Hardest thing I\'ve ever done
- Thread starter johnboyjjb
- Start date
P
provoke_me
Guest
i am sad
i always cry my little artery cloged heart out when a pet dies....
i had a total of 5 rats in my lifetime..one lived for 5 years!!!! she was so cute..whenever i walked into my room she would climb up her little branch to the top of the cage and wait for me to pick her up....
oh god..i must go..i have something in my eye
i always cry my little artery cloged heart out when a pet dies....
i had a total of 5 rats in my lifetime..one lived for 5 years!!!! she was so cute..whenever i walked into my room she would climb up her little branch to the top of the cage and wait for me to pick her up....
oh god..i must go..i have something in my eye
darthfoley
Active member
I have three cats, and everyone I work with knows full well I will not be in on the day one of them dies (my oldest cat is around 9, so I begin to worry about her).
You have my sympathies, johnboy.
You have my sympathies, johnboy.
Valander
Member
My condolences. I had a pet rat when I was in like 6th grade, and the hardest thing I had to do was take her to be put down due to similar growths. Luckily, my family\'s always been full of animal people, so my Dad actually took me and Missy to the vet (who, being a great guy, didn\'t balk at \"it\'s just a rat,\" but treated the whole situation seriously).
More recently (only a couple of months ago), my girlfriend and I had to put down one of our cats. She had her for 13 years, and Frogger was a very sweet kitty. She just very quickly got sick--one day she was fine and playful, the next she was, well, not. From what the vet could tell us, it looked like kidney failure. We chose to have her put to sleep, rather than go through really expensive intensive care that most likely wouldn\'t have done anything anyway. The vet let us both be in with her when he gave her the injection, so we got to see her off on her journey.
Why do we get so attached to these \"simple\" beasts? I think it\'s because they allow us to be truly human--they allow us to love them without any conditions, and return that love the same way; they let us be ourselves without any kind of judgement; they let us touch a little bit of the larger picture, by allowing us to feel honestly.
Personally, I can\'t imagine my life without animals in it (particularly cats). Good thing that I\'m hooked up with a similar animal-lover!
In closing, John: you did the right thing. It is far more humane, I think, to take action to end the suffering of any creature than to ignore it or just \"let it run its course.\"
More recently (only a couple of months ago), my girlfriend and I had to put down one of our cats. She had her for 13 years, and Frogger was a very sweet kitty. She just very quickly got sick--one day she was fine and playful, the next she was, well, not. From what the vet could tell us, it looked like kidney failure. We chose to have her put to sleep, rather than go through really expensive intensive care that most likely wouldn\'t have done anything anyway. The vet let us both be in with her when he gave her the injection, so we got to see her off on her journey.
Why do we get so attached to these \"simple\" beasts? I think it\'s because they allow us to be truly human--they allow us to love them without any conditions, and return that love the same way; they let us be ourselves without any kind of judgement; they let us touch a little bit of the larger picture, by allowing us to feel honestly.
Personally, I can\'t imagine my life without animals in it (particularly cats). Good thing that I\'m hooked up with a similar animal-lover!
In closing, John: you did the right thing. It is far more humane, I think, to take action to end the suffering of any creature than to ignore it or just \"let it run its course.\"
johnboyjjb
Active member
I had no idea that a vet would actually put down rats or other small creatures. I\'m going to start loving my Tortoise Nova more. He is currently expected to outlive me. On the other hand, Martin, one of my other cats, breaks my heart just when he sneaks out for a day or two being a strictly indoor cat. I will be devestated when he goes.
Don\'t let Peter Pan see this thread.
Don\'t let Peter Pan see this thread.
I truly feel for you but, in the end you really did the best thing. She was in agonizing pain and you did her a great favor in helping her. I think your wife did Porsche a great disservice by banning a sick animal outside without first allowing you to find out the exact problem. Nothing against your wife, but a pet is a lot different than a wild, rabid rodent.
The sad thing is: if it had been a human being, we would not have been permitted to perform the same sacrifice to ease their suffering.
The sad thing is: if it had been a human being, we would not have been permitted to perform the same sacrifice to ease their suffering.
Wren
Member
Unfortunately, I think it depends on the vet. I had a dwarf hamster a few years back. She startled me with a bite while I was holding her, and I dropped her. I could tell she was breathing, but not conscious. Mortified with guilt, I carefully packed her in a small cardboard box and walked as quickly as possible to the nearest vet. I didn\'t have a regular vet at the time, this was just the nearest sign I recalled seeing.
When I got there, I started to open the box to show the receptionist/assistant/whoever\'s out in the front there the situation, and she freaked out, because she thought I had a bird that was going to fly all over the place, which had happened with a recent client. When I explained the patient was a hamster, she said \'we don\'t do rodents\' in a very snotty voice, and we had no other option but to leave. Luckily Buddha recovered consciousness on the walk home.
On the other hand, my parents had a vet who went above and beyond the call of duty with their rabbit, who had a chronic condition that required regular operations. He did a lot of research and was very kind and professional with them.
I guess the best thing for owners of pets other than cats and dogs to do is phone around and find out which vets in the area treat other animals and keep that info on hand in event of emergency.
When I got there, I started to open the box to show the receptionist/assistant/whoever\'s out in the front there the situation, and she freaked out, because she thought I had a bird that was going to fly all over the place, which had happened with a recent client. When I explained the patient was a hamster, she said \'we don\'t do rodents\' in a very snotty voice, and we had no other option but to leave. Luckily Buddha recovered consciousness on the walk home.
On the other hand, my parents had a vet who went above and beyond the call of duty with their rabbit, who had a chronic condition that required regular operations. He did a lot of research and was very kind and professional with them.
I guess the best thing for owners of pets other than cats and dogs to do is phone around and find out which vets in the area treat other animals and keep that info on hand in event of emergency.
U
U4-Welcome
Guest
I just think it\'s because they\'re entirely devoid of any malice. Quite refreshing after a day spent in the company of other human beings... :bouncy:
Finn, as resident master of hidden thoughts, would you happen to know why humans have pets ? I can\'t remember if you\'re a psychologist or a psychiatrist, and even if I could I wouldn\'t know the difference since I always mix them up, but maybe you have some knowledge we don\'t ?
God that\'s tough...
Also, we came to love the animals we used. Some of our ancestors would have starved without dogs.... You can still see the demographics of this today where Northern races recoil in horror at cultures where dogs are eaten.???
Main reason IMO? We\'ve been human for a million years or so...we\'ve lived in big towns/cities etc for a few hundred years. Pets remind us of our past when we lived more closely with animals...???
That\'s my best guess
Basically I don\'t know. Because everyone keeps animals for a different reason. I tend to support the neuroarchaeology theory that says we hunted animals, then we bred animals, then it became a sign of success to have animals that you did not have to kill. Several thousand years ago that would have been a status symbol.
Also, we came to love the animals we used. Some of our ancestors would have starved without dogs.... You can still see the demographics of this today where Northern races recoil in horror at cultures where dogs are eaten.???
Main reason IMO? We\'ve been human for a million years or so...we\'ve lived in big towns/cities etc for a few hundred years. Pets remind us of our past when we lived more closely with animals...???
That\'s my best guess
