The Pain of Facing Euthanasia - Steps to Prepare
By: Kevin Marcy
Choosing to euthanize a beloved pet can be one of the most heart wrenching decisions a family can make. Most pet owners consider their pet as part of the family. Because their love for their pet is strong, quite often the decision to euthanize a pet is put off for days, weeks or months; even if it makes the most medical sense for the pet’s well being and comfort.
Dr. Alan Wolfelt, author, educator, nationally known grief counselor, and pet lover, says, “If someone makes the decision to euthanize their pet they need to trust their decision and believe they have made the right choice”. Together you and your veterinarian should sit down and decide what is best for your pet.
Once you have made this tough decision, I recommend several steps to assist you and your pet to prepare for this day.
Step 1: You and your family should spend as much time as possible with your furry child. Together visit some of the places special to you and your pet.
Step 2: Allow your pet to do some of the little things you would normally never let them do. Like eating table food, sleeping on your bed, chewing on an old shoe etc.
Step 3: Take more pictures or videos of your pet. Maybe create a scrap book or tribute video.
Step 4: Sit with your pet and look at and talk about the old pictures or videos you have taken over the years. Discuss it in detail and remember how you felt.
Step 5: Make sure you have made a decision on how your pet is to be memorialized. Memorialization is just as important when a pet dies, as it is when a human family member dies. Search out a Pet Crematory you feel comfortable with. Discuss options, ideas, services and prices.
Step 6: Stay with your pet from the time you arrive at your Vet’s office until your pet takes their final breath. Bring their favorite toy or blanket; comfort them with a soothing, calm voice.
Step 7: If you have other pets, allow them to be a part of all of these activities. They too will grieve.
It is important to understand even though you have made the right choice in euthanizing your pet, it may leave you feeling guilty. You may even feel anger at yourself, your vet, or your pet. This is all normal. You must allow yourself to feel these feelings to work through the grieving process. Talk about them with another person who loves pets. This will, in time, help these feelings become less powerful and you will grow more confident in your decision.
Finally, remember guilt, regrets and self blaming are very common feelings after a pet dies. Dr. Woffelt, also talks about having a case of the “if only”; if only I had gotten him to the vet quicker, if only I hadn’t let her out the side gate, if only I had been more responsible. If you find yourself experiencing that “if only” feeling, don’t be so hard on yourself. There really are some limits and you can only do so much.
Kevin R. Marcy, a 5th generation licensed funeral director, and wife Gina are owners of Dream Land Pet Memorial Center in Kennesaw. Dream Land Pet Memorial Center is a cremation service dedicated to pets, and offers individual cremation services, viewings, pet loss and grief resources, as well as a full line of pet urns. Visit their website at www. DreamLandPetCremation.com or call 678-594-0041.