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In reply to the discussion: Pets are 'scared' and look around for their owners in dying moments. [View all]Moostache
(9,895 posts)People are going to think I have lost my mind in here...literally crying uncontrollably.
I just re-lived every passing of pets we have held dear in our family over the last 25 years...
2 cats that had to be put down (agonizing decisions - one happened at home and I was there, one happened at Vet's office when it became obvious nothing more could be done, but I was at home with the younger children who were asleep - and that was a mistake),
3 cats that simply died of natural causes - 2 had apparent heart attacks and were found deceased, 1 died of old age at 19 years old, when we were going to take him to the vet the next day - he died in his bed with our children holding vigil and petting him with me through the last moments...but this was the hardest of them all because we had him for his entire life from kitten to the very end.
It also made me face the inevitable loss of our now 10-year, 65-lb. old dog (who is really starting to have mobility issues with hips and age). We think she may have another year or maybe even two if we're lucky, but a bad winter or a fall might change that in a heartbeat.
For us, our animals are extended parts of the family, and losing any of them leaves a void and a pain as real as if it had been any one of us. I won't pass judgment on anyone's decisions or choices in dealing with life and death, but I will say I can finally open the door again after taking a few minutes to focus on happier memories from each of the lost.