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Re: [RC] [RC] [RC] Blind in Two Eyes - Carol StilesDear Howard, Sorry to hear about your dog. I did the same thing with my long haired German Shepard. Unfortunatley by the time I called the vet to have him put out of his misery he was so dehydrated from not drinking or eating well that it took her several sticks to find a vein, which caused him great pain. So I would recommend some kind of oral pain killers first if you decide to eventually do this. Maybe it was the vet, I don't know. All I know is it was awful hearing him cry out in pain as she kept missing the frigging vein. and if I had know that it was going to be that way I never would have done it. Carol ----- Original Message ----- From: "Howard Bramhall" <howard9732@xxxxxxx> To: <greymare56@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2004 7:48 PM Subject: Re: [RC] [RC] [RC] Blind in Two Eyes I kind of expected some posts like this one. For the sake of the horse/dog, you should put them down. Ease their pain, their suffering. That sort of thing. That's fine, that's your opinion, that's what you would do. My only question is, "Why do you think I'm giving this dog pills in the first place?" It's for the pain. She will not suffer. I won't allow someone to put me on "trial" for this choice I've made and will continue to make. She's my dog, not yours. You do what you want with your animals and I'll do what I must with mine. When my dog looks up, from her cart, hearing, and, sort of seeing, as the horses go running by (she loves them as much as I), with that doggish grin on her face and her tail wagging, I know she wants to continue living to "hear" another day. And, she will, as long as I'm alive to take care of her. Like I said, I'm greedy. These last few months with her are precious to me. We might be down to days or weeks; I have no idea how long she has. When she wants me to put her out of her pain she will tell me and I will do as she asks. But, it will only come from her. Not my vet, not you, not me. Till then, life goes on, for as long as it possibly can. cya, HowardFrom: "Karen Sullivan" <greymare56@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: "Howard Bramhall" <howard9732@xxxxxxx>,<ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [RC] [RC] Blind in Two Eyes Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 19:36:50 -0800 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Howard Bramhall" <howard9732@xxxxxxx> . She has severe arthritis and a host of other problems. She is barely hanging on. I give her seven pills each morning to keep her going. I've built a cart to haul her around in cause walking's getting kind of tough. I'll continue to do this until her very last day. She sleeps a lot and quite often I lay next to her to listen to her breathe. I'm greedy; each moment I spend with her is more valuable than the last and I won't cut any of it short. I just cannot be the one to make that call; that has to go to a higher power. Life is too darn precious and if the creature is still able to draw a breath they deserve to continue doing just that for as long as they possibly can. cya, Howard (not a Saint) ________ *Well Howard.....it seems to me that if you were putting this creatures life in the hands of "a higher power," you would not be stuffing pills down it every day. Not seeing your dog....I have no idea how much discomfort or suffering this animal is in. I have no doubt that you are doing everything to make the quality of her life as good as possible. However, are your fears of loss more important than the pain this animal might be in? It's a theoretical question. I have had euthanized an elderly dog with an extremely bad hip, and a cat with advanced cancer. Both times I was a total wreck in tears...and held them while the injection was given. BOTH TIMES, I looked back and wished I had done it SOONER! Neither was enjoying life any more and I feel both were in a lot of pain. I could have eased that sooner.... I have a pug that is coming 6 and the absolute love of my life. He has a collapsed trachea, bad hips and bad teeth. I truly cherish each and every day and moment. I have never felt quite this way about any animal. But, because I love him so much, I hope I can see the day when he is in so much pain he is not enjoying life....and give him the gift of the release from it. We do have the choice to do this, and far too often, people prolong the pain and suffering of the animal because they are too weak to follow through You might want to read what Julie Suhr has to say in her book, TEN FEET TALL, STILL., under the chapter "When a good horse dies." I will not quote her, but she has some beautiful words to the effect of being able to ease the suffereing of an honored animal..... Karen_________________________________________________________________ Free up your inbox with MSN Hotmail Extra Storage! Multiple plans available. http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-us&page=hotmail/es2&ST=1/go/onm00200362ave/direct/01/ ============================================================ Why should I look good if I don`t smell good? ~ author unknown ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================ ============================================================ The very essence of our sport is doing the trail as quickly as practicable, while keeping one's horse fit to continue. Taking the clock out of the equation makes it another sport altogether. The challenge is how to keep the sport what it is while honing our skills (both as riders and as those in control roles) in detecting where "the edge" is for each horse so that we don't cross it. ~ Heidi Smith ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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