Do people put down their dogs anymore like taking them to the field and shooting them or is that a practice from generations past? Just wondering, seems like evryone i know takes their dog to the vet when its time.
Yeah Man, I dont think that happens much anymore.
I’m 62, I think sometime in the early 1970’s my Uncle put a favorite Bird Dog down, that was older and crippled up. One more time out to where they hunted and lights out and a decent burial.
Don’t think he was an Ogre or something he loved Bird hunting and he loved those Dogs, he might have had four at one time, German short haired, great dogs.
He was a guide well in to his mid 80’s and I believe he died of a heart attack on his buck boat.
Served on the Saratoga in WWII and was an Eagle Scout.
It must have been heartbreaking for him to put down his dog but doesnt it feel like the right thing for a man to do for his best bud?
I took my ex wifes dog in to the vet to be put down and maybe im projecting but it seems like he was very fearful and knew somethjng was up.
Yeah I held one of mine while she faded out, it was tough to do, the next one was in such bad shape I couldnt do it for her.
Yeah, he was a stoic old Guy,
I remember my Dad was working in Japan and when he came back Hitachi sent a rep to work here with my Dad. My Uncle came over to discuss something about the Mason’s Londge with my Dad, but he wouldn’t come in the House as long as the Japanese guy was there. A lot of real hate still left there for the Kamakazi’s
That’s f’ed up. It’s not how you treat your buddy, you don’t want to remember them like that. Just because you have guns doesn’t mean you use them for everything. Given the options that exist today there are few reasons to do it any other way.
For me the way I see it is my job is one of good days and bad days. I need to make sure my buddy gets all the good days he has left in him without making him endure too many bad days. When my dogs have trouble walking, going to the bathroom in the yard and no longer care about the rabbits and the squirrels it’s time. But if they are still sitting in the yard watching the rabbits and the squirrels, it may not be time yet.
I wouldn’t do that to any of my dogs unless it was an emergency and they were clearly suffering. If somehow they were hit by a car, I would do it to end their pain. Otherwise it to the vet. I’ve brought them in with their favorite blankets or beds and laid on the floor petting them as they quietly drift of to sleep. I don’t like to see animals suffer. I’ve pulled over along the road to put down injured deer. I don’t care what any cop or game warden would say about it.
It’s a responsibility not to let your pets suffer though. Was watching some lady that has a homesteading blog discuss this subject recently. A hawk had gotten one of her pet chickens (emphasis on “pet”) and mangled it up pretty good. So it was the responsible thing for her to put the pet chicken out of its misery. I believe her whole point was if you’re not up to doing the deed maybe homesteading Isn’t right for you.
I’ve got a Vet a half mile up the road so that’s where I take them, but what if you’re out in the sticks.
100% good with all of that.
Even understand that back in the 1960s people had limited options compared to today so I get why some folks might take their dog hunting one last time way back then. Today, there is almost no reason to do it except for extreme or emergency situations. I have also known too many dipshits who don’t understand basic humanity.
Worst one I’ve ever seen was a guy who shot his own black lab on purpose because it kept flushing pheasants early rather than stop and point them. He thought he was some kind of dog trainer and expert hunter.
We’re mostly cats here, but I’ve always taken them to the vet and held them while the injection is administered. They pass quickly. Will have to go through this again soon. My little buddy has Lymphoma. Was really aggressive and spread quick but he has responded to meds really well. As long as he’s happy and not suffering, we’ll have fun. As soon as I see him struggling, we’re done. I’ve waited too long in the past and learned my lesson. Good intentions gone wrong.
I knew a woman in Alaska, dainty little blond, who took her dog out for a last picnic then put a 22 round in it’s head.
Spawned the term locally of the “Norwegian Picnic”.
When it was time to put our first dog down I took her to town for a cheese burger, she ate everything but the pickles.
When it was time to go to the vet later she was happy to get in the truck.
I’ve done it. In one case the poor girl took a turn for the worse over a holiday weekend. I won’t go into detail, but I petted her and loved on her until the end. I’m confident she didn’t feel a thing. Painful for me though, emotionally.
Putting down at the vet is smooth and easy, but it’s still you “pulling the trigger” so to speak. If the wait or the trip to the vet means more pain for the animal then I think it is acceptable to “DIY”. So long as you make sure to do it right.
I’m a country boy, and a ways from town on the best day. Still I usually go to the vet to euthanize a pet.
We’re fortunate enough to have a service that comes to the house. I’ve lost 3 dogs and a cat in the last few years, some were tragic. I prefer to have an in home service when it’s time. The tricky part is knowing when it’s time and not waiting too long, leading to tragedy.
Yeah but a big rock or a pointy stick is messy. I figured a gun would be used as it is painless.
I’ve shot a couple. One that attacked my daughter and I have no regrets. The dog knew it had F’d up and went willingly with me to the grave I dug for it. I put down the neighbors aging dog that was on it’s last legs when it got hit by a car. Taking it to the vet an hour away was just going to make it suffer more. Otherwise, I’ve taken two dogs to the vet to be put down and that’s the way I would roll if I ever get another dog again.
I had a fire chief when I was still a FF that had a team of sled dogs (Alaska) and he took care of aging animals himself. He told us he’d throw down a Snickers bar and let them chew on it for a second while he did the deed. Every once in a while, at training, a Snickers bar would land at your feet and you knew you’d f’d up. He had a twisted sense of humor that I really enjoyed.
When I was a Trooper I had to shoot a lot of injured animals, mostly deer and all hit by cars and I really grew to resent it. (DOT put up a fence in one area of frequent car-deer crashes after I retired). I don’t even hunt (nothing against ethical hunters, it’s just not for me).
I’m a terrier guy and I’ve never been able to put one down. I lost a couple to coyotes and the rest nursed until they passed. The last was eighteen months ago, a Rat Terrier rescue that had been terribly neglected and abused until we adopted him. I miss that little guy every day and it’s just too soon to adopt another. (If they were in obvious pain I guess I’d have to reconsider but to date that has not been the case.)
Take them to the vet and be there with them. My first Rottie I didn’t stay in the room. They came and told me it was over and asked if I wanted to go in. I went and Xavier opened his eyes and tried lifting his head as if he was looking for me. After that I had read how you should be there with them as they do look for their family in the last moments.
We put down our own dogs on the ranch, my family there still does. It’s not like you pull out a gun and start blasting the pet one day. A slow walk down to the creek, sit in the shade and and some point, the coup de grace.
Why stress the dog with a visit to the vet, etc. Let them pass in familiar settings.
All that being said, the vet puts my and my wife’s dogs down. City life…
Andy
P.S. Now we are going to have a thread on whether M855 or M193 is better for putting your pet down…
I put our dog down myself two years ago. Took her to the family cabin, let her play until she got tired, dug a grave, put a hot dog in it, and did the deed as she was eating it. She never saw it coming.
It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done and I sobbed uncontrollably. I am glad I did it myself, but it still haunts me a little bit.
I would not recommend it to just anybody.
These days they sedate your dog with you in the room and you take as much time as necessary with them. In Florida I used to have them come out to the house to take care of final arrangements so my dogs would be in a familiar setting.