My first response was...be there of course.

But then I remembered two cats I once owned. The first was ours for only a couple weeks and was full of some funky cat disease. We got it at the shelter and they asked us to return it (they "recalled" several cats). We did, and never saw it again. I imagine they killed it, I don't know. I had a baby in the house so didn't want a sick cat around and my husband got it, took the call, and returned it.

The second cat we had for a year. My oldest loved her dearly. But, she had a malformed ear canal. Bacteria grew in it, we did drops and pills every single day for an entire year. She would sling her head trying to dislodge the bacteria and wads of puss and blood flew out of her ear on the walls, the floors, everywhere.

I cleaned it up and was determined to keep her by letting her roam the finished basement when I wasn't in the house. Then one day when my youngest started crawling, she was cleaning herself and shook her head, he found some bloody puss in the floor and almost had it to his mouth when I caught it.

We took her to the shelter. My oldest cried so hard. But they probably killed her too. They only kept cats for about 7 days and then put them down. I couldn't get anyone to take her.

So, while I think the right thing to do is be there....I can't be a hypocrite about it. I don't know if those cats died, but they were kill shelters so I imagine they probably did.

I like pets, but I think they should enhance life, not make it a constant chore.

My husband assures me I just haven't found the right pet.

I assure him I have all the "pets" I need.

Reply By: Tova7Posted: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 My first response was...be there of course.

sounds unusual experences tova, the right one will come along. For all the pain I had on Ol timers death I would not trade one day of the 23 plus years I had him.

Last febuary I had to put down my daughtson who was going on 16 years old. Her health decline was a gradual thing, and I tried to prepare myself. Honestly though, no amount of prepration can totally prepare you for the reality of the end.

It was a difficult decision to make, putting her down. But then I looked at what she was going through, comepletely blind, losing weight fast, in so much pain, I had to get past my own selfishness, and do what was best for her. What she was telling me I had to do for her.

When the day came, I stayed with her, because she stayed with me with I moved out of my parents home. She chose to come with me, and she needed me to make the decision for her. I can't say it was a peaceful leaving. She didn't know what was going on, and cried when the vet gave her the shot. I had to hold her down. Once that was over though, she relaxed in my arms and I held her and kissed her, until she took her last breath.

A year has past, and I still cry when I think about that day. My other dog, a boston terrier, is going to have to  be put down. this time, its going so fast. Last month he was fine, and now his heart is enlarged, theres fluid build up, and he's in so much pain. The meds we have him on isn't working, and It's like its happening all over again. Still though, when the time comes, I'll stay with him, because it would be cruel of me not to. After all the years of joy, laughter, and comfort he's given me, the least I can do is be self-less and strong for his well being.

It's never an easy thing to decide. But over time it gets better when you know in your heart you've done right by your companion.

Fortunately, or unfortuneately (however you want to view it) a couple of hours after I wrote this, my Asher passed on his own with me and his other momma besides him.

I say fortunately, because he took the decision from us, and he is no longer suffering, and unfortuneately because it was still hard on both of us to see, and it doesn't seem real at all.