For parents who never experienced losing their dogs during childhood will find it difficult to comprehend their child’s grieving process. Sometimes parents unwittingly pass unpleasant remarks (and that I say it affectionately) to their grieving child in hopes of snapping her out of it. Not only is this method fruitless, but it has an adverse effect. You are actually telling your child that it is wrong to grieve for her best friend.

Here’s a telephone conversation I had with Mrs. Jones (name has been changed to protect her identity) many moons back, see if this scenario rings any bell to you.

Mrs. Jones: My darling girl, Megan, just lost her dog and now finds it very difficult to concentrate on her studies in school.

Renée: I’m sorry to hear that.

Mrs. Jones: She hardly eats even at home and is always silent and always crying…most of the time. She refuses to be comforted and is now getting irritable. Do you find this stupid of her?

Renée: I’m afraid to tell you that if you think this is stupid of her, then you’re not being fair.

Mrs. Jones: I bet your pardon? (Sounded a bit agitated herself)

Renée: Take it easy…let me explain. You see, you might think the dog was nothing more than an ordinary dog, right?

Mrs. Jones: Yes, but we all loved Maggie very much and treated her just like a part of the family. (Almost in an apologetic tone)

Renée: I understand, and with that I agree completely. But do you know what? To Megan, this dog had now grown much closer to her than an ordinary dog. The attachment she had given to this so called ‘ordinary dog’ is now much deeper than even that which humans have for themselves.

Mrs. Jones: Huh? Are you saying that Megan values the dog far more than she values us? (Sounded like she’s about to go into a fit)

Renée: Not quite so but along the line. You see, when you were not there with her, Maggie was her mother and father all rolled into one. When her friends were not there with her, Maggie was her friend and always stayed with her. And since Megan doesn’t have any siblings, Maggie acted as her brother and sister all rolled into one. When she was sad and depressed, Maggie was there with her.

Mrs. Jones: Hmmm… (Calm breathing)

Renée: So, you see…she’s grown to accept this dog as part of her. That’s why it’s so painful to her that Maggie has died. It’s just like losing a part of her. Now, doesn’t she have a genuine reason to be depressed?

Mrs. Jones: I never thought she’d regard Maggie in this manner. (Much calmer)

Renée: That being said, instead of being mad at Megan for losing concentration after the death of her dog, you should be sympathetic with her. This is the time when she needs your care and love, the most. It’s alright to feel lost in the beginning of not knowing how best to assist her grieving process. Once you’re aware of it, give her the love and support she needs.

Mrs. Jones: How do I go about it?

Renée: The first thing you need to do is to have a heart to heart talk with Megan. Explain to her that Maggie has ‘gone to Heaven’ where she’ll meet her someday. Let her be convinced that it’s neither her fault nor anyone’s fault that her companion has died. It’s probably Maggie best intention for her is to be happy and go on with her life. Even though the dog is physically gone, doesn’t mean Megan can no longer hold Maggie in her heart.

Mrs. Jones: Will getting a new dog help ease her grieving process better?

Renée: Right after the death of dog probably isn’t the best idea. Maggie has been gone for….

Mrs. Jones: A little over three weeks.

Renée: Sounds like a reasonable good time. After you have a heart to heart talk with Megan, ask her if she’d like to get another dog. It would be best to get one that looks like Maggie. Then explain to her that this new dog has been sent to her to help her get over the loss of the previous one. If you do this with genuine love and concern, she’ll understand and with time she’ll get over the loss of her dog.

Mrs. Jones: This does sound workable. I’ll give it a go. Thank you for your time.

Renée: You’re always welcome.

Staying mad at your child for grieving her lost dog is never an option. Empathize your child grieving process will help her handle the loss of her dog much better and far more effective.

Few weeks after that telephone conversation, Mrs. Jones called to say that the new dog has bonded very well with Megan after a few days of her arrival. When asked about the name of the new dog, Mrs. Jones said sheepishly, “Josey, it was Megan’s idea to name her after the dog I’d always wanted but never had when I was a child.”

For whatever the reason this topic has aroused such great interest among dog owners, I pray it is for legitimate/humane cause. Unfortunately, upon further scrutiny I found some searches (lower double digit range) very alarming. I won’t go into details of the exact phrase they searched for as I couldn’t make myself writing them.

Dog Euthanization is NOT an Alternative to Abandonment.

Being a responsible dog owner necessitates a great deal of commitment. Though it doesn’t require intensive care and supervision as compare to raising children nonetheless all living creatures have their respective rights for living whether they articulate it or not.

