Putting a family pet down

[Mega160]

My brother is coming up for the weekend to hangout with me and my wife... He is bringing our beloved rotty Kano. Kano has terminal cancer and poor ole boy is in alot of pain. My brother is against having a vet do it and asked me to do him the favor. Im not looking forward to this at all, as he has been in the family since he was a few weeks old, but would rather myself then him as he is a terrible shot, and dont want to risk an ill place round.

I have a 22' at my disposal and think a well placed shot on the brain stem should put him down cold before he hits the ground... But im a bit apprehensive as ive heard people surviving pretty close range shots to the head with a 22' and dont want him to suffer. Also, is there any legal issues in me putting him down myself( ie. trouble with law enforcement) Any input or alternate method is greatly appreciated.

Danny

[PSM]

Originally Posted by Mega160

My brother is coming up for the weekend to hangout with me and my wife... He is bringing our beloved rotty Kano. Kano has terminal cancer and poor ole boy is in alot of pain. My brother is against having a vet do it and asked me to do him the favor. Im not looking forward to this at all, as he has been in the family since he was a few weeks old, but would rather myself then him as he is a terrible shot, and dont want to risk an ill place round.

I have a 22' at my disposal and think a well placed shot on the brain stem should put him down cold before he hits the ground... But im a bit apprehensive as ive heard people surviving pretty close range shots to the head with a 22' and dont want him to suffer. Also, is there any legal issues in me putting him down myself( ie. trouble with law enforcement) Any input or alternate method is greatly appreciated.

Danny

Some vets make house calls for this. Livestock vets pretty much always make house calls.

Pat

[Sdiver]

Two words ... Old Yeller.

I would most definitely have a vet do it.

AlElks ... you sir have a rock hard constitution. I tip my cap to you Sir. I could never do that to a family member such as a pet.

[WarriorDiplomat]

Like everyone else is saying the Vet is the best way, the animal just peacefully goes to sleep and it is a good memory in comparison to the way I was raised.

My last dog I had to put down was my Sheltie, she was an awesome working dog and a great companion. I was deployed and my wife had told me that she was laying in her own urine and feces we decided that we would send her out peacefully. She had been senile for a few years and just sort of confused generally the last few years. She was only 13 which is young for a well maintained Sheltie. She took her to the Vet and the Vet gave her the shot and she went to sleep peacefully and the Vet cut some of her hair for my wife as a keepsake.

[Habu-MFFI 175]

"Done it both ways, with and without a vet. Last time I took my black lab "Tess" to the vet. She gave her a shot to relax her, that shot set her free, so was so bad off. Then she still gave her the other shot a little later to make sure.

Its hard either way, especially when they have been a part of the family for so long.

Yesterday when I was headed to the store, my copilot was my granddaughter, she said " Papaw, remember when Tess would ride in the back seat with us in the truck?" I told her yes, and that was about a year ago when we put her down.

She is buried on our land that she roamed and guarded for so long.

[Golf1echo]

I sure miss our Rotty, what a beautiful loving breed. They can be very stoic and our love for her clouded my perception, I wanted my daughter to see her one last time. Things went quick, just as the vet was on her way to the house she died in front of both of us...

Don't do that, I count it as one of the worst experiences and mistakes of my life. She is in our hearts and buried in the rich black top soil at the home place up in those Western Mountains...

[BigJimCalhoun]

Several years back our Shih-Tzu broke his back, or something close to it. It was wailing in a way I never heard it yell prior.

I brought it to the 24 hour emergency vet next town over and the procedure took about a second once they injected the shot. They were going to make a plaster of Paris paw print for us, but I never followed-up about it.

[Barbarian]

I had to put my shepherd down a few years ago. I don't know about having the vet do it, but if you put your own pet down, it will be a weight that you carry with you from then on.

Looking back, I don't know that I could trust someone else to do such a personal thing.

[Snaquebite]

Went in her sleep two days ago....It was a great run of almost 14 years. I rescued her almost 14 years ago after being abandoned and on her death bed. She survived heartworm treatment (twice). Nothing but pure unadulterated love and trust. Shady, you will be missed girl.
shady.jpg

[mojaveman]

Originally Posted by Brush Okie

Take him to a vet. Have the vet do it or if you have to DIY they have a kit you can take home that you give them a shot and they go away.

Probably the best way.

[Pete]

The Vet is the way to go.

The wife has held every one and cried as they went to sleep.

[DIYPatriot]

Go the vet route and let your pet exit this life in peace. You'll be glad you did. You'll also be thankful that you do not have the memory of having to do it the hard way.

[PRB]

Take him to the vet....I've done that once to a horse, damn fine but sick horse, once.
Easier to shoot a person that needs it.

[Mega160]

Thanks for the input fellas .. I will call my brother tonight and talk to him. I didnt know about the house calls, so i will call the local vet and ask. Thats probably why he didnt want to go that route... Ive never seen it done, but i imagined its done on some cold, steel gurney kind of thing at the hospital, and we wanted a chance to pet him up and feed him a nice steak and bananas before lights out.

[Team Sergeant]

Yeah, unless you and your brother want the last memory of the dog doing the "dying cockroach" then take him to the vet. I put one of mine down last year and he went very quietly.