Hard thing to do

[aly]

Well, the board of directors at my work put me on a committee without telling me first :eek: It is going to be soooooo hard for me to do this. Its called the Rainbow Committee and we make decisions regarding euthanasia. Thank goodness it is not needed very often since we are no-kill, but there are instances :(

At first I wanted to say no way. But I think I need to face reality and accept some things I do not want to accept. And the first decision may have to be made about an animal very close to my heart :(

[lbaker]

oh Aly, I was so hoping that when we next saw a posting from you it would be nothing but good..... you have been on my mind a lot these days. sometimes helping a dear 4legger friend to the bridge is the kindest yet hardest thing we ever have to do. i've had to do it myself a few times and it never gets easier. but there are sometimes i think we should be so kind and caring to some humans that are in pain and have no hope. sometimes we are kinder to our animal friends than we are allowed to be to our human friends and families take care and be strong

Laurie

[Karen]

You can do it, I know you can. Deep down inside you will know that it really is time to end an animal's suffering. It is hard, but often the kindest possible thing to do, and knowing you have an incredibly kind and generous heart, it will be hard but we will all be with you in spirit when you have to make those decisions.

[shais_mom]

Thoughts will be with you Aly, I can't think of anyone that would do a better job. You will know if it is time for the animal.

[ramanth]

*hugs*

You can do it Aly. You're one of the strongest people I know.

[anna_66]

Aly,
I commend you on being such a stong person. I don't know if I could ever do that.

[sasvermont]

I can't think of anything any more humane than putting a suffering animal out of its misery.

It is such an important event - and a real heart breaker as well. I cannot stand to see an animal suffer. An injection/or gas is so very final, but it also stops the pain.

I would have a hard time putting a perfectly healthy animal down. That is where I could not participate. Since you will probably be dealing with the sick and old animals, it should be angel like and yet still difficult, but necessary.

You certainly can feel comfortable sharing the discomfort, if you have it, with us.

Here's to Aly, the Angel to escort some of our furriest friends to the Rainbow Bridge.

You can do it Angel Aly.

[Twisterdog]

Our local shelter is facing this decision right now with two of our dogs. They are neither old nor ill, but have bitten or attempted to bite several people. It IS very difficult.

We, too, are a no-kill shelter. However, we have had to euthanize two dogs over the past two years, one for aggression and one for illness. Both times we questioned and questioned ourselves, "Can we do more?" Sometimes, sadly, the answer is simply, "No, we cannot."

Never easy decisions. But often right and necessary ones.

[aly]

Thanks for your support everyone :) I am happy to know that I have a place I can come to if I am ever haunted by one of these decisions. You guys always make me feel better :)

http://www.plauder-smilies.com/happy/xyxthumbs.gif http://www.plauder-smilies.com/kiss.gif

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

Aly,

I know that being on that committee is a very difficult thing for you. But in this case, you help end the suffering of these animals. I know that it is easier said than done.

If you are not comfortable with it, could you not speak with your supervisor and ask to have someone else replace you on the committee?

[jackiesdaisy1935]

Aly, that is probably one of the toughest things you will ever have to do, but sometimes, is it not more kind to put an animal out of it's misery, out of terrible pain, when the quality of life is not there any more and there is no hope of it ever being there. It takes a strong person to make those decisions and I'm sure you will look at it as a kindness in the end to give the poor animal some relief from all of that.
Jackie, Miss Daisy and Perry