We present here what pet parents should know when the last days of their beloved pet come.

 

We are writing about our painful experience to share with everyone.  My goal is to make every pet parent aware of our story of our beloved Nini.  We were fortunate to be together with Nini for twenty and a half years in all happiness.  These years that we shared with Nini were the best years of our lives, and he became a big part of our lives, and I am sure many people feel the same way for their pet.

 

Nini was a healthy puppy and through the years he remained healthy, but for the last 2 years of his life, he slowed down significantly, as we do when we get old. Yet he remained in relatively good shape, going for walks and enjoying his time out, especially on the weekends.

 

We are sure many of you know Nini and saw how cute and loving he was.

 

The last week before *it* happened, he felt sick and not have an appetite. We thought he had a cold... But obviously were we mistaken...

 

Soon on one evening we had to rush Nini to the ER to one of the well known hospitals in Santa Clara county, because they would be able to help him. But on that night we learned he had kidney failure.  We were shocked to hear the news... Anything else would look really good... We took him home that night... and the next day we went back to the hospital to give him the kidney treatment. Many people asked us why we did not bring him to his regular vet.  Unfortunately his vet retired many years before, and we did not have one for him.  He was very fearful of vets, and we did not want to stress him with vets.  This was a big mistake.

 

We should have had a regular vet that knows Nini well and knows us well too, because it is a relationship and more than just a job...

 

Then we took him again to the hospital for another treatment.... On Monday we went to have a blood test for him and see the result.  That was the only purpose for the visit.  Surprisingly they insisted on our seeing a doctor to get the blood test. We did not mind at all.  However we were not prepared... The doctor shocked me and starting saying that Nini should go because he is suffering (but he was not suffering).  She started talking about euthanasia in this time when my mind stopped working, for I was under shock and under much stress... Again I was just going for a blood test and we were not prepared for that.  I do not know how I agreed to *that*.... In that moment I lost my mind, and I was under shock.  The second factor is that the doctor came with her assistant. She put our beautiful Nini on the table... She started the injections - only one injection. All this was happening when we were standing and watching.  She did not ask to see if we wanted to spend more time with Nini to say a proper good-bye. Further, she did not even ask if we wanted to hold him.  Thus she was a good vet, but failed to be considerate to see how it would feel for us or for Nini.

 

The painful image that I will never erase from my mind is that I brought our beautiful Nini alive for treatment and brought him back home dead... I never thought it would happen that way. They did it heartlessly in front of my eyes despite the many years we had with our beautiful Nini...

 

I am sharing our sad story and have the courage, because I do not want anyone to go through what I had. That is why we started this awareness website.  We are asking you to spread this message, that we have every right to spend time to say a proper good-bye . We also have options for the last day of our beloved pets who became like our children.  Please help to let everyone know what they should know before this day comes, and how to prepare for it, because we have every right to do so. So let's do this together!

 

Here are some things that you need to be aware of when the day comes:

 

💠 Take more than one opinion. You must be convinced of the vet's decision, because you know your pet better.

 

💠 If the decision is to euthanize your beloved one, give yourself time to prepare.

 

💠 Spend time with your beloved. Go to their favorite places. Give them their favorite treats. Spend special time with them, keeping them comfortable, warm, and away from noise so that you can spend much time with them.

 

💠 Make sure that everything that is going to happen during the euthanasia is explained to you, and be aware that you can have the option to have it done at home by some organizations.

 

💠 Whatever you decide, be there with your pets during this time. Don't leave them to face it alone.

 

I do not want anyone to have regrets. It is a big decision, and you have to make sure that everything goes the way you want, and not your vet. It is your beloved pet that shared his/her years with you, and you have every right to do so.

 

My only mission is to make anyone aware of this difficult day.  Without you, I can not do it on my own. I need you to spread the word to make sure that anyone who will face that day will be aware.

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Here are some ideas to consider after we loose our beloved one:

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When one loses his or her beloved pet, one might not think right, especially if one is close.

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Here are some tips to consider:

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💠 Organize a memorial for your pet. Gathering with friends, you can also do a funeral to help say a proper goodbye to your beloved pet.

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💠 Don’t rush to throw his or her things out. You might regret it later. Perhaps later you can donate it if you wish.

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💠 Don’t rush to get another pet so soon, it might be not what you really want.  If you sure, we encourage you to do so.  Similarly for fostering pets: It sounds nice, but you might get attached and it might become a problem. 

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💠 TAKE ALL THE TIME YOU NEED. Losing a pet is unbearable.

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For the one who already had lost his or her pet, consider these tips:

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💠 Keep their memories alive. For example, you can make a donation to S.P.C.A. in honor of your beloved pet.

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💠 In the end, no one has the right to judge how we grieve for our pet who had become a big part of our family.

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Our deepest sympathy and thoughts for all the ones who lost their beloved pets.