lives. You’ve clearly experienced this with your pet, and studies show that these benefits are real and measurable: dogs are proven to do everything from reduce our stress levels to improve our heart health!
But no dog lives forever, sadly, and there comes a time to say goodbye. It’s a tough decision to make. Nobody wants to say goodbye to a dog sooner than they have to, but it’s never good to force a dog to stay when its quality of life has deteriorated. For guidance in making this difficult decision, consider turning to quality-of-life checklists available online.
When it comes time to put down your dog, there are some ways to make things less traumatic. Some veterinarians offer in-home services that offer a more comfortable setting for your dog (and you and your family, too).
Your vet will help counsel you about what to do with your dog and may handle that process for you. You may want to opt for cremation, say providers of pet cremation in Charlotte, North Carolina. Cremation leaves you with plenty of tasteful options for commemorating your pet: you could keep an urn on display, bury it, or scatter the ashes in one (or more than one) of your dog’s favorite spots.
This is the toughest time to be a pet owner, and we wish you the best as you make your decision and the necessary arrangements. Don’t be afraid to seek help from a medical professional or take advantage of your school’s on-campus resources as you deal with the stress and grief that this moment is likely to bring. Ultimately, try to remember all the good experiences you’ve had with your dog. Dogs bring a lot of love into this world, and it seems as if your life has been much brighter for having your dog in it.
“A dog is the only thing on Earth that loves you more than you love yourself.” -- Josh Billings