I think it's a blessing that we're able to help our pets out of this world, and over The Bridge. It's (and it always will be) a tough thing to do, but if an animals time is near, I feel honored to help them get there. My border collie, a rescue found with 6 female pups next to the commuter tracks, developed vestibular disease, and multiple other problems in her elder years. My back was out, so the day she had to be put down, my husband had to take her in, and I felt so awful I couldn't move to be there with her. Her runt of the litter passed away with a single whimper on her bed next to the couch. Took me by surprise, but Booties went so fast! I was on the couch watching TV and thought she was having a dream...but she had passed away within seconds. And Max our coon hound mix went much the same, although he made it to the vets beforehand. Vet drew blood, took a urinalysis, and went into the back room to run the test, and Max laid down and just died. No suffering, no warning, even went for his usual run with the pack in the woods earlier. I think making an animal suffer for human's unwilling to give in to the facts of death, is far more selfish. I went through it (as a child) watching my families cats die one by one of FeLV and made a resolution to never let an animal wither away and die. At my age, I've helped many a critter over to The Bridge as it's the humane thing to do.