I just recently had to put one of my three cats down; she was 19.5 years old...and just "ran out of gas".
At the vets, when told she was indeed dying, I told them I wanted to be in the room when they gave her the injection. My spouse, however, exited the room saying she "couldn't stand to watch"... (kind of lets me know where I'll be and who I'll be with (or without as the case may be) at that ultimate final moment!!).
As the injection went home, I was able to whisper into her ear words she'd heard her entire life with me (us?)...and I think that made things much easier on her.
Dittos to that. My wife and I have lost 3 dogs and two cats through the years, we we were present every time they were put down, petting and kissing each one, telling them how good they were, etc and crying buckets. We had a particularly tough one this past summer, as our little corgi Molly only lived to be five years old after a year long battle with lymphoma. I agree it has to be more comforting to the pet to have us there.
Pets are definitely something to thank God for.
Having to euthanize a pet is traumatic and I'm sorry for the loss of your companion.
Before you mentioned it, I was thinking that the list above is quite appropriate if it ever comes to the care of a relative or friend who is dying.
"In the end, only kindness matters."
What you said is true. My cat had cancer and was at the end of her line. After they gave the first injection I held her and talked to her and although the mass in her chest was pressing in on her lungs she purred at me. I was with her until she was beyond knowing.
Yes, #10 absolutely.
Don’t be mad at your wife, she will never have the memory of that moment that you hold. I suspect for anyone who abandons a pet at that point, the memory will be a reproach. Momentary weakness can have a high cost.
When I had to put down the finest hound-dog in the entire universe, that final moment was easy— far easier than what I’d anticipated. I held her tight and promised to take her home. I did, and buried her in the back. My wife and my son were with her too.
Looking back the whole thing— the trip to the vet and back, digging the hole and putting her in it and covering her up— was one of the easiest and most natural things I’ve ever done. Worrying about it before was hard, doing the office was easy. Later it got difficult, but what a comfort to know you’ve done all you could to return the love given to you.