Living in an advance society with multiple roles to fill, we inescapably get caught up with unexpected life challenges that require us to relocate and readjust our lifestyle. And when decision is drawn, usually dogs are not made to accommodate into the plan, sad but true. Sensible dog owners will do their best to rehome their dogs. Usually their first choice would be someone they know otherwise they could bring them to shelters. And if there are no vacancies available in shelters, the last resort is to bring the dog to local SPCA. They will treat your dog humanely, but there is no guarantee he can be rehomed. Therefore the chances to exercise euthanasia are very possible because there are thousands of unwanted animals received daily with no place to house more than a fraction.

While there may be a small fraction (my guessitmate) that some owners just got tired of the responsibilities or no longer love their dog (maybe the dog isn’t as cute as he was a puppy), they decided to take the above route. Then there are some just take things into their own hands by overdosing Phenobarbital.

Phenobarbital is commonly used on dogs and cats for treating seizure suppression. It is effective, safe if used responsibly, and is one of the least expensive medications in all of veterinary practice.

It is not for me to condone or condemn this doing but it would not be advisable for lay people to administer Phenobarbital to their dog be it in crucial or healthy condition. Consider these,

• Do you know how to locate the vein?
• Can you handle the syringe with steady hand?
• Do you know the amount of milligram to administer?

Please leave it in the hands of the vets. If the dog is already suffering a great deal of distress due to illness, the least you could do is to let him have his “comfort” way of leaving.

Dogs like all pets, must be obtained with forethought so that they will be loved all their lives; and if circumstances later make keeping the dog impossible, owners should do all in their power to find it another good home before resorting to dog euthanization.

Dogs are living things. Please do not toy with their lives.

Euthanization is, very simply, an overdose of an anesthetic. Because of the drug used (Phenobarbital), it is typically painless for the dog. The Phenobarbital is administered using a small needle and directly through the vein. The dog will lose consciousness (go to sleep as it is often referred) within a few seconds. There is hardly ever any sign of struggle in your dog after the euthanasia is administered. After about 10 seconds, he would gradually fall into a silent state, his heart stops and her brain’s activity ceases, until his losses his breath and goes limp.

One of the more painful aspects of euthanasia for the owner is the fact that the electrical activity in the body can continue for several minutes after death. Legs and some facial nerves can twitch while the body triggers the lungs to take a reflexive gasp. After ten minutes, this activity should stop. This is not the usual case scenario but it does happen to some dogs.

It doesn’t matter how often I’d gone through euthanization process, whether it was a short or long time span from one dog to the other, is never an experience I can get used to.

Indeed it is a very painful experience; however you’ve to try to keep really calm and collect while the vet administers the euthanasia. It would be best if you could hold or carry your dog very close to your chest. This will eliminate some stress while he “anticipates the outcome” (dogs are great sensors). And by staying collect, you’re sending him a comforting message that it is alright to go to his new master home – heaven.

What Happens After Euthanization?

If you really feel a lot of love for your dog and want it to be decently buried after the euthanasia, then make sure you don’t leave him with the veterinarian after the process is done. Some of these veterinarian doctors actually use these dogs for experiments after the euthanasia.

I strongly urge that you take your dog along with you for burial or cremation. Not all veterinarian clinics have cremation services within their premises, especially those smaller ones they usually subcontract out this service. And if you happen to be in veterinarian clinic with this facility, make sure you proceed straight to the administrative counter and arrange for either mass cremation or individual one. Whichever one you choose, there will be a special day for it, and you’ve the option to choose to participate in that “ceremony.”

This is never a decision you should make on your own. The first person you consult should be your veterinarian, who can let you know the pros and cons behind euthanization, pain management through medication, and any other options he may see as suitable for your dog. Beyond that, you have some deep thinking of your own.

You’ll find a list of questions below that may help you make a more rational decision. If you have other family members, they should be involved in the decision-making process. In addition to being fair, this can help them better cope with the death of their dog later.

Questions to Ask in Case of Severe Illness or Injury

• Does the same illness keep recurring?
• Has your dog’s illness gotten progressively worse?
• Does your dog’s illness still respond to therapy or medication?
• Is your dog suffering too much in its present condition?
• Does the vet have a way of relieving the suffering besides euthanasia?
• If so, ensure that your dogs get the best attention from your vet while it is still alive?
• If your dog survives its illness or injury, can you provide the time necessary to care for your dog?
• Will caring for your dog cripple your family financially?

Use each of these questions as a means of opening discussion with your family members. Talk openly about the illness or injury and what would be best for both your dog and your family. While you may want nothing more than to have your dog back in your home, his comfort should be your top priority.

If keeping him alive means that he’ll remain in pain for the rest of his life, you may decide that it will hurt you more to see him suffer so much over time. If you believe your dog has a decent chance at recovery but his medical bills will place you in a great deal of debt, consider the tension and stress financial issues can cause between family members. Your dog can sense this tension and take it on as his own, which means his health may ultimately suffer because you fought to keep him alive.