Would You Allow A Nine Year Old Attend?

[chrissa1]

Very sadly I am going to have to come to the decision to have Toby, put to sleep.

He is loved dearly by my granddaughters, especially my nine year old, so it’s gong to be very hard.

If she asks to be there, would you allow it or say, no?

[Sqad]

chrissa......horselady should have done.......what horselady decided to do.
"Closure" is a term that i find difficult to get to terms with.......it means that a method has been employed that reduces to period of morning. At least i think that's what it means........
horeslady in choosing to remove the kids from the scene, was in my opinion quite correct. If it were me..........I would not have been present at the "deed."
That is just me.

[albaqwerty]

10C, we know your thoughts about dogs, do you have no compassion for human beings tho?

[NoMercy]

Clarion, that's a despicable thing to say.

[jno]

not a dog owner, but I agree with Clarion: It's one thing, perhaps a valuable one, to come to terms with death; but killing? I'm not sure I'd tell a child "Time for him to be put to sleep" (even when using a euphemism).

[chrissa1]

So should I lie to her when she asks where Toby has gone?

“Sorry darling, he died last night and you didn’t have time to say goodbye and tell him you love him.”

I’m not necessarily saying she should be there, just asking people’s opinion.

We don’t, “kill” dogs. We take away a life that has become distressing and unhappy for the dog.

[Voltage]

if it was me personally i'd sit my grandaughter down with her parents talk about it then let her decide what she would like to do sorry about toby xx

[albaqwerty]

when we had to have a cat 'put down' we explained as best as we hoped that the cat wouldn't be coming back home as the vet couldn't make him better.
He cried, (younger brother was in ignorant bliss), we did as best as we could as parents in comforting him.

Fast forward to the younger brother being 20, (a few years back) we had to have pooch 'put down', suffered a massive stroke, himself carried pooch to car, and then into surgery where the deed was done.

I think the time comes when a pet knows and wants to be released from their anguish, but that's just my opinion.

[woofgang]

I agree with Jno...."put to sleep" is not a helpful phrase and can have repercussions if, say, the child or a relative needs a general anaesthetic or sedation at some future time!

[B00]

I'm going to say no too.

Not sure how your dog reacts when people are upset around him, but mine reacts horribly to it. Shaking and seeking comfort etc. If your dog's the same then don't let your grandaughter's obvious distress upset him further at that time.

Let him go as calmly and peacefully as possible, then gently explain it to your grandchildren.

[murraymints]

I would tell her that Toby was very poorly and was not going to get better , that he was going to the vets so he would not have to suffer any more and would be going to doggy heaven where he would get better again... but that meant he would not be coming back... give her the chance to say goodbye and have a cuddle....

[jourdain2]

My 16 yr-old, dear, gentle lab. (whom I still mourn) had eventually to be put to sleep to save her from further suffering from cancer. Both daughters grew up with her, had slept with her, shared biscuits even. Eldest daughter was 12. They came in the car with us to the vets, helped the dog out and petted her, but I did not let them come into the vet's with us. The dear animal had had enough, you can tell, and went peacefully with us. So long ago, why am I crying now?

[sherrardk]

I wouldn't let my nine year olds be present. They're not mushy kids and would accept it as a fact but the option to be present wouldn't be an option.

[douglas9401]

I wonder how parents explain to their children that their pal has come to the end of a long, happy life and they'll always have memories but he's old and a lot of pain and general discomfort so it's time for him to be released with the help of a caring doctor but a terminally ill relative just has to go on suffering.

[albaqwerty]

J, we all have a darned good sob every so often for our beloved pets. It's what makes us human, x

[tamborine]

NO! At 11y I screamed down the village when my stray pet mange dog was shot by cops. Smashed windows, ripped up plants and bricked cars then ran away from home.